A needle is provided that can be used for introducing or aspirating fluids to a patient or as an introducer needle for positioning and inserting a catheter, such as a peripheral IV catheter into a patient. The needle can be an introducer needle that extends from the distal end of the catheter during insertion. The needle has an insertion tip with a configuration to assist penetration into a vein with a reduced incidence of injuring the inner surface of the vein or inadvertently passing through side wall of the vein. The needle tip can be farmed with a curved distal end surface where the pointed tip is spaced radially inward relative to the outer surface of the needle. In another embodiment the needle tip can have a reverse beveled surface having an axial length, angle, and curvature to assist in penetrating the vein with a reduced incidence of transfixing the vein.
