CAP Pro Course - Phlebotomy - Venipuncture (2026 & 2027)

Continuing Education Credits

• P.A.C.E.® Contact Hours: 1.5 hours
• Florida Board of Clinical Laboratory Science CE Credit Hours -
  General: 1.5 hours

Objectives

• Recognize the importance of proper patient preparation for venipuncture and describe these steps including patient approach, positive patient identification, and pre-collection requirements necessary for safe blood collection.
• Identify blood collection tubes according to stopper color and additive and define the recommended order of draw sequence and its importance to specimen integrity.
• Describe the steps for correct venipuncture performance, including site selection and preparation, and acknowledge common blood collection procedural errors.
• Address appropriate post-venipuncture safety measures including needle safety, specimen labeling, and disposal of contaminated venipuncture supplies.
• Explain potential patient complications and specimen integrity concerns resulting from venipuncture that compromises specimen quality and patient care.

Course Outline

• Recognize the importance of proper patient preparation for venipuncture and describe these steps including patient approach, positive patient identification, and pre-collection requirements necessary for safe blood collection.
• Introduction to Venipuncture
• Patient Orders
• Specimen Collection Priorities
• Venipuncture Supplies
• Approaching the Patient
• Patient Care Partnership and Consent to Treatment
• Patient Identification
• Patient Preparation
• Ashley is a phlebotomist who has arrived at a patient's hospital room to collect a fasting blood sample for cholesterol. She knocks on the door, then ...
• The phlebotomist is notified to collect blood for a stat crossmatch on a hospitalized patient who requires immediate and unexpected surgery. Upon ente...
• A phlebotomist is called to the emergency department (ED) to collect priority stat blood specimens from a trauma patient. The phlebotomist reports to ...
• Handwashing is the single most important thing a phlebotomist can do in order to prevent the spread of infection from one patient to another. When sho...
• Multiple orders for different tests with differing priorities are received in the laboratory for a hospitalized patient. The phlebotomist responsible ...
• Identify blood collection tubes according to stopper color and additive and define the recommended order of draw sequence and its importance to specimen integrity.
• Blood Collection Tube Basics: The Evacuated Tube System
• Understanding Serum versus Plasma Requirements
• Blood Collection Additives
• The Order of Draw
• Maintaining Specimen Integrity
• Kate, the phlebotomist in the outpatient clinic today, receives an order for patient blood work for a test requiring serum. From the choices below, wh...
• The quality of any laboratory result is crucially dependent on the collection of a quality specimen. A physician orders the following tests (note the ...
• The order of draw in venipuncture is important for which of the following reasons?
• A patient has a standing order for a CBC. The new phlebotomist selects a lavender-top tube for this draw. She notices, upon inspection of the tube, th...
• Blood collection tube additives can have different functions. Which of the following is NOT one of these functions?
• Describe the steps for correct venipuncture performance, including site selection and preparation, and acknowledge common blood collection procedural errors.
• Proper Site Selection and Sites to Avoid
• Cleansing the Site and Proper Tourniquet Application
• Performing the Venipuncture
• Common Venipuncture Procedural Errors
• A test that requires a minimum of 2 mL of blood is requested on an adult patient. The phlebotomist is assessing a site for venipuncture and notices th...
• Which antecubital vein should be considered as the last choice for use in venipuncture?
• Which action should the phlebotomist take after cleansing the venipuncture site with 70% alcohol?
• Which site listed is the best option for the phlebotomist to perform a routine venipuncture?
• Address appropriate post-venipuncture safety measures including needle safety, specimen labeling, and disposal of contaminated venipuncture supplies.
• Needle Safety Features and Disposal Methods
• Specimen Labeling
• Safe Disposal of Venipuncture Supplies
• Alaina has completed her first-morning collection worklist and returned to the laboratory to accession and deliver the specimens to the appropriate de...
• A young outpatient pulls their arm away as soon as the needle enters the vein during a venipuncture procedure. The phlebotomist acts quickly to stop t...
• At what point in a routine venipuncture procedure should the blood tubes be labeled?
• Which of the following is true with regard to venipuncture needles?
• Explain potential patient complications and specimen integrity concerns resulting from venipuncture that compromises specimen quality and patient care.
• Avoidance of Preanalytical Errors
• Potential Patient Complications
• Specimen Integrity Issues
• A phlebotomist enters a patient's room with an order for a fasting blood glucose. The patient is just finishing breakfast. Which of these actions is m...
• Ashley, a seasoned phlebotomist, has just met a patient who has a lot of blood work, priority stat. The patient's nurse has also just announced that t...
• How should tubes be handled after successfully collecting the blood specimens?
• What is the maximum time a tourniquet can remain on the arm before it is removed or released and then reapplied?
• References
• References

Additional Information