Effective Blood Collection - Phlebotomy

Course overview

Phlebotomy, or bloodletting as it was originally called, is the art of blood collection, and dates back to well before the 5th century B.C. It was used as a form of battling sickness. It was believed that the draining of some of a person's "bad" blood, generally 1-4 pints, would allow them to be healed from whatever was ailing them. An interesting side note - our 1st president, George Washington, died as a result of complications from bloodletting. He developed a throat infection after being drained of nearly 9 pints of blood! In today's society, venipuncture is one of the most routinely performed invasive procedures and is carried out for two reasons, to obtain blood for diagnostic purposes and to monitor levels of blood components. Blood analysis is one of the most important diagnostic tools available to healthcare professionals. Without the collection and testing of blood samples it would be very difficult to definitively determine what is affecting a person's health, and what can be done about it. The venipuncture procedure is complex, requiring both knowledge and skill to perform. For this reason, it is extremely vital that the methods of obtaining blood samples are carried out with the efficiency and care. The phlebotomy procedure is performed by many healthcare professionals, with many facilities and institutions requiring nurses to perform this important function. Due to the lack and or inconsistency of phlebotomy basics in nursing curricula, the nurse will find this course beneficial. In all 50 states, an RN, LPN/LVN, APN, or any other licensed nurse can legally collect blood using their current licensure, and does not need to obtain any additional phlebotomy certification. Additionally, in most states, phlebotomy technicians and medical assistants may not be required to maintain any phlebotomy licensure, but will still need to maintain and enhance their skill set. Designed to provide education on the different methods of blood collection and the most effective methods to perform blood collection, this course will enable the development of the skills and knowledge needed to confidently perform phlebotomy.