What departments draw the most blood?

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Hello, I am wondering which departments/specialties draw the most blood. I am a pre-nursing student working as a Nursing Assistant and have found that I love venipuncture. I’m wondering what departments or specialties might put this skill to work most? At this point—to back track to phlebotomy school wouldn’t make sense (though it’s tempting...) but I am curious if there is a nursing front that might use this skill more often than others! Thank you in advance...

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Specializes in ER, Pre-Op, PACU.

The emergency department!!!

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Ambulatory oncology.

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If you like the challenge of finding a vein, get your RN and become a Vascular Access/PICC nurse.

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5 minutes ago, SweetElla said:

If you like the challenge of finding a vein, get your RN and become a Vascular Access/PICC nurse.

^ this is excellent advice!

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Specializes in Infusion Nursing, Home Health Infusion.

If you love venipuncture like I did then yes,become an IV specialist as suggested. I also love pharmacology especially IV medications and anything given IV.This has been an an excellent compliment to my practice.

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It's all good if you have that skill. But it is not something to focus on. Much to learn grasshopper, get over the thrill of blood return.

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I draw a lot of blood in the ICU, but most of my patients have central lines, PICC lines, or art lines. I had q4 cbcs and lactates today along with q2 abg. But, I had an art line.

I just love to draw labs to analyze numbers.

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Specializes in Certified Vampire and Part-time Nursing Student.

It depends what state you're in but for most you don't need need any sort of certificate or licensure to work as a phlebotomist. If you already know the basics from working as a CNA if you are interested you could just apply to the phlebotomy department, the hospital I work at hires people with no experience; they say they "require" experience on their application but I've never seen them hire anyone with experience because they refuse to offer higher pay for experience ?. I am working as an inpatient phlebotomist now, I was a CNA before, but I was getting burnt out, it's a good change of pace.

It's a greaaaat skill, I just got my acceptance to nursing school and I'd like to think my IV game will be on point, I can already draw blood cultures & a rainbow from a stone. Honestly I feel pretty bad for our patients, our hospital hires a lot of new nurses who aren't allowed to practice on each other OR draw blood during their clinicals for BS CYA liability reasons and then they go on to massacre patients with huge veins trying to get in an IV. The patients are angry, but at the same time it's also not really the new nurses fault either. ?Knowing how to find veins will get you far.

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Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.

I'd guess ED, ICU, and L&D

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