A device and method for positioning a catheter to establish a fluid access site into the vasculature of a patient includes a luer assembly that incorporates the catheter. Also included is a shuttle assembly that has a stylet for stiffening the catheter. In combination, the stiffened catheter and the shuttle assembly are held on a handle by the interaction of the luer assembly with the handle. Once the stiffened catheter is inserted into the vasculature, the luer assembly is separated from the handle and from the stylet, and is left in place. With this separation, the shuttle assembly is also released to be repositioned and concealed within the handle.