Know of any free online phlebotomy classes?

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Specializes in Occupational Health; Adult ICU.

I took phlebotomy seven years ago. Though I was med/surg, then Adult ICU, where I worked the IV teams did all the sticks. (I begged to be allowed to work with the team, part-time but we were under-staffed and I was refused.) I'm an unemployed Occupational Health RN at the moment and intend to become an Occupational Health APRN starting September 2012.

I'm in an EMT class and also intend to become EMT Medic and for that I need to learn to do sticks fast an efficiently. A practicum in phlebotomy is the way to gain that experience. My Alma Mater will probably let me return to do the Phlebotomy internship but I'll have to do some sort of exam to show proficiency of the basic knowledge, and I need to relearn all that stuff since I haven't used it for seven years.

There are many online courses, by many quality institutions these days, for free, but of course with no college credits and I find it hard to believe that one does not exist for the book-learning part of phlebotomy.

Does anyone know of any on-line self-study tutorials on Phlebotomy?

If not, might anyone suggest a good book--my old one is too old to be relied upon.

Thanks

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.

Google is your friend.....

http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&rlz=1T4GGLL_enUS413US413&q=Free+online+phlebotomy+certification

I have found cheap but not free.......If you are on unemployment they have unemployment training opportunities that include phlebotomy. What hospital EMS are you associated with and does their sponsoring hospital offer courses or training for the EMT-I or EMTP's for IV starts?

Phlebotomy is VERY different than starting an IV........Having done both for many years...threading the catheter of an IV is much more difficult to master and only practice makes perfect. Good Luck!

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Specializes in Occupational Health; Adult ICU.

Thanks for your response.

I'm not affiliated with an hospital, being unemployed, and I'm an Occupational Health RN so I work in Industry.

Yes, I realize that phlebotomy and IV emplacement are very different, but I still think that getting some experience in phlebotomy will instill a sense of confidence when I do the EMT-B internship.

It is also a big plus to be comfortable with phlebotomy since many Occ Health RN positions require it.

I have the practicum covered, all I need is the book-learning portion that precedes it.

If a free one does not exist I hope someone who perhaps teaches phlebotomy comes along and suggests one or two.

Sadly, the google search, which I had done earlier "promises" free, but does not in any case that I could find really have one. Commonly "hooks" like that are put out hoping that you'll buy into (or click on links thus generating click revenue) for places that hope you buy into their product. It's unethical, but nobody seems to care much about honesty anymore, certainly not when marketing on the web.

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.

Usually EMT classes are affiliated with a hospital. Check with them and with UE office may have some suggestions even if you don't have unemployment benefits.

I found that too....all free for a small fee..... :(

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Specializes in Infectious Disease, Neuro, Research.

Garza-McBride has always been my favorite:

http://www.amazon.com/Instructors-Resource-PowerPoint-Phlebotomy-Handbook/dp/0131133365/ref=sr_1_12?ie=UTF8&qid=1319482624&sr=8-12

Or the next to latest edition (but only the text):

http://www.amazon.com/Phlebotomy-Handbook-Blood-Collection-Essentials/dp/0131133349/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1319482624&sr=8-2

More or less $20, either way, delivered.

Your local library *might* have something in-stock, and I would be surprised if your school library did not. Also, if your school has a phleb program, go ask the instructor if they have an older edition text they would be willing to let you borrow/buy cheap.

Edit: Which text do you have, and why is it "too old"? Aside from safety needles, not much has really changed since I started as a phleb, 20 years ago...

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Specializes in Infectious Disease, Neuro, Research.

This is actually pretty good. You'll probably still want a text- but perhaps not.

http://www.austincc.edu/kotrla/phb_stdthb.htm

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Specializes in Emergency Medicine.

As far as Phlebotomy goes there is not much to it as far as theory goes. EMT's do not draw blood nor do that start iv's. And when you go on to take medic class they will train you on IV starts. I worked as a phlebotomist for years as well as being an EMT before I went to nursing school. We had a very brief iv start class in school and did not do many iv's in nursing school. Lucky for me I did spend many years drawing blood that now as a ER RN I do a trillion (ok, a little exaggeration there) IV's in a 12 hour shift. Plus after 7pm, we ARE the iv team. We get called to tele and the med/surge floor all the time to restart iv's for the nurse's. But like another poster stated, IV's are much different than drawing blood. Threading that catherter is much for difficult than drawing blood.

Ok, I am rambling, but I guess it wouldn't hurt to get a phlebotomy certification but I wouldn't waste my time or money. When you go to medic class you will have to complete so many clinical hours where you will spend a great deal with venous access. And if you do get hired in a hospital as a RN I am sure they might let you spend some time with the IV team (if that hospital has an iv team) to gain some experience. And as with anything, it takes time to master and be slick at starts.

Good luck to ya. :smokin:

Tiny

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Specializes in ER.

Our EMTs have always started IV's

Once you get an IV catheter in you can draw blood off it.

I'm just not seeing the point of a paper-only phlebotomy class. I wouldn't bother.

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Specializes in Occupational Health; Adult ICU.

Thank you all for your answers but please let me clarify.

While I'm presently an Occupational Health RN (sub-specialist) formerly I was adult ICU, I'm quite familiar with IV's and understand the difference between IV's/Peripheral Lines and blood draws. Perhaps my initial post wasn't clear enough.

Simple fact: I suck at phlebotomy. I can do it, but hate it, and am sometimes expected to do it. I'm not good at it, and doing it makes me anxious.

Phlebotomy is something I need to get better at; many Occ-Health RN's do blood draws as a convenience to the company's employees. In my opinion Occ-Health RN's ought to be proficient at blood draws.

Therefore I wish to become proficient at phlebotomy. Now consider that I took, and passed phlebotomy as a course in 2004, I was in a CLS/MT (Medical Technician course of study then, not RN), but never took the practicum. I think that was a big mistake. Oh well.

How can I get proficient at routine phlebotomy now? The answer seems simple: Do the practicum. Spend 120 hours at my local hospital doing draws. Simple.

My Alma Mater says "ok" but you took phlebotomy seven years ago so we want to to test to make us sure that you still know what we expect students heading for practicum know. That seems quite reasonable to me.

Fact: I would not pass such a test today. Therefore simply I need to find a course for free (which does not seem to exist) or in the alternative self-study with a book or two so I can pass the exam to be admitted to the practicum.

Now, let's add in the EMT-I interest. EMT's and Paramedics do not do simple phlebotomy, I realize that. They do IV's; Large bore IV's and it sounds from what people have posted that they do PICCs.

Backing up a bit, please remember that I do not feel comfortable doing blood draws, it makes me anxious. Now consider being uncomfortable with blood draws and relate that to comfort/anxiety doing what Medics do.

It seems quite logical (in proper Vulcan monotone) that after I become comfortable doing blood draws that I will be likely far more comfortable learning the type of IV insertions Paramedics do.

So the question is now reduced to a simple one:

Can anyone please recommend a book, or a set of books so that I can self-learn what I knew seven years ago so I can take the practicum?

(And thanks to the one poster who has offered this)

Please...I appreciate your answers but if you can't understand my reason, frankly I'd rather not hear about why I don't need phlebotomy. I am scheduled next year for a practicum that I believe I need. The simple fact is that I must learn the basics to pass the exam to be let into the practicum and I firmly believe that this will be a path that will make me far more comfortable with my future endeavors learning to become Paramedic, and will also make me far more comfortable accepting jobs which require phlebotomy. (Note: I'd guess that 1/3 to 1/2 of all Occupational Health Nurse jobs require routine phlebotomy skills). If an employee spends 15 minutes at the company clinic, this is far more profitable for the bottom line than having said employee take 2-3 hours off to go out of the company for phlebotomy.

I do apologize if my initial post was confusing and I do appreciate that posters took the time to offer advice but I'd still enjoy hearing as to what book/books in the opinion of those who do a lot of phlebotomy (RN or not) are the best to use.

Thank you

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Specializes in ER.

I don't get it. I don't have to get it. I don't know the answer, but now I understand the question (yay!).

Good on you for furthering your education and skills.

That is all.

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Specializes in Occupational Health; Adult ICU.

Uh oh, maybe I am becoming prone to schizophasia--where's a Psych nurse when you need one....

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Specializes in Emergency Medicine.

Your right, clearly I "didn't get it". Sorry for my two cents in the earlier post.

Hope you find what it is your looking for.

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