A universal grasping catheter apparatus comprising: a catheter adapter (16) having a distal end and a proximal end, the distal end supports a catheter (70), the catheter adapter further includes a securing platform (62) including at least one wing-like extension, the belay platform has a flat surface； and a needle connector (12) having a distal end (38) and a proximal end (28), the distal end slidably coupled to the proximal end of the catheter adapter, the proximal end of the needle connector further includes a needle (66), wherein the needle extends through a central portion of the needle connector (12) and a central portion of the catheter adapter (16), after which a tip (68) of the needle extends beyond of a tip portion of the catheter, the needle connector (12) includes a rigid or semi-flexible distal extension that forms a paddle grip (30) having upper and lower grip surfaces (32, 34) and extending outward from the needle connector (12), wherein the paddle grip (30) is positioned adjacent a body portion (60) of the catheter adapter (16) in a parallel orientation, characterized in that the wing-like extension is positions opposite the paddle grip (30), and the needle connector a (12) includes a first grip surface (22) and a second oppositely positioned grip surface (24), wherein an outwardly extending portion of the first grip surface (22) includes a first protective feature (40 ), wherein an outwardly extending portion of the second grip surface (24) includes a second protective feature (40), wherein the first protective feature (40) is interposed between the first grip surface (22) and the catheter adapter (16), where the second protective feature (40) is interposed between the second gripping surface (22) and the catheter adapter (16), where the first and second protective features (40) are located on an outer surface of the needle connector (12), wherein the first and second protective features (40) provide a physical barrier to prevent a user from contacti
