Is Phlebotomy taught in Nursing school?

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Jun 9, 2010

I'm only answering the question based on my personal experiences.

I completed an LVN/LPN program about five years ago where phlebotomy and blood withdrawal were not taught in the curriculum. I completed an RN program a few months ago, and phlebotomy and blood withdrawal were not included in the curriculum.

naomi712 · Jun 9, 2010

As far as I know, nursing schools do not have phlebotomy courses. Mine didn't and I don't know of any that does. Where I live, they have certified phlebotomists draw blood in health care facilities.

I think you would have a great advantage if you took the course at your local college but I understand that you want to be totally sure.

CrazierThanYou · Jun 9, 2010

I wonder the same thing. I haven't been able to get a definite answer about my nursing program.

I was going to take phlebotomy back in the winter at my local CC but I just couldn't do it. The class was $600 (which is a lot when you don't have it!), and the class itself was 5 nights a week plus clinical hours during the day. It was just too much of a commitment for me as I have a family.

I would like to take it in the future but since I'm starting nursing school in August, I don't foresee it happening.

Good luck!

K nurse-one-day · Jun 9, 2010

Ive also been bouncing around the idea of a cna or phlebotomy course. As far as I know, they dont teach that in NS. Anyone know how much it pays? Can you work at your local hospital?

BacktotheBeach, ADN, BSN, RN · Jun 9, 2010

I'm starting NS in the fall, I thought this was part of most programs? Don't nurses have to do blood draws in many situations?

Val

caliotter3 · Jun 9, 2010

I took a phlebotomy course because my nursing program was not providing the instruction that I felt I needed. If there had been available courses for the other important skills that I was not being instructed on or given practice in, I would have taken them too. I was not too pleased with the quality of my nursing school.

TheSquire, DNP, APRN, NP · Jun 9, 2010

While I've never heard of any nursing program having a class specifically on phlebotomy, vascular access is a part of the curriculum, including blood draws and peripheral IV starts. My school included it in Nursing Fundamentals, with refreshers in both Med-Surg and Critical Care. Admittedly, I didn't get to do my first blood draw from a stick I'd done myself until Critical Care, but that's part of the nature of the modern clinical rotation...

mammac5 · Jun 9, 2010

Many programs teach access for insertion of IVs and/or drawing from central or peripheral lines, but not venipuncture in the "outpatient" sense of the word. You can learn this at a hospital or local CC that has a course...usually short.

I learned as a Certified Med Assist, but nurses don't usually learn this until on the job, or never.

CrazierThanYou · Jun 9, 2010

Ive also been bouncing around the idea of a cna or phlebotomy course. As far as I know, they dont teach that in NS. Anyone know how much it pays? Can you work at your local hospital?

I don't know about your area, but in mine, no facilities here hire phlebotomists. They train their lab employees to draw blood.

But, depending on the area, I'm sure some hospitals, dr offices, and clinics hire them.

jojo10 · Jun 9, 2010

I was taught phleb/ blood draws (w/butterfly, vacutainer, etc) & IV 2nd semester- then central and picc draws 3rd, can't imagine that stuff not being taught in NS.

turnforthenurse, MSN, NP · Jun 10, 2010

You won't have an actual "certification" per se, but I remember I was taught how to draw blood (along with how to insert IV's, technique is very similar with just a few extra steps) in one of my classes, but of course drawing on a rubber arm is WAY different than drawing from a REAL arm!