Venipuncture in LPN school?

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I am going to be starting an lpn program in August '07-and am scared to death btw!

Anyway I currently work in a physicians office,(as a secretary)and I really like the idea of ambulatory care (for the time being anyway:) Will they teach you any of the skills for specimen collection in school,or should I also get a certificate in phlebotomy?

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Specializes in Trauma ICU, MICU/SICU.

Depends a lot on your state. I went to RN school and we did no phlebotomy at all, no IV starts. Others in other states do all of the above. We did learn how to collect various other non-invasive specimens, however.

Can't give you advice on whether or not you should take a phlebotomy course (many are at least 6 months). Do Doc offices train for phleb on the job?

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Oncology, Community Clinic.

I took a class in Plebotomy before my LPN course and it helped tremendously. If you do not feel confident with the procedure of doing a venipuncture on a I think you should either ask about it in the course you are taking or find out how you can practice. I have seen some nurses techniques and they are down right scary. Don't be one of those nurses, please.

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Take a phlebotomy course. Most nursing programs do a "hit and run" training. If you take a phlebotomy course, it focuses only on phlebotomy and the proper technique. Your patients will thank you.....

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

I attended an LVN program 2 years ago, and we were not taught specimin collection, venipuncture, phlebotomy, or IV therapy. The lab comes and does all of our phlebotomy and specimin collecting.

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Specializes in ED, Rehab, LTC.

I took phlebotomy before nursing school. It was three months for basic and three for advanced. I did not get the opportunity to work as a phlebotomist, but I am glad I took the course. I loved it and I have found myself one step ahead with some of the skills in nursing school.

Good luck!

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I am going to be starting an lpn program in August '07-and am scared to death btw!

Anyway I currently work in a physicians office,(as a secretary)and I really like the idea of ambulatory care (for the time being anyway:) Will they teach you any of the skills for specimen collection in school,or should I also get a certificate in phlebotomy?

It says you are from beantown (Boston). I live just North in Nashua, NH. In our area they do not include venipuncture in the program. They will teach you this skill at the place of your employment as a LPN if they require you to perform venipunture. Good Luck!

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Specializes in LTC.

At the school I just graduated from, We were required to complete a minimum of 10 each. venipuncture and IV starts. This was certified to our BON upon graduation. This is in Virginia and a LPN School

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