Skills Hub
phlebotomy-venipuncture
Hand or Wrist Venipuncture
Always tested on the Phlebotomy
Draw from hand or wrist veins as a last resort.
About this skill
Hand or wrist venipuncture as a last resort — these veins are smaller, more painful, and more fragile than antecubital veins. Use a butterfly needle only.
16 total steps
6 critical steps
Time limit: 8 min
What graders are watching for
- 1Use butterfly needle only
- 2Avoid thumb-side of wrist (artery risk)
- 3Apply pressure longer for hand veins
Common mistakes (and how to avoid them)
- !Using straight needle on hand/wrist
- !Drawing both hands after a failed first attempt
- !Not applying long enough pressure
Practice this skill step-by-step
The static walkthrough above is the marketing overview. The full step-by-step interactive practice (with critical-step highlighting, per-step "why this matters" rationale, and what graders watch for on each individual step) is unlocked with a subscription.
Related phlebotomy venipuncture skills
Routine Venipuncture (Vacuum Tube)
Perform a standard venipuncture using the evacuated tube system.
Butterfly Needle Collection (Winged Infusion Set)
Use a butterfly needle for fragile or hand veins.
Antecubital Vein Selection and Draw
Choose the right antecubital vein.
Blood Culture Collection
Collect blood cultures with strict antiseptic prep.