Phlebotomy / Venepuncture Training

Our Phlebotomy and Venepuncture training equips delegates with the skills and knowledge needed to take blood safely and appropriately.

Applicable to Nurses, Health Care Assistants and Phlebotomists in primary care, the community, hospitals or nursing homes, this course is interactive and involves a practical session on performing blood tests. This course will give delegates the theoretical and practical awareness to become competent in taking blood safely and appropriately. Each delegate will leave with a competence-based framework to allow them to do this.

This phlebotomy course has a recommendation rate of over 98% and is accredited by the Royal College of General Practitioners. On completion, candidates will be awarded a certificate of attendance and 6 CPD points.

All Annie Barr Associates clinical courses are led by trainers who are qualified healthcare professionals with a wealth of clinical and teaching experience. Non-clinical courses are delivered by suitably qualified and experienced professionals who are experts on the subject matter.

Please note: This is a full day course. Delegates are asked to arrive at the venue for registration at 9.30am. The training will take place from 10.00am - 4.00pm. Practicals in this session will be carried out on dummy arms and will not involve live blood draws.

Aims & Objectives

• Identify and describe equipment used for routine venepuncture
• Be able to assess and select suitable sites used for venepuncture as well as locations to avoid
• Describe and utilize the required steps to perform routine venepuncture
• Describe actions that ensure safety during performance of a venepuncture
• Identify suitable vein selection and identify factors influencing this
• Understand relevant professional and legal issues
• Be able to identify potential complications
• Understand anatomy and physiology and correct vein selection
• Be familiar with equipment and exercise choice in using most appropriate equipment
• Practice safely in terms of infection control and waste management
• Become skilled and competent at phlebotomy
• To recognise any complications arising and be able to take the appropriate action

Course Content

• Background and importance of training and competence
• Supervision and practice
• Scope and responsibilities
• Accountability
• Professional and legal issues
• Consent and capacity
• What is phlebotomy?
• Tools of the trade-equipment
• Needles and patient safety
• Blood collection systems and devices
• Syringes and when to use them
• Blood collection tubes
• Labelling
• Anatomy and physiology
• Vein Selection: - Identification of Veins - Arm Veins - Hand Veins
• Vein assessment
• Unacceptable sites for venous collection
• Venepuncture procedure
• Attempts
• Order of Fill
• Specimen collection procedures
• Specimen handling post-phlebotomy
• Personal protective equipment
• Needle stick injuries
• Legislation-EU Directives
• Disposal
• Needle phobias
• Dealing with anxiety/fainting etc.
• Practical session
• Potential Complications (including infection control)
• Practical Application - techniques and troubleshooting
• Case scenarios
• Troubleshooting
• Audit

• Nurses
• HCA’s
• Those interested in careers as Phlebotomists

Delegates will be provided with a competence-based framework and materials to take back to their place of work, however will not be signed off as competent in the training session. We therefore recommend that delegates are in a place of work in which they will have access to a mentor that are themselves competent in this clinical skill to assess their competence.