Routine Venipuncture

Authors: Mary Ertl Dettmann, MA, CLS, MT(ASCP); Beth Kratzer, CLS, MT(ASCP)
Reviewer: Alexandru Casapu, MBA, MLS(ASCP)CM
See all available Compliance & CE courses »

Continuing Education Credits

P.A.C.E.® Contact Hours: 2 hour(s)

Florida Board of Clinical Laboratory Science CE Credit Hours

Florida Board of Clinical Laboratory Science CE - General: 1.5 hour(s)

(based on 3217 customer ratings)

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 and utilize the required steps to perform routine venipuncture.
  • Understand how pre-analytic and hidden errors affect the quality of a specimen.
  • Describe actions that ensure safety during performance of a 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
    • 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 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
      • 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 looks at her collection list to verify this is the correct room for her first collection. Julie enters the room to find a middle-aged man who appears to be sleeping. Julie approaches the patient and says, "Good day Mr. Ready. My name is Julie and I am from
        • 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 u
      • 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 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 ad
      • References
        • 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.