0000005419 00000 n The WHO has set forth the following standards of patient care for hospitals to adhere by: They also identify dangerous and unsafe practices for blood draws including, >> Related: Arterial Blood Gases (ABGs) Explained. As we mentioned, it is your duty as a medical professional to ensure the patient that everything will be ok. The veins we have are the veins we will have for life. Drawing blood from the elderly, young children, and infants can also be a challenge. Below are several tips and tricks that you can use when you are faced with a difficult blood draw. Avoid exaggerated hyperextension, which can be uncomfortable for the elderly. For example, Red Cross Blood has pointed out that many individuals will have had blood drawn before and may be able to point out the vein that was used in that procedure.2 If this is the case, you can streamline the process of locating the proper vein to draw from. Massage the vein. You want to lessen the number of sticks you give to the elderly. Warn the patient that they will experience a sharp scratch. Make sure bleeding at the puncture site has stopped and the site is cared for. 2. This, in turn, can cause increases in your blood pressure. This will fill them up much quicker which is a great way to finish procedure faster if you have a troublesome patient. 0000018898 00000 n Donating Platelets? Specializes in Wound Care. Here are the basic steps to drawing blood: The first step in drawing blood correctly is to identify the appropriate veins to puncture. Once blood is seen in the tubing, connect the vacutainers or use a syringe to drawback. Next step is explaining the procedure. WebApply a warm cloth or towel to the arm to cause the veins to dilate. Create an account and get 24 hours access for free. Re: the 2 tourniquet trick (above and below). I've been an RN for almost 3 years and an ED tech prior to that (which is where I learned my IV skills- nursing school sure didn't teach me much!). After identifying the site for the blood draw, gather the appropriate supplies needed. 0000279572 00000 n So, before attempting to draw blood, look at the 3 areas mentioned above for the best veins to access and draw a blood sample. The region from which you are drawing blood has to have a healthy tissue. If possible, look at areas that tend to have less subcutaneous fat, such as the back of the hand, the thumb, the wrist, and even the top of the foot. This one goes without saying but is still something that needs to be emphasized. The needle has passed through the vein. Feel out all your possible options before you decide to go for it. Agree with other posters - ask them where they usually get stuck, heat packs, gr It is crucial to use needle and cannula that is smaller than the patients vein. While not commonly taught in nursing school programs, many recommend that nursing students take extra courses in how to draw blood to learn this skill. As a phlebotomist, venipuncture is one of the main parts of your job. Do not massage down as doing so will defeat the purpose. Properly label the tubes and send them to the laboratory for analysis. This is the first and crucial rule of venipuncture. However, there are numerous things that can go wrong while you draw blood. What are some tips and techniques for drawing blood from an elderly person? An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. Check between the knuckles. The most common vein is the antecubital fossa; however, the median cephalic and median basilic veins are also used. Having years of experience in laboratory work and phlebotomy, Kadia Constant enjoys sharing what he has learned. Anchor the vein. Sometimes, the patient may experience hemoconcentration. Linkedin, How to Identify a Usable Vein for Blood Draws. Similarly to insertion, removal of the needle should also be swift and efficient. Everyones arm anatomy is different and while one technique may work for a person, combining two or three may be the answer for another. It happens! obese patient Perform hand hygiene and don proper PPE. If using wet or damp washcloths, do so with caution.

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