Patient Preparation: NHA CPT Phlebotomy topic guide
Patient Preparation carries 20% of the NHA CPT Phlebotomy blueprint used in this course, the third-largest of its 5 weighted areas. It spans 6 concepts. The course teaches it in 1 study unit: Patient Preparation.
What Patient Preparation covers
- What is the two-identifier rule and why is room number NOT acceptable? — Reputable phlebotomy textbook + CLIA/Joint Commission patient-ID standard
- What must a phlebotomist do if a patient refuses a blood draw? — Ruth McCall Phlebotomy Essentials
- What must be verified from the test requisition before performing the venipuncture? — Ruth McCall Phlebotomy Essentials
- How should fasting requirements be checked before collecting an ordered fasting glucose or lipid test? — Targeted correction authority: https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/pdf/10.1161/CIR.0000000000001423. Earlier reference: Ruth McCall Phlebotomy Essentials
- How should a patient be positioned for venipuncture, and what risk does improper positioning address? — Ruth McCall Phlebotomy Essentials
- What is chain of custody, and which types of specimens require it?
Common mistakes in Patient Preparation
- Room number is an acceptable patient identifier (WRONG; two independent identifiers required)
- Matching the wristband alone is sufficient (WRONG; must verify against the requisition)
- Non-fasting samples are acceptable for glucose or lipid panels (WRONG; non-fasting invalidates the result)
- A chain-of-custody specimen does not require tamper-evident seals (WRONG)
Key terms for Patient Preparation
Two-identifier rule · Requisition · Chain of custody
How Patient Preparation connects to other areas
- What is the two-identifier rule and why is room number NOT acceptable? links to What are the 11 steps of the venipuncture procedure in order? — Routine Blood Collections
- What is chain of custody, and which types of specimens require it? links to When and where should specimen tubes be labeled after a blood draw? — Processing
- How should a patient be positioned for venipuncture, and what risk does improper positioning address? links to What are the correct immediate responses to syncope, hematoma, nerve injury, and petechiae during a draw? — Processing
- What is the two-identifier rule and why is room number NOT acceptable? links to When and where should specimen tubes be labeled after a blood draw? — Processing
- How should fasting requirements be checked before collecting an ordered fasting glucose or lipid test? links to What is the correct collection procedure for a Glucose Tolerance Test? — Special Collections
- What is the two-identifier rule and why is room number NOT acceptable? links to Why is patient identification especially critical for blood bank / type & crossmatch specimens? — Special Collections
Official references for Patient Preparation
- Reputable phlebotomy textbook + CLIA/Joint Commission patient-ID standard
- Ruth McCall Phlebotomy Essentials
- Targeted correction authority: https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/pdf/10.1161/CIR.0000000000001423. Earlier reference: Ruth McCall Phlebotomy Essentials
In the app this area comes with 7 memory cards and 24 module-quiz questions in the full course.