Phlebotomy is an essential medical skill, applicable in hospitals, labs, and private practice doctor's offices. Our Venipuncture Training Course helps students hone their venepuncture abilities and prepare for real-world clinical practice.
OUWB's Clinical Skills Training and Simulation Center has created a venipuncture/phlebotomy lab, where first-year medical students can draw blood, fill tubes for diagnostic testing, and more. This facility serves as proof of OUWB's dedication to providing hands-on instruction and experiences early in their educational journey.
Basics of Venipuncture
Venipuncture is an essential skill that medical students must learn as part of their education. It allows nurses to draw blood for tests, diagnoses, procedures, and other healthcare services.
Students typically undergo clinical rotations and hands-on phlebotomy labs to learn the fundamentals of venipuncture. These facilities are outfitted with microscopes, simulated arms for venipuncture, examination tables, and other equipment to teach students the intricacies of drawing blood.
Venipuncture is a procedure that requires identifying the patient, prepping and labeling collection tubes, and filling out laboratory requisition forms. These steps help guarantee samples are collected accurately and results sent to the correct department or laboratory.
Before beginning venipuncture, the phlebotomist must review the requisition form to confirm that the test ordered is valid and suitable for the patient's condition. Additionally, this form must include patient information such as name, date of birth, gender, and billing information.
After identifying the patient, phlebotomists must carefully select a site for venipuncture. This could involve inspecting the antecubital fossa, the dorsal side of the hand or other locations.
Venipuncture commonly takes place in the antecubital fossa, which houses three veins: cephalic, median cubital, and basilic veins (Figure 1). Depending on how much muscle or fat tissue there is in an individual's arm, these veins may be more prominent for some than others.
Phlebotomists must take great care before inserting their needles, in order to secure these veins and prevent them from rolling during the procedure. Doing so could cause discomfort and pain for the patient.
Phlebotomists should wash their hands prior to and after each venipuncture in order to reduce the risk of bruising and infection. Additionally, they should clean the site of the needlestick with alcohol.
Some patients, such as children or those with poor circulation, require easier vein access than others. To obtain a blood sample in some cases, phlebotomists may need to perform multiple venipunctures.
Venipuncture can be more efficient and safe when done correctly with the correct equipment and technique. Additionally, use an appropriately sized needle and avoid touching your vein with your finger as this could result in contamination.
IV Lines
IV lines are a staple for medical professionals, enabling them to administer fluids, blood products, and medications. They're often utilized in times of emergency when someone needs to quickly replenish fluids or receive antibiotics.
When inserting an IV line, doctors or nurses must be careful not to damage the vein. A patient with damaged veins is more vulnerable to developing deep vein thrombosis (DVT) or pulmonary embolism - two serious outcomes of having a blocked vein.
To avoid these potential dangers, doctors and nurses must adhere to a stringent set of safety regulations when inserting an IV. This includes not using the same needle on multiple patients.
Another essential aspect of IV care is the need to properly dispose of sharps. Needles can spread diseases and germs, so doctors and nurses must make sure to place them in a designated sharps container after every use.
Venipuncture is a skill that can be acquired and refined with practice, however, it's difficult to learn without the guidance of an experienced instructor. Therefore, many schools provide venipuncture training courses as preparation for real-world clinical practice.
These classes will teach students the proper method for prepping and performing venipuncture on lifelike manikins, with feedback from an instructor who continuously monitors each student's progress. This ensures all students can improve their venipuncture skills.
Additionally, instructors will guide students through a series of demonstrations to teach them how to correctly pierce the vein and inject the catheter into it for an IV.
After venipuncture has been performed successfully, the instructor should place either a tourniquet or blood pressure cuff on the insertion site to prevent leakage of fluid and contamination of the freshly prepped vein. This helps ensure that only clean veins can be accessed.
Due to the critical role of venipuncture, medical students invest a great deal of time and energy into this class. Fortunately, Future Doctors Academy instructors have designed this course as an accessible yet effective way for students to develop this invaluable ability.
IV Injections
IV injections are the fastest way to administer medications and fluid replacement, bypassing first-pass metabolism in the liver. These drugs and fluids may be used for various reasons such as hydration, pain relief, anti-nausea treatments, and more.
Medical students learn the necessary tools for clinical practice during their pre-clinical training. They have the opportunity to practice using a needle to inject fluids and other solutions into veins.
IV injections, when done carefully and with the proper equipment, can be a safe and efficient way to administer medications to patients. Unfortunately, they also carry risks and potential side effects, so they may not be suitable for all situations.
Injections can be administered either directly into a vein or through an IV line inserted into either the arm or chest and feeding into the superior vena cava.
IVs can be very hazardous if not properly monitored and cared for. Common risks include air embolism, where a gas-filled tube pushes into a blood vessel, and phlebitis, an infection that could block your veins.
Phlebitis can be reduced by taking out the cannula and cleaning the site with a sterile technique. Another potential danger associated with IVs is extravasation, or when medication leaks into nearby tissue.
Hemorrhage can also occur if the cannula is not removed or the puncture site is damaged. Signs include redness and swelling at the insertion site, pain, and fever.
IV lines can be used for more than just medication delivery; they also deliver fluids and vitamins. These treatments could range from a simple drip of essential fluids to increase energy levels and make you feel better quickly, to complex cocktails with nutrients, amino acids, and antioxidants designed to promote better health overall.
Advanced Venipuncture
Phlebotomists are essential members of the medical community, and their ability to draw blood accurately without patient discomfort is essential for providing timely and precise test results. Therefore, phlebotomy training plays an integral role in medical students' clinical experience.
Phlebotomy students learn the fundamentals of drawing blood with a syringe and vacutainer during their course. Additionally, they become acquainted with safety regulations, how to correctly use a needle, and setting up an IV line for fluids and medications.
As the program progresses, students gain practical experience using advanced techniques. They can then apply what they've learned in clinical settings.
Students can hone their venipuncture skills using a training arm that replicates the human arm from shoulder to fingertips. Life/form(r) Advanced Injection Arm Simulator Light Skin by Life/form has an extensive 8-line vascular system for intramuscular and intradermal injections, including sites for Over Needle IV catheter insertion.
This lifelike arm is designed to replicate veins at all primary and secondary vena cava locations. It includes realistic antecubital, basilic, cephalic, accessory cephalic, median antebrachial, and dorsal metacarpal veins for venipuncture use.
This training arm features a unique skin-locking system that secures the skin around simulated vein edges, protecting them from damage during practice sessions. This reduces the needles needed for each injection and extends syringe life, saving money and decreasing the environmental impact of using this training arm.
In addition to teaching students a practical skill, this device also enables instructors to assess their performance and determine whether they can safely perform venipuncture on real patients. They may also monitor communication and interpersonal abilities through role-playing simulation exercises.
This program prepares students for the phlebotomy exam administered by the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) Board of Certification. It includes state-approved course materials, video lectures, and hands-on practice using a Venipuncture Training Kit. Upon successful completion of all tasks, students receive a Certificate of Completion and can become certified in phlebotomy.