About Video

This video describes know the preferred venous access sites, understand the indications for phlebotomy, recognize complications of phlebotomy, proper equipment selection for phlebotomy, know to prepare the needle holder and procedural steps for fingerstick and heelstick. Procedure steps: Place tourniquet 3–4” above site. Palpate then clean the site. Remove cap from needle. Place tension on the skin 1–2” below site. Insert the needle, bevel up, into the skin. Push tube all the way onto the needle. When tubes collected, release tourniquet. Remove needle, gauze and tape patient. If no blood was obtained change the position of the needle. Move it forward, backward or adjust angle and loosen the tourniquet. Try another tube and re-anchor the vein. Have the patient make a fist and flex prewarm the vein. Have the patient drink fluids if possible if blood stops flowing. The vein may have collapsed. Re-secure the tourniquet to increase venous filling. If this is not successful, remove the needle, take care of the puncture site, and redraw. The needle may have pulled out of the vein when switching tubes. Prevent this by anchoring and firmly maintaining needle position.