Phlebotomy class for new RN?

[jedi.judeRN]

I recently started my first job as an RN and I'm working in a LTC/Acute Rehab facility. There are not a lot of opportunities to practice drawing blood and so I have been considering taking a phlebotomy course to learn/practice that skill. Most topics I have looked up regarding this question have been given dismissive answers saying that you will "learn it on the job" - but I am not in a position where I will learn it on the job. There is no blood draw team, there is no IV team... I do hope to eventually transition to working in a hospital, but I'd like to have some blood draws under my belt before I get there, instead of waiting to learn when I eventually get a hospital job. (Absolutely none of my clinical experiences provided opportunities to draw blood or start IVs.)

So I guess my question is this - is it really not worth it to take a phlebotomy course? Is it better just to wait until I have a job that will provide that training for me?

Thanks for any input!

[Ella26, BSN, RN]

My school did not train us on phlebotomy either. So, I did take a 8 hour course on blood draw (it was a class at one of the local hospitals, costs me $25). The CMAs at my work typically draw the labs, but I would like to learn as well being an RN an all. So far, I have done about 8 blood draws on adults only, its slow going, but at least I'm getting some experience. I think it is a god idea if its not too costly, and if you do not think you will get the practice anywhere else.

[Button2006]

I worked in long-term care for approximately 2-3 months before I started working in a hospital. I did not do a phlebotomy class to get the experience. I have only been in the hospital on a very busy med-surg unit for approximately 4 months but I am coming off of orientation soon and I am getting more and more comfortable with IVs and blood draws. At my facility, if you do not have med-surg experience in a hospital you go through 16 weeks of training. I feel prepared enough to do blood draws and IVs on my own. I am still awkward but I can do it and I don't show my patients how nervous I am.

If you will not be entering a job where you will be doing blood draws and IVs for a long time then I think it may be worth your while to take a class. Having the experience I had in long-term care before I landed the job on a med-surg unit was incredibly helpful. I am awkward and I have so much to learn but that is okay and normal.

Best of luck to you! :)

[SoaringOwl]

At my hospital, RNs only draw blood from PICC lines. Multi-skilled techs (fancy word for CNA with tons of training, or what used to be an LPN) do blood draws. It's not a skill I learned in school, and it's not a skill I need. If you're not doing blood draws in your current job, why learn it? You may end up at a hospital like mine and not need the skill.