Apparatus, system, and methods for introducing a sharp tip of a transseptal guidewire through a hub of a transseptal needle and into a lumen of a transseptal needle are provided. The apparatus includes a holder that contains the transseptal guidewire and a shield coupled to the holder. The shield has a wall defining a lumen that accommodates the sharp tip of the transseptal guidewire. The cross-sectional shape of the wall is substantially constant along at least a portion of its length and sized to fit within the lumen of the transseptal needle, thereby inhibiting contact between the sharp tip of the transseptal guidewire and the hub of the transseptal needle when the wall of the shield is positioned to extend into the lumen of the transseptal needle. The lumen of the shield has a substantially constant cross-sectional area along at least a portion of its length and an outer surface of the wall of the shield is cylindrical along the same length.