Venepuncture
The full procedure, start to finish
Consent, kit, tourniquet, anchoring, angle, order of draw and a clean finish.
WatchDigital resources
Learn it at 11pm,
the night before.
Downloadable, printable and written to be understood the first time. Because that is usually when you need it.
Instant digital download
The Needle Academy
Venepuncture Guide
Everything we teach, laid out properly: illustrated, indexed and written in plain English. The reference we wanted on our first placement.
13 pages
PDF, works on any device
Print it or keep it on your phone
Yours forever
Delivered to your inbox the moment you check out
Real pages from the guide
Feedback
Did it help?
If the guide or one of the films made something click, or left something out, tell us. It's the fastest way to make the next one better.
“Very engaging and clear. Educational and informative videos in terms of talking through the basic anatomy and steps for venepuncture. I can see this being useful for doctors as well as allied health professionals. I particularly liked the stepwise approach taken to teach how to take blood.”
“No jargon and easy to follow and understand.”
“Clear instructions and informative.”
“Helpful for medical students and new doctors.”
“The videos are clear and concise, filmed with good quality equipment and the information given is easy to follow.”
“Very clear and detailed explanations.”
“Very pithy and engaging.”
“Importance of holding needles and how to place in arm.”
“It was concise and easy to follow.”
Takes under two minutes.
Free · Technique video library
Watch it done, slowly.
Short films on venepuncture and cannulation technique, the bits that are hard to describe in words. Free to watch, no sign-up.
Watched one? Tell us what helped. It takes two minutes.
Cannulation
Placing your first cannula
Choosing a gauge, siting, flashback, advancing the cannula and securing it properly.
Watch
Cannulation
Blood sampling via a cannula
When and how to draw from a cannula, and the mistakes that spoil the sample.
Watch
Difficult veins
Dehydrated, fragile and older patients
What changes, what to try first, and when to stop and ask someone else.
Watch
Difficult access
Blood sampling from the hand
Smaller, more mobile veins: choosing your site, your gauge and your angle.
Watch
Coming soon
The blood bottle series
One tube per film. What's in it, what it's for, and where it sits in the order.
Watch the seriesKnow your bottles
Six tubes. One order. No more guessing.
The part everyone panics about. Tap a bottle to turn it over.
Bottle colours and the order of draw vary between trusts. Always check your local policy.
Pairs well with
The order of draw, round your neck.
Pocket Card 01: order of draw and tube inversion, £5.99.