This invention is directed to a vascular access needle (20) for insertion of a sharpened end of a needle (28) into the lumen of a blood vessel. The vascular access needle (20) includes both a hollow needle (28) and an elongated cylindrical body (22) having respective central passageway lumen (27) and capillary lumen (26) extending through the entire vascular access needle (20). The elongated cylindrical body includes a planar angled surface (21) which plane is oriented parallel to the plane of the needle distal opening (29), which provides the capability for proper orientation of the needle (28) for insertion into the blood vessel lumen. The elongated cylindrical body (22) further includes a pair of parallel flat surfaces (23) for stabilization and proper orientation of the needle distal opening (29) when inserting into the blood vessel lumen. Further, the elongated cylindrical body (22) is formed of a substantially transparent material composition in order to allow the user to view the displacement of the blood therein subsequent to insertion within the blood vessel lumen.