Perform Intravenous Cannulation

This course is open to 

• Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Health Practitioners
• Enrolled Nurses
• Midwives
• Nurse Practitioners
• Paramedics
• Other Health Professionals on application
• Registered Nurses

for whom peripheral intravenous cannulation is part of their job role, including those working in hospitals, primary health care, health professionals in rural remote locations, out-of-hospital settings.

This course is designed to support health workers whose roles involve performing peripheral intravenous cannulation. It aims to develop the skills and confidence needed to safely carry out cannulation, assess veins, manage complications, and enhance patient care outcomes.

Course Content:

• Indications for Cannulation
• The Circulatory System
• Vein Assessment
• Practical Activity: Vein Assessment
• Equipment for Cannulation
• Cannulation Preparation
• Complications
• Cannulation Monitoring
• Cannulation Insertion Demonstration
• Practical Activity: Cannulation

On completion of this course the student should be able to:

• Assess the need for cannulation 
• Discuss the considerations that influence the correct selection of intravenous cannula size and insertion site
• Choose the appropriate size cannula
• Demonstrate the technique of peripheral intravenous cannula insertion, including securing the cannula insitu
• Manage the cannula until the time it is no longer required and removal of the cannula is to be performed
• Safely remove the IV cannula
• Troubleshoot problems
• Discuss and manage possible complications.

• Online theory and assessment delivered via accessIQ
• Half day face-to-face workshop (approx. 5 hours)
• In-class activities assessed by a qualified assessor
• Mandatory third party observed workplace activity

To achieve competency in this course, students must successfully: 

• complete online theory and assessment
• perform intravenous cannulation in a simulated environment
• complete three (3) workplace observed peripheral intravenous cannulations.

Workplace observed practice is a mandatory requirement for this course, work place practice must be observed by a supervisor that performs the identified tasks as part of their role. 

All workplace activities must be completed in accordance with work health and safety standards and all other relevant workplace policies and procedures.

For more information on the workplace activities please click here

Performing Peripheral Intravenous Cannulation (PIC) requires more than just sound knowledge and good technique, there is more to consider such as when to insert, cannula size, insertion site, and managing issues should they arise. The training promotes best practice that can be adapted to support the needs of staff in your organisation who are required to cannulate patients.

Students enrolled in The Benchmarque Group courses should adhere to the following principles:

• Display a commitment to learning and to achieving success
• Be responsible and accountable for their own learning, behaviour and decisions
• Actively participate in all workshop activities and learning experiences
• Attend all scheduled sessions and be punctual at all times
• Complete all online assessments and workplace practice activities
• Work in harmony and respect the rights and opinions of staff and other students
• Treat others as they themselves would like to be treated
• Use acceptable language at all times.

No, students are ideally already working in a practice where IV Cannulation is performed and will need to organise third party observation at their workplace. If you are unable to organise this please reach out to our Student Support team - [email protected]

If your organisation is interested in making a group booking, we would love to hear from you! Click on 'Book a Group' on the right menu panel of the course page or head to our Partnerships page.

On completion of the workshop you will receive a Certificate of Attendance. 

Then, on successful completion of your mandatory workplace activities and on our receipt of your Third Party Report form to be reviewed by our qualified Assessors, you will receive a Statement of Attainment.