Final answer:
When starting an IV, medical professionals often begin with the distal veins and proceed upwards if necessary. The height of the IV bag is important, generally placed at least 0.24 meters above the entry point for proper fluid flow. The setup's height can reach up to 1.61 meters above the needle entry when higher pressure is needed.
Step-by-step explanation:
The procedure of starting an intravenous (IV) line does indeed involve beginning with the more distal veins in the arm and working your way upward if necessary. This practice is common in medicine to preserve proximal veins for future use in case the initial vein becomes unsuitable due to reasons such as infiltration or the vein collapsing, commonly referred to as 'blowing.' When setting up an IV, the height of the IV bag is crucial as it relates to the pressure required for the fluid to enter the vein. The IV bag must generally be placed at least 0.24 meters above the entry point into the arm, but it is often placed higher to ensure adequate flow. Conversely, for blood collection, bags are placed below to facilitate blood flow into the collection bag. In some instances, when higher pressure is required, the IV bottle might be set up with the saline surface 1.61 meters above the entry point to the needle, assuming there's negligible pressure drop in the tubing.