Phlebotomy Course

Overview: This course was designed to provide health professionals with additional skills that will allow them to draw blood as an added skill within their existing profession. This additional training may also provide opportunity for movement within an individual's existing career. For instance an RN may work as a duty nurse at a hospital and after successfully completing the Phlebotomy course may pick up shifts as an RN working for a private insurance company performing assessments in people's homes.

Course Location: Stenberg College, Surrey Campus

Credential Upon Completion: Certificate

Admission Requirements:

  • Registration open to allied health professionals

Note: Stenberg College MLA Alumni can take this course free of charge as a refresher

    Course Description:
    This module focuses on the laboratory tests that aid in the diagnosis of disorder allowing a phlebotomy professional to become familiar with the common diagnostics tests ordered. The importance of accurate documentation and specimen handling will be discussed in this course. The latest safety supplies and phlebotomy equipment will be will be utilized. All aspects of phlebotomy are the highlight of this module such as:

    • Venipuncture
    • Blood Collection Equipment
    • Documentation, Specimen Handling and Transportation
    • Preanalytical Complications in Blood Collection

    Blood Collection Equipment

    • Blood collection tubes and additives
    • Venipuncture equipment (vacutainer tube holder system and parts)
    • Specimen type and collection vacuum tubes
    • Anticoagulants in each tube type, color coding system and how the anticoagulants work
    • Gray top tubes
    • Green top tubes
    • Purple/lavender top tubes
    • Light blue top tubes
    • Red top tubes
    • Serum Separator tubes
    • Plasma Separator tubes
    • CLSI Standards order of draw
    • Safety needles and holders
    • Butterfly needles
    • Sharps disposal
    • Gloves for blood collection and review universal precautions
    • Antiseptics for cleaning skin, sterile gauze and different bandage

    1. Venipuncture Procedures:

    • Essential steps in the preparation for blood collection
    • Needlestick prevention strategies
    • Review hand hygiene and gloving procedures

    Equipment selection and patient preparation:

    • Choosing the correct tubes and supplies
    • Positioning the patient
    • Selection of venipuncture site
    • Warming the puncture site
    • Tourniquet application
    • Decontamination of the puncture site (choosing alcohol pad vs. iodine)

    Venipuncture methods:

    • Evacuated tube system, winged infusion system or butterfly method
      Bandage and proper disposal (use once and discard immediately policy)
    • Order of tube collection following the NCCLS guidelines and special considerations for coagulation testing
    • Specimen labeling
    • Assessing the patient before leaving

    Factors for specimen rejection:

    • Inadequate (NSQ) blood volume
    • Hemolyzed or clotted specimens
    • Specimens improperly transported (chilled vs. room temp)
    • Use of outdated supplies

    2. Specimen Handling and Processing

    • Tube mixing
    • Transporting specimens
    • Specimens received in the pneumatic tube
    • Central processing
    • Centrifugation – waiting times for plasma vs. serum
    • Operating, balancing a centrifuge
    • Aliquot preparation

    Instructional Technique: Lectures, instructor demonstration, PowerPoint presentations, handouts, and sharing relevant experiences

    Student Evaluation: Based on participation, quiz, phlebotomy assessment, and successful completion of 20 venipunctures

    Student Evaluation: Texts & Materials: Phlebotomy Essentials 4th edition by Ruth E. McCall

    Objectives / Purpose: Upon completing this course, students should be able to:

    • Demonstrate the ability to successfully and safely perform venipunctures
    • List the CLSI order of draw
    • Practice proper aliquots
    • Exhibit the ability to palpate for proper vein selection
    • Execute proper centrifuge balancing
    • Display the ability to troubleshoot problems during collection
    • Explain proper tube mixing
    • Identify and prepare blood collection supplies
    • List proper safety equipment used to protect the phlebotomy professional
    • Demonstrate proper hand hygiene
    • Identify various anticoagulants used in vacutainer tubes
    • Define the difference between plasma vs. serum
    • Execute proper disposal of sharps

    Course Fee:

    • $350.00 (includes tuition and materials)
    • $245.00 (there is a 30% Discount for Stenberg Alumni )

    Upcoming Course Dates:

    This course is available on a group registration basis only; to arrange for an offering, please contact Tammy Quan, Career and Alumni Services Coordinator at tquan@stenbergcollege.com
    First Name: *
    Last Name: *
    Email: *
    Phone: *
    ( )
    City:
    		 Province:
    When would you like to start?
    High School Graduation Year:
    Program of interest:*
    Where did you hear about us:
    Other

    Over 92% of our graduates are working in their field of study within 6 months of graduation

    2012 - 2013 2011 - 2012 2010 - 2011