Just one thing: Convene an IV catheter summit

Placing an IV catheter is one of the most common procedures in veterinary clinics. But here’s a question: Does your team have a clearly defined, shared process for how it’s done?

Sure, the fundamentals are widely known: sterility, technique, and safety. But it’s often the little variations that make a big difference. Differences in clip style, catheter choice, taping technique, or even the decision to use an Elizabethan collar can create confusion, slow down workflow, and make it harder to delegate confidently. Small inconsistencies can snowball into team friction or unintended variation in patient care.

Here’s a quick challenge: Take 15 minutes at your next team meeting for an IV catheter summit.

Bring your team together, and walk through the catheter placement process step by step—from clipping to catheter selection, taping to bandaging, vein preference to the number of attempts before passing to another team member. 

Talk through each detail, and agree on a consistent, clinic-wide approach.

You might find you're already aligned—or uncover helpful ideas or hidden pain points that need attention. Either way, it’s a valuable exercise.

And if you want to add a touch of creativity? Hand out toilet paper rolls and basic catheter supplies during the meeting and invite everyone to demonstrate their taping technique on a “mock patient.” It’s a lighthearted way to open up discussion, get hands-on, and create a visual reference of your team’s agreed-upon process.

By aligning on this everyday task, you’ll strengthen team trust, increase efficiency and delegation, and reinforce your clinic’s commitment to consistent, high-quality patient care. Plus, you might have a little fun while you’re at it.

Curious about the latest evidence?

Check out this selection of IV catheter-related articles from JAVMA:

• Length of hospitalization, APPLE score, and number of intravenous catheters placed at admission are associated with increased odds of peripheral intravenous catheter complications in dogs
• Smaller-gauge catheters and greater body weights are associated with increased risk of peripheral intravenous catheter complications in cats hospitalized in the critical care unit
• Involvement of veterinary students in the placement of intravenous catheters in adult horses in a teaching hospital does not significantly increase the rate of catheter complications