Course Outline
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- Define venipuncture and identify the equipment that is used in the performance of a routine venipuncture.
- What is Venipuncture?
- Tools of the Trade
- Needles
- Blood Collection Tubes
- Blood Tube Labeling Information
- Blood Collection Tubes
- A blood collection tube that has a light-blue top contains which of these anticoagulants?
- Miscellaneous Equipment
- Vein Selection
- Give Yourself a Chance
- Explore the Possibilities!
- Which of the veins in the antecubital area should be considered only as a final alternative due to its proximity to an artery, nerves, and tendons?
- Hand Veins
- When to Use Hand Veins to Obtain Blood
- Handle With Care
- Tips for Successful Venipuncture When Using Hand Veins
- Where should the tourniquet be placed when assessing a vein in the hand as a venipuncture site?
- Vein Assessment
- Vein Palpation
- Assessing the Vein
- No - Don't Go There!
- Unacceptable Sites for Venous Blood Collection
- Performing a Venipuncture on an Arm Containing an Intravenous Line
- If a vein cannot be located in the antecubital area of the arm, the next best alternative for venipuncture is a vein in the ankle.
- Venipuncture Procedure
- Follow These Steps for Success
- Effects of Preanalytic and Hidden Errors on Specimen Quality
- What are Preanalytic Errors?
- Preanalytic Errors
- What are Hidden Errors?
- Proper Patient Identification
- Importance of Using the Correct Blood Collection Tube
- Order of Draw
- Correct Fill
- Labeling Specimens
- Do Not Tamper With the Specimens
- Avoid Prolonged Tourniquet Time
- Preanalytic and hidden errors can greatly affect a laboratory result.Match the error listed below with the cause from the drop-down box.
- Ideally, a tourniquet should remain tightened for no longer than what amount of time before releasing it?
- Think Smart Think Safe
- Use common sense when it comes to safety
- Don't Get Stuck Without It
- Do It Right the First Time
- Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
- Scenarios
- Scenario #1
- Julie Smith is a recently certified phlebotomist who has been working at Northwood Hospital for several months. As she approaches room 825, she looks ...
- Which of the following methods could Julie have used to positively identify the patient?
- Scenario Conclusion
- Scenario #2
- Bobby Jones, a phlebotomist at Community Hospital, enters the room of Mrs. Mary Grayson with a physician's order for blood tests. After greeting Mrs. ...
- Scenario #3
- A phlebotomist was collecting a STAT prothrombin time (PT) and complete blood count (CBC) on a patient when blood flow unexpectedly stopped. The laven...
- References
Additional Information
Level of Instruction: Basic
Intended Audience: This program is designed as an educational and training tool for laboratory personnel, phlebotomists, and other healthcare personnel who perform venipunctures. This course is also appropriate for clinical laboratory science and phlebotomy students.
Author Information:
Mary Ertl Dettmann, MA, CLS, MT(ASCP) is the education supervisor for Wheaton Franciscan Laboratory in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin. She holds a Master of Arts degree in Health Care Administration from Central Michigan University. She has created several interactive, adult-learning courses in laboratory-related subjects including phlebotomy.
Beth Kratzer, CLS, MT(ASCP) is a Clinical Trainer in the Education Department at Wheaton Franciscan Laboratories in Wauwatosa Wisconsin. She earned her Bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin Eau-Claire in 1981 and obtained a Certificate of Professional Training from University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in 2004. In addition to many years of technical experience in the hospital environment, Beth has been involved in the creation, implementation and facilitation of educational and training programs for healthcare associates since 2001. Currently, Beth is a primary facilitator for all programs created and offered by her department which include courses for the beginning and experienced.
Reviewer Information: Alexandru Casapu, MBA, MLS(ASCP)CM, PBTCM has over 20 years of experience as a medical laboratory scientist, section supervisor, and laboratory manager. He is the former Director of Clinical Laboratory Technology Program at Georgia Piedmont Technical College. He is currently a Program Director at MediaLab, Inc. Alexandru holds BS degrees in Biology and Medical Technology from Clark Atlanta University and a MBA from the University of Georgia.
Course Description: This course focuses on the routine venipuncture procedure including the tools that are available, steps in the procedure, recommendations for venipuncture site choices as well as sites to avoid, pre-analytic errors, and safety issues.
