Application
This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to confirm collection requirements, prepare client and equipment, and perform routine blood collections using venous blood collection.
This unit applies to any individual for whom blood collection is part of the job role. They may be working in collection centres, in hospitals or in other health care environments.
This unit relates to collections from adults of varied ages and genders, adolescents and children over 5 years of age. It does not include collections from babies, neonates, arterial collections or collections made via artificial access devices such as central lines, peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) lines, or intra venous (IV) catheter.
The skills in this unit must be applied in accordance with Commonwealth and State/Territory legislation, Australian/New Zealand standards and industry codes of practice.
Elements and Performance Criteria
ELEMENT | PERFORMANCE CRITERIA |
Elements define the essential outcomes | Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. |
1. Greet client and confirm pre-test criteria | 1.1 Greet client courteously and identify self 1.2 Identify client following organisation and regulatory procedures 1.3 Confirm that client meets pre-testing criteria for required collection 1.4 Obtain, interpret and accurately record personal and clinical information in accordance with organisation policies and procedures 1.5 Correctly explain collection procedure to client 1.6 Obtain consent for collection procedure from client |
2. Prepare for venous blood collection procedure | 2.1 Select appropriate collection site based on client evaluation 2.2 Assemble equipment appropriate to test requested site selected 2.3 Position client to ensure comfort and safety of both client and collector 2.4 Identify when assistance may be needed and seek help if required |
3. Draw blood | 3.1 Adopt standard and additional infection control guidelines and precautions according to organisation documented procedure 3.2 Clean site with approved cleansing agent and allow to air dry prior to collection 3.3 Apply and remove/loosen tourniquet according to requirements of equipment being used 3.4 Confirm suitable vein through palpation of site and clean skin according to organisation documented procedure 3.5 Anchor vein below the site according to documented procedure 3.6 Insert needle at approved angle of 30 degrees or less 3.7 Collect correct volume of blood in appropriate collection tubes in the approved order of draw, as recommended by the manufacturer 3.8 Once correct amount collected, withdraw needle and apply direct pressure to site using dry cotton swab for minimum of 2 minutes and until bleeding has visibly stopped 3.9 Dispose of needle immediately and safely using approved sharps disposal device 3.10 Invert collection tubes within timeframe required as recommended by manufacturer 3.11 Observe client before, during and after collection for potential adverse effects and respond according to procedure |
4. Follow post-blood collection procedures | 4.1 Accurately label blood collection tubes in front of client with time and date of collection, client details and other required information following regulatory and organisational guidelines 4.2 Dispose of waste in accordance with infection control protocols and organisation policies and procedures 4.3 Confirm tube labelling information accuracy with client 4.4 Confirm that site has visibly stopped bleeding after appropriate time lapse and apply dressing 4.5 Complete other collection documentation in accordance with organisation procedures 4.6 Provide client with correct post venepuncture care instructions 4.7 Prepare collected samples for transit or store |
Evidence of Performance
The candidate must show evidence of the ability to complete tasks outlined in elements and performance criteria of this unit, manage tasks and manage contingencies in the context of the job role. There must be evidence that the candidate has:
performed the activities outlined in the performance criteria of this unit during a period of at least 35 hours of pathology collection work under the supervision of a person currently working in a phlebotomist role for at least 18 hours per fortnight
followed established technical, infection control and safety procedures and collected blood suitable for testing using venous blood collection with a maximum of two attempts from at least 20 different people comprising adults of varied ages
used the following methods of collection:
evacuated system (at least 10 times)
winged infusion sets and/or needle and syringe as per organisation policy and procedure
Evidence of Knowledge
The candidate must be able to demonstrate essential knowledge required to effectively complete tasks outlined in elements and performance criteria of this unit, manage tasks and manage contingencies in the context of the work role. This includes knowledge of:
legal and ethical considerations for blood collection, and how these are applied in organisations:
children in the workplace
duty of care
informed consent
mandatory reporting
privacy, confidentiality and disclosure
records management
supportive holding for procedures (limitations)
work role boundaries
blood collection role in different contexts
sources of blood sample requests
work health and safety
standard infection control requirements for clinical procedures:
hand hygiene
use of personal protective equipment (PPE)
avoiding contact with bodily fluids
sharps injury prevention and treatment if sustained
waste disposal
industry terminology used in blood collection:
equipment
procedures
abbreviations
blood test names
appropriate venepuncture sites
clinical history and medication details
key aspects of human anatomy and physiology in relation to the vascular, arterial and nervous system and relevant to the variety of blood collection procedures and collection sites
components of blood in relation to quality blood samples and pre-analytical error:
serum plasma
red cells
white cells
platelets
clinical risks of blood collection procedures and procedures designed to minimise those risks
collection procedure factors which contribute to a quality sample collection and impact on laboratory testing
pre-analytical factors which may affect the chemical analysis of blood and impact on collection:
appropriate times to collect
impact of drugs
timing of last dose
required fasting times
protecting the integrity of the specimen
features, functions and use of venepuncture equipment:
evacuated systems – multi-sample needles and winged infusion sets
needles and syringes
tourniquets
cleansing solutions and swabs
collection tubes
blood sample handling, processing, transit and storage methods
requirements for selection and collection into tubes with variable additives:
ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA)
sodium citrate
lithium/sodium heparin
fluoride oxalate
separation gel
blood culture bottles
Assessment Conditions
Skills must have been demonstrated in the workplace with the addition of simulations and scenarios where the full range of contexts and situations have not been provided in the workplace. The following conditions must be met for this unit:
use of suitable facilities, equipment and resources, including:
tourniquets
collection tubes
syringes and needles and/or winged infusion set (butterfly)
multi-sample needle and holder
evacuated blood collection equipment
sharps containers
alcohol wipes
dressings
PPE
hand hygiene facilities
documented collection procedures for the candidate to follow
modelling of industry operating conditions, including:
interactions with clients from general public
presence of situations requiring problem solving in non-routine situations
supervision of candidate’s work activities by a person currently working in a phlebotomist role for at least 18 hours per fortnight
at least 5 of the 20 collections must be directly observed in workplace by the assessor
The following aspects of the performance evidence must have been demonstrated using simulation prior to demonstration in the workplace or with members of the general public:
venous blood collection technique using the following equipment
evacuated system
winged infusion sets
needle and syringe
Assessors must satisfy the Standards for Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) 2015/AQTF mandatory competency requirements for assessors.
Foundation Skills
The Foundation Skills describe those required skills (language, literacy, numeracy and employment skills) that are essential to performance. |
Foundation skills essential to performance are explicit in the performance criteria of this unit of competency. |