When its time to have your PICC line placed, your nurse will either take you to a treatment room, or if you don't have a roommate, you can stay in your room. If you would like, a parent or a Child Life specialist can go with you.

Getting a PICC line is a sterile procedure. This means everything has to be really clean. Everyone in the room, except you, will be wearing a mask, and your nurse will be wearing a gown and gloves. Your job is to hold really still and keep your arm straight.

Next, they will clean your arm with alcohol. It may feel a little cold, but it won't hurt.

Then, they will put the tourniquet back on your arm. Remember, this is just a tight squeeze on your arm.

Remember the Ultrasound machine, where you could see inside your arm?

Then, the nurse will put more gel on your arm, so they can look at your veins with the Ultrasound machine while placing your PICC line. The gel maybe a little cold, but it won’t hurt.

Next, your nurse will give a special numbing medication called Lidocaine. This medicine is a quick stick that may sting for about five seconds, but it will help you not feel the poke when your PICC is placed. Sometimes kids say that counting to six or seven makes the sting go away faster.

Now it is time for you to have your PICC line placed. Similar to an IV placement, once it is placed in your vein the needle comes out, and only the small tube stays in your arm.

After you have your PICC line, the nurse will clean your arm with alcohol, which may be a little cold. Then they will put tape on your arm, this is called a dressing, to make sure your new PICC line stays clean.