Skill Checklists for Taylor's Clinical Nursing Skills: A Nursing Process Approach

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Copyright © 2011 by Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. Skill Checklists for Taylor's Clinical Nursing Skills:

Skill Checklists for Taylor's Clinical Nursing Skills:

A Nursing Process Approach, 3rd edition

Name Date

Unit Position

Instructor/Evaluator: Position

SKILL 18-9

Using Venipuncture to Collect a Venous

Blood Sample for Routine Testing

Goal:An uncontaminated specimen is obtained without

causing anxiety, injury, or infection to the patient Comments

1. Gather the necessary supplies. Check product expiration
   dates. Identify ordered tests and select the appropriate
   blood-collection tubes.


2. Bring necessary equipment to the bedside stand or overbed
   table.


3. Perform hand hygiene and put on PPE, if indicated.


4. Identify the patient. Explain the procedure. Allow the
   patient time to ask questions and verbalize concerns
   about the venipuncture procedure.


5. Close curtains around bed and close the door to the room,
   if possible.


6. Check the specimen label with the patient’s identification
   bracelet. Label should include the patient’s name and iden-
   tification number, time specimen was collected, route of
   collection, identification of the person obtaining the sample,
   and any other information required by agency policy.


7. Provide for good light. Artificial light is recommended.
   Place a trash receptacle within easy reach.


8. Assist the patient to a comfortable position, either sitting
   or lying. If the patient is lying in bed, raise the bed to a
   comfortable working height, usually elbow height of the
   caregiver (VISN 8 Patient Safety Center, 2009).


9. Determine the patient’s preferred site for the procedure
   based on his or her previous experience. Expose the arm,
   supporting it in an extended position on a firm surface,
   such as a tabletop. Position self on the same side of the
   patient as the site selected. Apply a tourniquet to the upper
   arm on the chosen side approximately 3 to 4 inches above
   the potential puncture site. Apply sufficient pressure to
   impede venous circulation but not arterial blood flow.


10. Put on gloves. Assess the veins using inspection and palpa-
    tion to determine the best puncture site. Refer to the
    Assessment information above.
    11.Release the tourniquet. Check that the vein has
    decompressed (Lavery & Ingram, 2005).

ExcellentSatisfactoryNeeds Practice

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