IV Sizes?

[Jennx]

This is probably a dumb question, but when the IV nurse goes to insert an IV into a patient, what is usually the size of the IV?

[Racer15, BSN, RN]

I put 20's in errbody. Unless it's a peds pt, then it could be a 20, 22, or 24. If it's a super duper trauma I may toss an 18 in but I rarely have to. And with some patients I'm lucky to get a 24, just depends. I can deal with little rolly polly veins but when they're on blood thinners I nix the tourniquet and go for a smaller gauge.

[applesxoranges, BSN, RN]

18 is the main one we use in the er followed by a 20. Sometimes 22 if younger or smaller veins, 24 if a baby. The smaller numbers are bigger and they are color coded. Sixteen is for healthy drunks and traumas. 14s for traumas too. Technically in ct to rule out chest pe we need an 18 in the left ac but 20 is ok

[Asystole RN]

The standard of care, as set by the Infusion Nurses Society, is a the smallest gauge and shortest catheter you can.

For fluids in the hand a 24 gauge would be appropriate but depends on what you have on hand.