Routine Venipuncture
Continuing Education Credits
A blood test is only as good as the specimen that is collected. Routine Venipuncture is an excellent course for novice or experienced phlebotomists. Review the important aspects of your blood collection procedures, including the recommended order of draw, proper patient identification, acceptable and unacceptable sites for blood collection, and variables in collection procedures that can affect the accuracy of the blood test.
Objectives
- Identify and describe equipment used for routine venipuncture.
- Assess and select suitable sites used for venipuncture, as well as locations to avoid.
- Describe the required steps to perform routine venipuncture.
- Understand how pre-examination and hidden errors affect the quality of a specimen.
- Describe actions that ensure safety during venipuncture.
Course Outline
- Define venipuncture and identify the equipment that is used in the performance of a routine venipuncture.
- What is Venipuncture?
- Tools of the Trade
- Needles
- Needles - What's the Point?
- Needles and Patient Safety
- Blood Collection Systems and Devices
- Winged Blood Collection Device
- Syringe
- The diameter of a needle that has a gauge of 23 is __________ the diameter of a needle that has a gauge of 18.
- 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
- Tourniquets, Alcohol, and Gauze
- Cleansing the Venipuncture Site
- 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
- True or False: 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
- Venipuncture Procedure At a Glance
- Specimen Collection Procedure
- Specimen Handling Post Venipuncture
- Effects of Pre-Examination and Hidden Errors on Specimen Quality
- What are Pre-Examination Errors?
- Pre-Examination 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
- Pre-examination and hidden errors can significantly affect laboratory results.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
- Protect Yourself
- Use Common Sense When it Comes to Safety
- Don't Get Stuck Without It
- Do It Right the First Time
- Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
- Don't Compromise Your Safety
- 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 checks her collection list to verify that this is the correct room for her first collection. Julie enters the room to find a middle-aged man asleep. Julie approaches the patient and says, "Good day, Mr. Ready. My name is Julie, and I am from the lab. I nee
- 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. Grayson, identifying himself, and properly identifying the patient using two methods of identification, Bobby prepares for the venipuncture.As he approaches the patient's bed, he notices a sign posted above the bed that reads: "Restricted left arm us
- Scenario #3
- A phlebotomist was collecting a STAT prothrombin time (PT) and CBC on a patient when blood flow unexpectedly stopped. The lavender top tube being drawn at the time was less than one-third full. The light-blue top tube had already been drawn for the prothrombin time.Before resorting to a second venipuncture, which of the following procedures should be attempted in order to adequately fill the laven
- References
- References
Additional Information
Level of Instruction: Basic
Intended Audience: Phlebotomists, medical laboratory scientists, medical laboratory technicians, laboratory supervisors, and laboratory managers. This course is also appropriate for MLS and MLT students, pathology residents, and other professionals who perform routine venipuncture.
Author Information:
Mary Ertl Dettmann, MA, MLS(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, MLS(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 the 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 offered by her department, including courses for beginners and experienced learners.
The authors have no conflict of interest to disclose.
Reviewer Information:
Joshua J. Cannon, MS, MLS(ASCP)CMSHCM received his Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in Medical Laboratory Science from Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia, PA. He holds Medical Laboratory Scientist and Specialist in Hematology certifications through the ASCP Board of Certification. He was a professor at Thomas Jefferson University for seven years before transitioning into his current role as Education Developer at MediaLab by Vastian. His areas of expertise and professional passions include clinical hematology and interprofessional education.
Course Description: This course focuses on the routine venipuncture procedure, including the available tools, steps in the procedure, recommendations for venipuncture site selection, sites to avoid, pre-examination errors, and safety issues.