Venipuncture Flashcards
There are two main indications for performing a venipuncture:
○ Obtaining venous blood for lab testing
○ Therapy: Therapeutic
Phlebotomy is the treatment of choice for a condition called Polycythemia Vera
Some relative contraindications of venipuncture include:
○ Local infection
○ Phlebitis
○ Venous obstruction
○ Burns
○ Traumatic injury
○ Local lymphedema
○ Local vascular anomaly (AV fistula)
○ Close proximity of local infusion catheter to the desired phlebotomy
Rare but more serious complications of venipuncture include_____
diaphoresis
with hypotension (2.6%) and syncope (<1%)
The needed equipment for Venipuncture includes:
○ Gloves
○ Tourniquet
○ Alcohol swab
○ Vacutainer Needle
○ Needle holder
○ Vacutainer tube(s)
○ 2 x 2 gauze pad
○ Coban or medical tape
The most common location for a simple venipuncture is in the veins of the
____
antecubital fossa
Placing the tourniquet above the elbow while you look for the best vein is
acceptable, but do not leave it on for more than ____
about 1 minute
With your dominant hand, hold your venipuncture needle with the bevel facing
____
upwards
When performing venipuncture, Enter the skin at an angle ____
less than 30 degrees, preferably 15-30
Be careful to not advance the needle too far, as this can puncture through
the vein “infiltrate,” which may result in a ____
hematoma
If you are using a ____, you
will see a small “flash” of blood appear
in the tubing near the needle when
your needle is within the vein
butterfly needle
If multiple venipuncture tubes are to be drawn, follow the right order
- Sterile blood culture tubes or vials
- Blue top tubes - Sodium Citrate
- Serum tubes - all kinds
- Green top tubes - Heparin
- Purple or Lavender top tubes - EDTA
- Gray top tubes - Glycolytic inhibitor
Citrated Tube color
light blue
Serum tube colors
Red
Tiger
Gold
Heparin tube color
Green
Glycolytic tube color
Grey
