Items you must have before starting the procedure of a venipuncture:

1. Surgical tape
2. A Cotton Ball
3. Latex free glove
4. Needle with right size gauge
5. Test tubes
6. Alcohol Wipes- 70% isopropyl alcohol
7. Test Tubes for each test being ordered
8. Sharps Box for disposal of needle

Overview of Procedure:

1. Properly greet the patient and notify them what you will be doing.
2. Lay out all of your tools and items necessary for the procedure
3. Place tubes in an area that will be easy for you to grab them once you have begun
the procedure
4. Have the patient give you his/her arm and begin feeling and looking for an antecubital
vein.
5. Once you have found the location of the vein obtain the tourniquet and place it on
the arm about two to three fingers above the area you are going to draw from.
6. Open the alcohol wipes package
7. Remove the alcohol wipe from the package and gently wipe the are you will puncture
8. Place alcohol wipe aside
9. Place a glove on the hand that will be touching the needle, the other hand can have a
glove if felt necessary
10. Take the needle and remove the safety cap
11. With one hand pull the area of the vein taught
12. With your other hand take the needle and puncture the vein at a forty five degree
angle.
13. With the hand that is not holding the needle grab you first test tube and connect the
vaccutainer to the needle.
14. Once the tube has filled three quarters of the way removed the tube.
15. After you have removed the tube place the tube aside and then add the other tubes
one at a time to the same volume of three quarters
16. Remove the tourniquet with one hand while still stabilizing the needle with your other
hand
17. With your newly free hand take a cotton ball and place it gently above the location
where the needle is in the vein.
18. Gently and slowly remove the needle
19. Once the needle is removed apply pressure with the cotton ball
20. Cover the needle with the slip cover
21. Ask the patient to hold the cotton ball tightly in position so you can use both hands
for the next steps
22. Place the needle in the sharps box
23. Remove glove, and throw away glove, needle safety cover and used alcohol wipe
24. Grab the surgical tape and cut a piece about four inches long
25. Place the tape on top of the cotton ball and have the patient remove their finger at the
same time
26. Pick up all the filled test tubes and with a sharpie pen or marker fill out the proper
patient information on the test tube’s label