Venipuncture is a medical term used to describe the act of puncturing a vein, whether to draw blood or to insert an intravenous, or IV, catheter. Venipuncture can be performed using butterfly needles, an IV catheter, or a simple needle attached to a blood collection tube. Performing venipuncture successfully takes hands-on practice, and practitioners should follow the venipuncture guidelines of their particular institution to ensure that proper policies and procedures are maintained.
Locating a Vein
Locating a vein to insert the needle is one of the most important steps in any venipuncture. For patient comfort, a tourniquet should not be left in place for longer than one minute at a time. If a vein is difficult to locate, the practitioner should remove the tourniquet and have the patient hang his arm over the side of the bed or chair for two minutes while squeezing a soft ball or other object. Warm compresses can also help dilate veins for easier vein location.
Consider the Patient
In the Patient's bill of Rights, a patient has the right to considerate and respectful care. When attempting a venipuncture, practitioners should not be afraid to ask for help or get another co-worker to perform the venipuncture if the first one or two attempts fail.
Sites to Avoid
The University of Arkansas explains that certain areas are to be avoided when performing a venipuncture. Any area on the hands or arms that has a scar or a healed burn should not be selected as a venipuncture site due to the thickness of the skin in that area. Any area that is bruised, or that has veins located above an IV site are off limits, as well.
Equipment and Procedure
Use the proper equipment for every venipuncture to avoid extra unnecessary needle sticks. Blood samples can hemolyze, or separate, if the needle used to obtain the blood sample is too small, if the blood was withdrawn from the vein too quickly, or if the blood collection tube was shaken excessively.
