Phlebotomy is the act of drawing or removing blood from the circulatory system through a cut (incision) or puncture in order to obtain a sample for analysis and diagnosis. Phlebotomy is also done as part of the patient’s treatment for certain blood disorders.
Phlebotomy is when someone uses a needle to take blood from a vein, usually in your arm. Also called a blood draw or venipuncture, it’s an important tool for diagnosing many medical conditions. Usually the blood is sent to a laboratory for testing. But sometimes the blood is withdrawn as a treatment for certain medical conditions. This is called therapeutic phlebotomy. It removes extra red blood cells, unusually shaped red blood cells, or extra iron in the blood. The objective of the course is to learn the fundamentals of phlebotomy as they relate to patient care.
The objective of the Phlebotomy Certificate Program at Futures Canadian College is to learn the fundamentals and essentials of phlebotomy as the procedure relates to patient care. Upon successful completion of this course the student will be able to:
- Explain basic anatomy and physiology of the circulatory system.
- Define “standard precautions” related with blood collection and handling.
- Practice the use of medical terminology relating to the circulatory system.
- List methods of client and specimen identification.
- List the different colours used to code blood specimens and what they stand for.
- Demonstrate how to dispense blood into tubes following syringe collection.
- Outline post-puncture care of the client.
- List potential pre-analytical sources of specimen error.
Graduates may find employment in a variety of care settings including:
- Long-term care facilities
- Home care services giving care to clients living in their own homes in the community
- Supportive housing settings including senior’s apartments and retirement homes
- Group homes
- Hospitals
- Adult day programs
- Educational facilities
