A vascular catheter installer with a syringe holder adapted for use with a catheter syringe is provided for installing an indwelling catheter into a blood vessel. A syringe holder is slidably set on a rigid shaft, allowing a technician to maneuver an attached catheter syringe up and down the shaft. The technician presses down on a finger-hold platform while a stabilizer holds the device in place. The syringe holder can be locked in multiple locations along the shaft and the needle of the syringe can be immobilized within the protective walls of a needle shield for safety.
