Phlebotomy Advice, please!

[Diahni]

Hi Everybody,

Anybody know this - is there a way to practice blood drawing without a live person? We had a bit of training in school, but not much. I'm up for a job where blood drawing skills are not a necessity but it would be a plus. I'm wondering if maybe there are some realistic models to use?

Thanks,

Diahni

[XB9S, BSN, MSN, EdD, RN, APN]

You can get the IV arms but I have to be honest I have never found them that realistic.

I did a few on the arm then just got stuck in (excuse the pun )

[pagandeva2000, LPN]

The arms are not usually available, or if you purchased on your own, the model would probably be very expensive. I used to roll up some chucks and draw a vein, and just practice technique. Not the most effective, but better than nothing. Or, if there is a college around with a nursing practice lab, and you know a friend, get hooked up.

[Diahni]

You can get the IV arms but I have to be honest I have never found them that realistic.

I did a few on the arm then just got stuck in (excuse the pun )

I know what you mean - there's no replacement for a real life vein - maybe I should practice on myself! I saw some impressive arms online, but they're about five hundred bucks.

Diahni

[Diahni]

The arms are not usually available, or if you purchased on your own, the model would probably be very expensive. I used to roll up some chucks and draw a vein, and just practice technique. Not the most effective, but better than nothing. Or, if there is a college around with a nursing practice lab, and you know a friend, get hooked up.

I suppose I could try a "chicken tender" too, since it has that long vessel in them. Meanwhile, isn't it illegal for people for have syringes? I didn't even think of that part of the equation.

Diahni

[NURSEOK5]

:up:The best way to practice, if you get the job is take every opportunity to perform phlebotomy. Review in your text books for technique. If you do one or two sticks you'll be a pro in no time. Good Luck..............:nuke:

[wannabenursi]

I think the only way to get the experience to the point where it will be helpful to you is by getting some of your family memebers arms. I am a licenced phlebotomist and I can tell you now what I learned in school on those fake arms are nothing compared to real life. On the dummy arms, there are no rolling veins, callapsed veins, or swelling veins. In Ca if a job reqiures you to do blood draws you have to be licensed, is that not the case where you live??

Good Luck

[James Huffman]

I second the earlier advice: do a LOT of sticks, and you'll get better.

No one's good the first dozen times. Learning this -- or anything -- isn't just a matter of the head knowledge, it's the feel you get for the client's arm, their vein structure, and a lot of other factors. Just keep doing it. Volunteer when one needs doing. You'll get good at it.

[paulette24]

a friend of mine that is a phlebotomist said that you can practice on an orange. Good Luck:twocents:

[shelly304]

When I was in school I took a 5 week phleb. class during summer break. It was very interesting-EVERYTHING you ever wanted to know about phlebotomy. The last week we got to "intern" at a blood bank. The class was $800.00 but worth it to me. At work when someone has a hard stick, I am the one they call for!:yelclap:

[GrumpyRN63, ADN, RN]

Where I work, I, and usually others will let the newbies stick them, nothing compares to the real thing, just practice, practice, practice, start with the easy sticks, watch others as much as possible and just go...

[Dancin'Mom]

I worked in the lab for years before becoming a RN. When I wanted to brush up on my phlebotomy skills, I volunteered to go work at an outpatient draw station with other experienced phlebs. You could also volunteer to work at a health fair.