Did you get enough phlebotomy experience in your ADN program?

Nurses General Nursing

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I start a 2 year ADN program in Aug., but was considering taking a 6 hour phlebotomy course over the summer. I really want to know what I'm doing and am taking all of the extra certs I can find (already signed up for basic EKG b/c I'd like to work as an ICU tech while I'm in school, if possible.) So, my question is, did you feel like your ADN program included enough phlebotomy practice, or would an extra phlebotomy cert (1 summer class, 2 clinical hours) have been a help? Thanks

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In my nursing school, we were not allowed to take blood draws!! We werent even allowed to tap on the arm! We could observe of course, but thats about as far as it went. It was a liability issue, not sure if other nursing schools were like mines, though. Plus after you graduate and start working, the hospital will train you.

Good luck, Im sure youll do fine.

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Specializes in burn ICU, SICU, ER, Trauma Rapid Response.

The community college I went to each of us spend 2 or 3 full days in out patient procedures starting one IV after another. 30-40 IV attempts in a day for a couple days and everyone became reasonably competent.

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Specializes in Cardiac step down unit.

We also were not allowed to do any type of venipuncture. I was taught when I was hired at my job.

Kelly

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Specializes in burn ICU, SICU, ER, Trauma Rapid Response.
We also were not allowed to do any type of venipuncture. I was taught when I was hired at my job.

Kelly

*** The hospital where I work does not provide IV training for new nurse. Nor is there an IV team. Grads are expected to have been trained in the most basic of nursing skills.

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Specializes in Emergency, Telemetry, Transplant.

When I was in my ADN school we learned IV startes--we 'practiced' on each other in our NAL, then we were able to perform IV sticks on clinical pts. (with instructor/primary nurse supervision of course). As for just sticking for blood, no experience with that in school.

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Specializes in Trauma Surgical ICU.

In my school we were allowed to start IV's in clinicals. As for phlebotomy, no we didn't learn that or do that at all.. Hospitals in my area have lab techs that do just that and they draw all labs unless the pt has a TLC or PICC line.. Very few units allow the RN's or LPN's to draw labs but the few that do, train their staff to do it.

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I'm in 3rd semester right now and we just covered that competency. We were not allowed to practice venipuncture on each other, only a prosthetic arm (which is obviously nothing like the real thing). I had 2 opportunities to start an IV on a real pt. during my clinical this semester (missed 1 and got 1). Our instructors keep saying that we will get practice when we graduate and get our first job because they will work with us. But, based on a post in this thread, that is not exactly true. I'd like to at least practice on my family and friends, but I don't know if I can get a hold of the equipment.

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Specializes in Trauma Surgical ICU.
I'm in 3rd semester right now and we just covered that competency. We were not allowed to practice venipuncture on each other, only a prosthetic arm (which is obviously nothing like the real thing). I had 2 opportunities to start an IV on a real pt. during my clinical this semester (missed 1 and got 1). Our instructors keep saying that we will get practice when we graduate and get our first job because they will work with us. But, based on a post in this thread, that is not exactly true. I'd like to at least practice on my family and friends, but I don't know if I can get a hold of the equipment.

Bad Bad Idea to start on friends and family !!! You need that guidance right now. Practice will come in time. If my school found out any of us "practiced" invasive procedures on any one outside of a clinical setting; we got the boot out of the program period.

FYI: all new grads that came to my last hospital which was huge staff nursing of over 1400, were put them endo for a day to just do IV's, they put them in out pt settings just to do IV's.. We were not expected to know how to do everything before graduation.. Call your local hospital and ask what they offer for new grads before you hurt someone..

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Did not get any phlebotomy experience in nursing school, but my 5 years phlebotomy experience prior to that was more than enough.

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My school also didn't teach us iv insertion. I'm pretty sure this is a state rule for us. At any rate I haven't heard of any of my classmates running in to trouble because of it, nor have any of the local employers seemed to expect us to already be able to start ivs. I've started doing them with my preceptor while waiting for the iv class to start.

That being said, if you want to go ahead and take the phlebotomy class, have the time and money for it, go for it.

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Specializes in Home Health, Case Management, OR.

We did not get any blood draw experience. And the IV experience was horrible. I started 2 IV's the entire time I was in nursing school and that was at the end while doing my precepting.

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