What is Venipuncture?
Sometimes doctors will need to insert needles into the vein either to draw blood from or it or to start intravenous medication or fluids. The process requires a lot of skill and expertise. Usually, the veins at the back of the hand, at the bend of the elbow or forearm are targeted. And very rarely, the doctors go for the veins in the leg or the neck.
Preparing for Venipuncture is very important because everything should be done in a neat and orderly manner. The person who performs the puncture should be level headed with steady hands. Drawing blood though a seemingly simple task actually requires training and sufficient Phlebotomy training will grant a candidate with Venipuncture certification.
Phlebotomy Certification Schools and Courses
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Ultimate Medical Academy OL
Campus | Ultimate Medical Academy OLDegrees | Medical Administrative Assistant
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Keiser University eCampus Online
Campus | Keiser University eCampus OnlineDegrees | Associate of Arts in Health Services Administration
Venipuncture and Phlebotomy Certification?
There are a number of things that the phlebotomist has to take care of before he draws blood from a patient. For one, the patient should either be lying down or sitting when the needle is inserted. There is a very good chance that the patient might experience light-headedness or fainting spells. The thought of getting punctured with a needle is scary for some people.
Often people neglect to observe the clothing of the patient while preparing for Venipuncture. Out patients will need to wear loose clothing and remove jewelry before they come in to draw blood. Once the probable area for needle insertion is reached, then the phlebotomist will concentrate on which vein he is going to puncture that day. Then he will rub the area with an alcohol smeared cotton in a spiral, inside out movement. These are the first few important steps while preparing for Venipuncture.
Why Venipuncture Training is Necessary
You never know what kind of people you are dealing with while working with patients. Just like it is important to keep infections at bay it is also important that as a phlebotomist you have to keep your health also secure. There is a very good chance that you will be contracting some sort of sexually transmitted diseases, HIV or AIDS when you work with people without any sort of protective cover. Blood or other body fluids from the patient might cause infections to you too. So it is important that you wear some sort of protective gear so your side will be clear.
What are the gears that a phlebotomist should wear?
He should be perfectly geared with gloves, gowns, masks and goggles to prevent the risk of any kind of disease. The gloves should be worn even before the patient enters the room and should be removed only after the blood specimen is contained in its own designated location. These should be worn whenever the specimens are handled. It is quite natural to have abrasions and superficial cuts in your body and you may not even know about it. So this is the best way to protect yourself.
Why drawing blood should be so carefully observed?
When applying for a job as phlebotomist, you will have to follow these rules. That is why preparing for Venipuncture is so important. Unless everything is done neatly, there will be risk for infection and the patient will suffer from serious consequences.
The phlebotomist trainee will be given considerable experience and training when he attends such a course in order to avoid the complications of venipuncture. When you are enrolling for phlebotomist training course you will be given a training aid/kit to practice. Once you gain sufficient experience with that you will be able to perform it on a classmate. When you do it on a friend you will know how important preparing for Venipuncture is.
Observing Precaution With Venipuncture Techniques
It is not actually very easy preparing for Venipuncture because you have to be aware of a number of things. Like every other trade, this one also has certain tricks so you can perform the job swiftly and efficiently. And some patients are just not easy to handle, they may get the scare just by looking at the needle. So you have to know how to deal with difficult patients and kids. It is very important that the patient be pacified before venipuncture is performed.
There are some legalities involved in drawing blood from a patient. This aspect is also covered when you are going for a certified Phlebotomy training. There are easier methods by which the blood will pool in when it is time to draw it out. For example, if a tourniquet is placed a few inches above the intended puncture area, it will be easier to draw the blood. The patient can aid the endeavor by holding his hand into a fist. The training also specifies on the kind of needle that is to be used. The faster the blood is drawn the more good it will do.
Bevel needles are used so they can be inserted with ease. These needles have one flattened end and they will be inserted at an angle of 15 degrees. Quick in and quick out. If the technician knows about the earlier venipunctures performed to the patient then it will be a very good idea. The patient’s medical history should also be recorded and perused before going ahead with the process. While preparing for Venipuncture, the technician must make sure that there is proper lighting in the room.
Legal papers should be read by the patient and signed. The intricacies involved in drawing blood can be mastered either through online resources or through a regular course. There are 3-day and 6-day classes for Phlebotomy training. However, when you enroll for an online course you must make sure that it is from a recognized and accredited institute.
Only then will your Venipuncture certification be valued. The biggest benefit of an online course is that you can study at your pace, time and convenience. They will teach you about the basics of blood drawing, the types of blood, how to control infections, the measures that you have to take while drawing blood and several medical terminologies too. High school training will be enough to enroll for Phlebotomy training. A GED certification is an added advantage if you want to get a venipuncture certification or phlebotomy certification.
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