Drawing blood

Nursing Students General Students

Published

when taking lpn program, do you need to learn how to draw blood? thanks.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

In my LPN program it is not taught. I am already an EMT-I so I already know how. I am sure all programs are different. Nancy

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I had to take a course in order to be able to draw blood and start IV's. It cost about $125. The course is optional but depending on where you work, your employer may want you to have this certification. It's not typically included in the LVN/LPN program. I took it at a local community college.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I think Cali's right. Anything that makes the patient "fragile" would not be done by anyone other than the RN unless they have specific certification for it. (At least that is what we were taught in our first semester of nursing school! :D )

Up Vote Up Vote ×

thank you very much for your help.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in PCU, Critical Care, Observation.

You take a special course for it. I've been in clinicals for a year & have yet to see an RN ever take blood, much less a LPN. The phlebotimists are the ones that take the blood. They aren't nurses, they are certified after taking a course. I think it's about 6-8 weeks to get certified.

If you plan on working in a doctor's office, chances are he'll either want you to take the course or he'll have a medical assistant that has been trained.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Thanks. I am glad this is not part of LPN program.

To tell you the truth, the main reason I was asking about drawing blood is that I would not like to do this. Even learning it would be a problem for me. For some reason, not the injections but drawing blood freaks me out.

I tried that in the past and simply did not like it (it was for a Lab Tech course). :eek:

Some of you may think, so why I am interested in becoming an LPN if I do not want to draw blood. I really want to continue working in assisted-living facility or a nursing home and I know LPNs there do not do any "needles". LOL.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

No blood draws in our school either, and have only seen the IV/ phlebotomy team do it in the hospital, not the nurses.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I'm finishing up an RN program. We're getting this as part of the IV academics.

I work part time as a Nurse Intern (PSA, etc) in a Pulmonary and Stepdown unit in one of our local hospitals. During our employee orientation we were given phlebotomy training and required to document/certify 25 successful "sticks" before we could do it alone. Personally, I didn't find the procedure difficult, but getting the opportunity to do it (on my shift) was often a problem. While it took me several months to get that many (only worked one to two nights a week), others achieved it in a few weeks and some asked to attend a one-day training setup in the phlebotomy lab where they got their certification in a matter of hours.

Our RNs are all capable of drawing blood and when we encounter difficult "sticks" (blown veins, elderly with rolling veins, etc) we turn it over to them to attempt venipuncture. If they can't get it, they call the house supervisor (hospital nursing supervisor) to get it. Phlebotomy folks are seldom, if ever, needed.

If you are thinking of part time work in patient care and have an opportunity or desire to draw blood, try to work the 11-7AM shifts as the majority of blood draws are done in the early AM hours.

Good luck,

Phil

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Thanks for your help.

No, I do not want to draw blood. :)

LOL

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment