Complications Caused By Phlebotomists Gloves snapping, needles pricking, and blood gushing are often thought of when it is time to have one’s blood tested for various reasons. With a patient’s anxiety already running high, the slightest mishap can have a serious aftermath. If the venipuncture was painful or left horrible bruises, the patient may think of the procedure negatively in the future. More importantly, it is the Phlebotomist’s responsibility to obtain quality blood specimens to produce the most accurate laboratory results. (Garza, 2010) The School of Allied Health states, “It is widely accepted that the quality of a laboratory test is only as good as the specimen that was obtained.” (Allied Health, 2014) For this reason, a Phlebotomist …show more content…
Failure to thoroughly decontaminate the site can allow the naturally present microbiota of the patient’s skin to enter the bloodstream, causing an infection and possibly result with a disease. (Tortora, 2013) Additionally, test results can be falsely elevated or decreased if the site is not completely dry before needle insertion due to the body’s ability to metabolize alcohol into a form of sugar. (Garza, 2010) For example, test results for glucose levels would be falsely elevated if alcohol entered the bloodstream. Phlebotomists can also cause hemoconcentration by over palpitating the vein, excessive tourniquet application, and allowing the patients to overly pump their fist. (Morgan, 2005) These actions manipulate the vein’s chemistry and adversely affect the results of laboratory assays conducted. For instance, an increase of proteins, lipids, cholesterol, and Iron is evident of prolonged use of the tourniquet during blood collection. (Morgan, 2005) A Phlebotomist should always treat venipunctures safely and gently to ensure a quality …show more content…
After a suitable vein has been visualized and the venipuncture site thoroughly cleansed, the needle is then placed into the patient’s vein for blood collection. Difficulties can arise if a needle is not fully inserted or if it went entirely through the vein and a hematoma will be the result. (Morgan, 2005) Hematomas are bruises due to the collection of blood from veins or arteries in the surrounding tissues. (Garza, 2010) Sticking a fragile vein, excessive probing of the needle if the vein is initially missed, and failure to remove the tourniquet before removing the needle are some other ways a hematoma can develop during a venipuncture procedure. (Garza, 2010) When needles are incorrectly inserted into a vein, blood is allowed to escape, forming a bruise. (Garza, 2010) If at any time this should happen, the phlebotomist should immediately end the procedure by first removing the tourniquet, then the needle, and apply firm pressure to cease the blood flow. (Morgan, 2005) Improper needle placement can also cause neurological damage. With deep insertion of a needle, hitting the nerve behind the vein is likely. (Garza, 2010) Radiating or shooting pain and sometimes numbness has been reported by patients in these situations. (Garza, 2010) Phlebotomist should always insert needles with care to avoid any injury to the
The procedure was done emergently because of the patient’s critical condition. His right IJ area was prepped in the usual fashion. It was very difficult to visualize his right IJ vein, even though his habitus should have allowed us to do so, but the patient was, I believe, severely intravascularly volume depleted, and his vein was collapsing. I have attempted to access the right internal jugular vein multiple times, both under real-time ultrasound guidance and even later on blindly. I was able to get blood return and hit the vein; however, I was not able to advance the guidewire. I was able to advance it one time and put the catheter in, and it was nonfunctioning. I had to take the catheter out and tried multiple other times on the right IJ vein without success. That procedure was terminated. Pressure was applied. There was no cervical hematoma whatsoever. The patient was uncomfortable because of the length of the procedure but did well otherwise. Hemodynamically, he was unchanged, and his oxygen saturations remained stable.I prepped the IJ vein area in the usual fashion. One percent lidocaine was used for local anesthesia. Again, the left IJ vein was collapsing. With deep inspiration, the vein could be well visualized on the real-time and ultrasound guidance, after which I could get access to the left IJ vein. A wire was advanced without difficulty while the
“Phlebotomy has been dated back thousands of years and has been linked to many ancient cultures. Back then phlebotomy was called bloodletting. Bloodletting was where a doctor would cut certain areas of a patient’s body and let the blood drain until the patient fainted. The initial goal to this treatment was to try and cure the patient of the plague, leprosy, stroke, inflammation and many more. After failed attempts and many fatalities, bloodletting was banned in the late 19th century” (Bloodletting Is Back). But it was brought back in the 20th century to present day. Now imagine that you have suddenly become ill on a family vacation and end up in the doctor’s office. The doctor has ordered some tests to be done in the lab. There you will be associated with a Phlebotomist. What is a phlebotomist you may ask? Well, “a phlebotomist is a
Doctors are held in high respect and are expected to diagnose and treat illness in one visit. Drawing blood for laboratory tests is feared because belief is that the blood cannot be replace. Surgery is feared for this reason and is a last resort (Health Beliefs, 2011).
Students who are wondering what is phlebotomy when researching professions need to know this is the action of drawing blood. This is a skill that involves inserting a needle and the recovery of blood. Many people need to know there is an extreme level of responsibility with this profession.
Abstract: Attention has been brought to the public knowing about employee health care workers have been exposed to needle stick and sharp object injuries, but there is little knowledge and attention among medical students. Medical students volunteered to take a survey to help determine the frequency of these injuries that occur. There were one-hundred six students out of one-hundred seven students that responded to the survey. Out of those students, thirty-three percent of the students reported that they have had one or more injuries due to sharp objects or being stuck by a needle. There were
The first thing that Angie should be do before performed venipuncture a 17-year-old upcoming college student who is Matt come to draw his blood at the office, try to make him clam down and, ask him to relax until his anxious gone. Therefore, a medical assistant Angie can draw Matt’s blood without happened any incident.
There are several reasons why some of the health care workers are prefer doing the venipuncture procedure without using of gloves. From the nurse points of view, regardless of the wearing of gloves during the procedure are, they might have difficulties to locate and feel the veins. Moreover, since this procedure does not require longer time to finish it, they thought of it as wasting. In certain cases, some of the nurses may have allergy on the gloves (latex) in which cause them to prefer doing the procedure with bare hands.
Physicians needed a way to get to the veins of their patients quickly, so several tools were fabricated over the centuries, ensuring a swift puncture; even some punctures with a measurable degree of incision. These tools consisted of lancets and scarifications, which opened the vein; then there were cupping cups and leeches, which allowed a more localized draw from the capillaries. Davis and Apel state, "in the eighteenth century, delicate mechanical spring lancets and scarifications were invented to replace the simpler thumg lancets and fleams." Lancets are surgical knives that bore the greatest amount of liquid; creating an opening approximately one-fifth of an inch. Spring-loaded lancets were the easiest to use because they made consistent cuts whose cuts varied depending on the skill of the physician. Scarificators were brass boxes with a lever on top that released a set of blades which snapped out of slits on the base; offering a consistent depth and length of an incision. Cupping cups were heated while placed on the patients skin. As the cup cooled on the skin, a vacuum type of energy
After graduating from phlebotomy program, students need to obtain a certification from a certificating agency. According to Booth, K. A. & Mundt, L (2016)“ a certification, in general, consists of two-part process: the successful completion of defined academic and training requirements as well as the validation of these studies through a national examination”. There are many agencies that offer a certification after finishing the program. Each agency has its own requirement and different eligibility, fees among many other things.
Potential advantages of non-invasive medical methods and devices relative to comparable invasive procedures are as follows. The patient may be more psychologically prepared to experience a procedure that is non-invasive and may therefore be more cooperative, resulting in a better outcome. Non-invasive procedures may avoid damage of biological tissues, such as that due to bleeding, infection, skin or internal organ injury, blood vessel injury, and vein or lung blood clotting. Non-invasive procedures generally present fewer problems with biocompatibility. In cases involving the attachment of electrodes, non-invasive methods have less of a tendency for breakage of leads, and the electrodes can be easily repositioned if necessary. Non-invasive
Administration and care of PIVC’s by nursing staff is an extensive element in the delivery of patient care in hospitals. However, the procedure does not come without risk of complications like phlebitis and may lead to venous access difficulties.
When you hear the word blood what is the first thing that comes to mind? Is it hunting, an accident, a vampire, or maybe just the word disgusting? When I hear “blood” the first words that come to my mind are the words “my future”. My future career choice is in the medical field of phlebotomy. A phlebotomist is someone who draws and analyzes blood samples taken from the patient. Before you begin your career in phlebotomy, you should do some research on the job description, dangers, education requirements, salary and the career outlook.
I was ready, in that moment I was positive I was prepared to take my state exam for phlebotomy. My weekends along with my weekdays have been full of studying, every proposition to go out with friends have been denied because I had to be well prepared. That morning sits in the back of my mind replaying like if it just happened yesterday, it was a fresh windy Saturday morning, I had to be in the school computer lab before 11 AM
I interviewed Jenna Derusha a phlebotomist at the Mackinac Straits hospital in St. Ignace. Jenna has been drawing blood for 4 years. She is originally educated as a Medical Assistant, but also became a phlebotomist. Her training came from Chuck the head phlebotomist at Mackinac Straits. I asked her how she knows how many tubes is needed or how much blood she needs. She said it all comes with the training. She has been doing it for so long that it all becomes
Doctors order blood tests for a variety of reasons. This is because there is almost no better indicator of overall health than the number of levels and other factors that can be measured through a blood test. Unfortunately, for many people taking a blood test is a very nerve racking and uncomfortable thing to do. Not only is someone sticking a needle into your veins and causing you pain, but they’re extracting blood (sometimes in large quantities) from you before your eyes. Thankfully, having your blood taken is a relatively short event. It’ll be over quickly, and afterwards you’ll be able to rest assured knowing that your doctor will have important information about your