Why You Have an IV — Even When You Feel Fine

  When it comes to a trip to the hospital, there are many things patients expect —thin hospital gowns that are open in the back, unfamiliar faces coming in and out of the room, and a steady stream of medical treatments. 

What many patients are surprised to receive, however, is an IV.

I. What an IV Is

For many patients, an IV can feel like a sign that something is wrong. If you come to the hospital because something felt uncomfortable and you needed reassurance, the idea of getting an IV can feel nerve-wrenching. A thousand thoughts can run through your head:

“What’s wrong with me?”

“Why didn’t I come sooner?”

“How bad is it?”

Sitting alone in a hospital room, surrounded by these thoughts, is not an ideal place to be. An IV can seem intimidating and scary—but its simply one part of the care that medical staff provide everyday.

In plain English, intravenous therapy— more commonly known as an IV— is a way to deliver medication or fluids directly into the body. Because medication given through an IV bypasses the stomach, it can work faster and be more effective.  

An IV itself is nothing more than a small, hollow, flexible tube called a catheter. This tube is placed into a vein using a needle. When a nurse starts an IV, a tourniquet is placed around the arm to help locating a vein. The needle guides the catheter into the vein, and once the catheter is successfully in place, the needle is removed— leaving only the soft flexible tubing under the skin. 

II. What an IV Is Not

When a patient gets an IV, it doesn’t automatically mean that they are critically ill. It also doesn’t mean that the medical staff is anticipating an emergency or a serious problem. 

I once had a patient come into the Emergency Room complaining of lower leg pain. After an IV was placed, the patient was immediately tense, nervous, and pale. They looked around and asked:

 “Am I getting admitted? What’s wrong?”

That fear is a big reason why blogs like this matter. As medical staff, we are so exposed to IVs on a daily basis that it can be easy to forget how intimidating they can look from the patient’s perspective. 

An IV can be placed even when no medication delivery is planned. Sometimes it’s used as a precaution — a “just in case” option. If something unexpected happens, having IV access already in place allows the medical team to avoid delays and act quickly.   

In many cases, the IV isn’t a signal that something is wrong —it’s simply a way to stay prepared.

III. Why Nurses Avoid the AC ( Elbow) First

When starting an IV on a patient, I find that many patients immediately offer the inside of their elbow— the AC area. It’s true that when getting blood work done, patients are often stuck there because the veins are easier to feel and sometimes see. But placing an IV is a little different than drawing blood.

The majority of nurses try to avoid using the AC unless they can’t find any other access or it’s an emergency situation.

The reason for this is the flexibility of the elbow. If a patient bends their arm, it can cause IV pump alarms to go off or prevent medication from entering the body properly. Remember, an IV is nothing more than a flexible tube. It moves with the body and can be compressed.

 Because of this, patients with an IV in the AC area are often asked to keep their arm straight —something that becomes highly uncomfortable after a while. 

Additionally, because the elbow is constantly moving, the lifespan of an IV placed there decreases and the likelihood of needing a new IV increases. 

Choosing a location away from the elbow isn’t about making things harder — it’s about making the IV last longer, work more reliably, and keep patients more comfortable throughout their hospital stay.

IV. What This Means for Patients 

Being told an IV will be placed somewhere other than your elbow can feel unexpected — especially if you’re used to blood draws being done there.

In most cases, that decision is about what will make your care smoother, quieter, and more comfortable over time.

Placing an IV in a location with less movement allows medications and fluids to flow more reliably, reduces pump alarms, and lowers the chance that the IV will need to be replaced later — especially during longer hospital stays.

That said, every patient is different.

Vein quality, medical history, hydration status, and urgency all play a role. Sometimes the AC is the best option, particularly in emergencies or when other access points aren’t available. In those moments, speed and reliability matter more than comfort.

If you’re worried about IV placement, it’s okay to speak up. Let your nurse know:

• If you’ve had difficult IVs in the past

• If one arm works better than the other

• If a previous IV site was painful or failed quickly

These details help nurses make better decisions — not worse ones.

An IV isn’t just a needle or a tube. It’s a tool meant to support your care, quietly doing its job in the background while your body focuses on healing.

When a nurse chooses a site away from the elbow, they’re thinking about your comfort hours from now —not just the moment in front of them. 

V. Quiet Preparation

Most IVs aren’t urgent interventions — they’re quiet preparations.

They allow care to unfold without interruption, giving clinicians the ability to respond thoughtfully rather than urgently. The site chosen, the timing, and the reason behind it are all part of that preparation — even when it isn’t explained out loud.

In the hospital, some of the most important decisions are the ones made early and calmly, before they’re needed.

Understanding these decisions doesn’t just ease uncertainty — it builds trust. And in healthcare, trust often begins with the details that are easiest to overlook.