There is no reason, with today's equipment and techniques, that patients should find I.V. therapy uncomfortable and confining. Proper I.V. care should begin with an explanation to the patient of the procedure, the type of catheter being used, and what movement limitations he will have, if any. This will help elicit the patient's relaxation and cooperation, important considerations to a successful I.V. I.V. procedure policies vary from institution to institution, and some techniques are controversial. Those presented here are the practices I have found safe, efficient, and most comfortable for patients. For example, one practice that is controversial is shaving the infusion site if it is excessively hairy. I recommend this because it facili-