Nurses and phlebotomists? Why do you not just automatically use a butterfly on people when starting an iv?

Answer:
As a nurse, here are a couple things I know about starting IVs. A butterfly needle is REALLY a needle...and usually quite SHORT! It is meant to be temporary. An IV is actually a flexible catheter inserted into the vein with a needle...and then the needle is taken out and the flexible cathether remains. It then runs a lower risk of becoming dislodged or poking thru the vein. It can stay in vein longer and comes in more sizes and lengths. Some medications are thicker than others and require a larger opening in the vein than a butterfly can provide. Some people are "thicker" than others and require a longer catheter than a butterfly can provide.

---

A butterfly cannot be used to start an IV. Many people use them as a personal preference and also because you may be a difficult stick.

---