Are phlebotomy skills useful?

[mustangsally65]

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I'm still pre-med and I'm taking a phlebotomy course this semester at a local community college. I'd love to hear any stories about how useful this skill is in med school or during clinical rotations, because I'm kind of dreading going to class tomorrow and it'd be nice to have something positive to think about.

I did talk with a second-year a few weeks ago and she told me that she wished she'd been able to take a phlebotomy class before med school, so I assume it's useful at most places where you do preceptorships and rotations. But tomorrow's my second day of class with five other people who are very different from me and it's kind of hard to stay positive.

Thanks, guys!

 

[Dr JPH]

I did some phlebotomy work prior to medical school. It was definately helpful because just like many other skills you learn in medical school its often a "quick demo, do it and go practice it" approach. There just isnt enough time to dedicate a full primary care skills lab to: blood draws, IVs, intubation, airway management, etc. Most of your learning will come from residents in the hospital, although I recommend spending time with the IV nurses...they are generally the best.

When am I really glad that I am good at venipuncture? When I dont feel like waiting for the nurses or IV team to come around. Also in the ER when things get crazy and there arent enough hands to do the work...and no one is there to teach you if its busy.

 

[matthew45]

You know another good thing is just getting used to sticking needles into people. In all seriousness it takes a while to get used to procedural stuff and why not get some experience w/ it before med school?

 

[mustangsally65]

I think I know that it will be a useful skill, and that it's a great way to spend a semester since I'm done with undergrad/post bacc. Today was a bit better in class, I got to be the person the teacher demonstrated on, and I was told I had great veins. Apparently they jump right out when the tourniquet is applied.

And I definitely need the practice to be more comfortable around patients and also to have steady hands. It will be a good experience for me, so I think I will stick with it.

Thanks!

 

[bldavis11]

i think the most important skill you'll learn is how to interact with the patient during a less than optimal situation. it'll go a long way for you.

best of luck,
davis

 

[docslytherin]

i did phlebotomy for four years before med school, working both in a large hospital (~800 beds) and at a large oncology clinic and think that it really helped more now that i'm out on rotations. it's great to be able to say "can i start that iv for you?" or "would you like me to go draw that instead of waiting for the lab to get here?"

granted, you need to be able to do it when you offer, but it's a great skill to have. it's more that a lot of attendings will see that you're interested in being actively involved instead of just coasting through your month rotation...

 

[nitecap]

Though it is a good skill to know face it the only MD's that start IV's on a reg basis anesthesiologist. All other service most of the time cant start a periph IV for their life. Nurses are usually more effective in inserting IV's besides anesthesia, no offense or anything they just do it way more often and have done way more. Practice make perfect.

 

[mustangsally65]

Though it is a good skill to know face it the only MD's that start IV's on a reg basis anesthesiologist. All other service most of the time cant start a periph IV for their life. Nurses are usually more effective in inserting IV's besides anesthesia, no offense or anything they just do it way more often and have done way more. Practice make perfect.

I was thinking it would be more useful on clinical rotations and during residency, which is why I posted it in this forum. No offense taken 😉 . I was just wondering if students used the skill a lot during 3rd and 4th year and during residency.

 

[10/10]

I've successfully avoided getting anywhere near a patient with a needle, which I think is probably for the best in terms of patient care. If I can make it through third year without doing a single procedure, I'll be all the happier for it. Hoorah for pathology!

 

[robotsonic]

How is it possible that there is an entire college course on phlebotomy? Drawing blood and putting in IVs isn't that difficult. And really, you learn it pretty quickly in third year and after that can offer to draw as much blood as you want.

 

[mustangsally65]

How is it possible that there is an entire college course on phlebotomy? Drawing blood and putting in IVs isn't that difficult. And really, you learn it pretty quickly in third year and after that can offer to draw as much blood as you want.

I'm taking this at a community college and four weeks are class time and the remaining three months of the semester are spent in a clinical setting. We are learning how to draw with different types of devices (syringes, vacutainers, butterflies) and how to do blood smears on slides, finger sticks etc. We also learn what tests go with what color tubes (BD), what additives there are in the different tubes, what different departments of the hospital do what kinds of tests (immunohematology, microbiology, hematology, chemistry etc.) so there is more information than I thought there would be. At the end of the semester you receive a certificate from the community college and you can take national certification exams and be certified in phlebotomy.

 

[Dr. Who MD]

I applied for a phleb job after my freshman year in college. I did my 50 sticks in outpatient in under a week and was ready to hit the floors by the next week. It's not too hard to get down, I don't know how you could draw it out to a full course.

 

[nebrfan]

I'm taking this at a community college and four weeks are class time and the remaining three months of the semester are spent in a clinical setting. We are learning how to draw with different types of devices (syringes, vacutainers, butterflies) and how to do blood smears on slides, finger sticks etc. We also learn what tests go with what color tubes (BD), what additives there are in the different tubes, what different departments of the hospital do what kinds of tests (immunohematology, microbiology, hematology, chemistry etc.) so there is more information than I thought there would be. At the end of the semester you receive a certificate from the community college and you can take national certification exams and be certified in phlebotomy.

Wow - there aren't any regulations here in Nebraska (at least not when I phlebottled 😉 ). I followed around one of the lab assistants for 3-4 days and was sent out on my own. It's not that hard to remember what color is for what and in what order to draw - I can't imagine they're requiring that long of a course.

 

[fab4fan]

I think I will stick with it.

Hahaha! Pretty good!

 

[CANES2006]

I was just wondering if students used the skill a lot during 3rd and 4th year and during residency.

No, not at all. I've done it in health fairs during 1st and 2nd year, but never during 3rd or 4th year. In fact, the only blood that I have drawn during third year were from the femorals in trauma--slightly different experience. It's just not a useful procedure to perform. The techs can do that a whole lot better than I can and I really don't care to perform the task. I much rather learn how to do other procedures that will be useful for me as a physician in day to day practice.

 

[THP]

I applied for a phleb job after my freshman year in college. I did my 50 sticks in outpatient in under a week and was ready to hit the floors by the next week. It's not too hard to get down, I don't know how you could draw it out to a full course.

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