Dear Phlebotomy and IV-Skills Student
Thank you for investing in an Apprentice Doctor® Venipuncture Kit and welcome to an amazing Venipuncture Course.
Access your Online Phlebotomy and IV-Skills course at the Future Doctors Academy:
HERE
Registration (with email activation) required. Scroll down to the bottom of the page to ‘enroll’.
You have your Venipuncture Kit, would you like to become a certified phlebotomy technician?
The Apprentice Corporation is synergizing with CareerStep by Carrus Healthcare Training Platform. Their phlebotomy program prepares learners to become employed and practice in all 50 states after they sit for the national certification offered by NHA, Certified Phlebotomy Technician: www.careerstep.com/certify/healthcare/phlebotomy-technician/ Included in the program enrollment cost is a certification exam voucher and an externships where you will have the opportunity to complete clinical hours coordinated by CareerStep to gain valuable hands-on experience.
Follow the course material systematically. Multiple instructional videos are included in the online course!
Best wishes with your course
Enjoy it!
Dr. Anton and the Apprentice Team
Common Questions and answers:
I cannot get a flashback when I use the butterfly needles or the venous cannulas – do you have advice for me:
Certainly! When using the butterfly needle or the IV cannula, one should see a flashback of blood when successfully entering a vein/fake vein.
The flashback is not a function of the arm/mini-arm. It is not a lousy arm if you don’t get a flashback.
A successful flashback is a function of the following:
- The venous pressure in the fake vein
- The gauge diameter of the needle
- The viscosity of the fake blood
- Successful entry into the vein with the needle
Let’s discuss these topics one at a time:
The venous pressure in the artificial vein
One can get a better flashback by raising the pressure in the fake vein. Do this by elevating the fluid reservoir bag by about 6 inches (15 cm) at a time.
The gauge diameter of the needle
A smaller diameter needle, e.g., 22 G and higher – gives a slow/weak flashback. A broader diameter needle – 21 G or lower – offers a better flashback. On the downside, large-diameter needles damage the fake veins more and limit the service time of the arm.
It follows that by using a larger diameter needle, one would see a better flashback.
The viscosity of the fake blood
The higher the viscosity, the lower the chances of getting a good flashback. If you use fake blood – it might be a problem as many fake blood recipes include corn syrup, making the blood quite viscous. Real un-clotted blood is fairly non-viscous. We recommend using tap water and a few drops of red food colorant to be used as fake blood. Clean thoroughly after each session of use.
Open the inflow roller and clip clamps (if applicable)
If any of the inflow clamps are closed – the venous pressure will stay close to zero – and you will not get a flashback.
Successful entry into the vein with the needle
No matter how high the venous pressure and how large-bore needle you use – if you haven’t penetrated the vein successfully – then you will never get a flashback! Suggestion – keep on practicing! Also, if you did not enter the fake vein successfully – then your vacutainer will lose its vacuum, and it will be spoilt.