Nursing and Blood Draw

naughtoj

naughtoj

Cathlete
Can you do blood draws as a nurse? I had my blood done today at a lab and the phlebotomy girl told me that nurses don't get taught anymore how to draw blood and that they are actually "bad" at taking blood, in her opinion. I thought Block 1 of nursing school taught you this? No?


Also, as a nurse, can you get positions as a phlebotomist (this will depend on answer above:), or as a MA? I know you would be paid less, but just as a second job or something?


Thanks in advance to the nurses here that will reply!
 
That is one of the most ridiculous things I've heard. While most hospitals have their labs drawn by phlebotomists because a nurse is already overworked & overburdened with patients, an RN still knows how to draw blood, just as a physician. Granted, a phlebotomist may be a better drawer than a nurse depending on their experience, it is still a requirement to know. Another point is, as a nurse, you have to start IVs which is more difficult than a simple blood draw. A phlebotomist does NOT start an IV or is allowed to take blood from that line if it is hep-locked.

As a nursing student, you could work as a phlebotomist (if you don't need some sort of certification) until you graduate. Most hospitals have tuition assistance programs for their employees to further their education.

Marla
 
I've been a nurse for 15 years and have always done blood draws, with the exception being the three years i spend in the hospital nursing, only because the lab phlebotomists do it then.
I worked home health for years, and blood draws were one of our skills we used everyday. Now i work in outpatient oncology and do sometimes 15 or so blood draws daily.

Just an FYI for this phlebotomistx( nurses are better at blood draws because we have IV skills as well. You have to be very skilled at sticking veins to do IV's.

:) Wendy
 
At my hospital, nurses draw blood from patients with lines or hep-locks. Also, the ER nurses and the OB nurses drawn their own patients blood. Otherwise, the phlebotomy team does the IV's. Also, the phlebs do all the IV's, too. And Holter moniters and EKGs.

A nurse could get a job as a phleb, but what a pay cut!!
 
1. Yes nurses can do blood draws.
2. Yes, nurses do get taught how to draw blood but it may not be as long as another course.
3. Yes, some nurse are bad at obtaining blood and that is because, either they don't want to do it, don't like to do it, or they just suck at it.
4. Yes, as a nurse you can get a job as a phleb if you want a second income, it will work.

And by the way, I'm a lab tech, turned to phelbotomy because I like the interaction with patients more. Turned to massage cause I wanted to make unhappy stressed out nurses happy. lol. I'm very good at my job and I love my job. When you love it, you tend to do it very well, small veins, hand veins, ropes and all. it is a skill that some go into and still just don't get how to do it.

I believe each hospital or facility has their way of who does what. Some places the nurses draw, some the phlebs draw, some the IV team draws. We all respect each others skills and take care of the patient.

In our ER, the nurse do the draws and the phlebotomists do *the hard sticks*.


~~TyTbody~~
Working towards Perpetual Motion
 
Thank you everyone. I figured there was something this phleb was not telling me. I am trying to get a job with a local company here in Phoenix called Healthwaves. They do corporate health and wellness screenings/exercise programs/blood draws for various blood panels. Looked like a neat PT job while in school. I have sent my resume in so we'll see...Keep your fingers crossed!:)
 
nurses can draw blood..........and if you are looking for a 2nd job........i suggest an agency. my speciality is hemodialysis/apheresis.........and if i want extra cash..i can go thru an agency, go to a desperate staffing crisis, and make 300 bucks for a few hour session........so i wouldnt consider phelb. as a 2nd job.......i am GREEDY}( }( LOL
 
yes.......i have been in that field for 11 of my 13 years as a RN. dialysis is great as i dont work sundays or holidays...the on call rotates between so many of us...its like every 19th Xmas i am on call!!!LOL!!! i get to go to the icu and do a treatment one on one or work in the actual unit, and have 2-3 patients........which is alot better than floor nursing ratios. apheresis is always one on one.....we treat many many different autoimmune diseases, as well as transplants, sickle cell patients etc. i worked for 2 years in a physicians group, going to see patients in community based centers, rounding for the MD's........and this now requires a masters degree,......so i am in school part time to become a nurse practitioner.

i know you have been debating about careers, but nursing is so varied....if i wanted to learn how to deliver babies tomorrow, the opportunity is there:D as well as school nursing,occupational health, surgery....the list is truly endless.......and i know of NO other job that is secure as mine!!
 
Janice,
Working for a company that does the screenings is a great way to get some PT work while in school. I did something similar when i was in school but it was for insurance exams. Was very flexible.
I work now in outpatient oncology which I really like. It is a monday thru friday job, w/ no weekends or holidays. We do IV's and blood draws all the time. I do some hourly work for home health for extra money. It is very flexible too, i just tell them when how long i can work and they give me patients to go visit!

Anyway, good luck to you!
 
Thanks Joanna. Your words of optimism help more than you know. Good Luck to you in your NP program. I think that would be great to do one day too!!
 
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