[mollie]

Can anyone tell me how long a sample of blood (for a pt) will last if left in a car? The temp is approx. 40 degrees. I totally forgot about the specimen and just woke up and remembered it. I can't believe I forgot it and it makes me sick! Also now I won't get any sleep for the rest of the night and I have a full day tomorrow. I guess I was distracted because my son is leaving to go to Iraq today. I should have brought it directly to the lab, but I had 2 more pts close to this one and tried to squeeze them in. I had a very tramatic visit with my next pt. A schizophrenic younger guy who met me at the door dressed in only a t-shirt. Nothing on below. And he was very aggressive and scary acting the whole visit. But that is really no excuse. The pt. was a hard stick and I just dread telling my team leader and having to go stick the poor guy again. This is a terrible way to start the day. Oh well, working myself into a frenzy. Thanks for any help, and for the vent time.

[DDRN4me]

Mollie, not wsur how long it will last..i would call the lab first thing this morning., and see what they say. you certainly had a good reason to be distracted!!! my thoughts and prayers are with you and your son..

Originally Posted by mollie

Can anyone tell me how long a sample of blood (for a pt) will last if left in a car? The temp is approx. 40 degrees. I totally forgot about the specimen and just woke up and remembered it. I can't believe I forgot it and it makes me sick! Also now I won't get any sleep for the rest of the night and I have a full day tomorrow. I guess I was distracted because my son is leaving to go to Iraq today. I should have brought it directly to the lab, but I had 2 more pts close to this one and tried to squeeze them in. I had a very tramatic visit with my next pt. A schizophrenic younger guy who met me at the door dressed in only a t-shirt. Nothing on below. And he was very aggressive and scary acting the whole visit. But that is really no excuse. The pt. was a hard stick and I just dread telling my team leader and having to go stick the poor guy again. This is a terrible way to start the day. Oh well, working myself into a frenzy. Thanks for any help, and for the vent time.

[Traveler]

We put it in a cooler and are told to get it to the lab within an hour. You certainly have every reason to be distracted. My thoughts and prayers are with your son and your family. What a difficult time. We all make mistakes at times. Don't let it bother you too much. There's nothing you can do about it now. I'm sure it was a terrible day for you.

Ann

[shammy]

What we were told is to get the blood to the lab within an hour but the lab told one of my co workers that you have 24hours before the sample is no good. So you might have been OK.

I'm sure I'm posting this too late.

[mollie]

Thank you for your concern. I did call the lab and they said 24 hours. So I got dressed and went and brought it right in. It was a huge relief!!!

[Tweety]

Mollie, glad to hear it worked out for you. Sounds like a roller coaster of a day. Best wishes to your son.

[Traveler]

That's good information to know. Many of my days have been thrown out of whack because I thought I had the "golden hour" to get it to the lab. I have learned something. Now another lab question. Are you all still routinely drawing peaks and troughs for vanc.? Where I worked before we did. Now where I am they are only doing the troughs since the peaks are worthless. I was always taught that the peaks were to see what the level was to make sure there were'n some potential complications happening depending on the peak. Is that considered outdated now?

[mollie]

We also only draw troughs. I remember in the "old" days when the md's ordered Vanc like it was candy and I would go from one town to the other trying to give q 12 or q 8 vanc in 2 or three locations and do all the peaks and troughs and get them rushed to whatever lab in whatever town!!! After one horrid Christmas weekend when I was the only one on call, I went in the next morning...and QUIT!! I don't regret it to this day. And I can still remember how nightmarish it was!! Things are better now though. I'm prn and only take call when I want to ( and I do my share to help out the overworked full timers). I am blessed!!! ( but still exhausted)

[Nurse Ratched]

A little off-topic, but if someone meets you at the door in no pants, and is scary acting, PLEASE don't go in!!!!!!!

There is nothing in your job duties that says "endanger life and limb." I don't expect or need you to share the details of that one, but I'm presuming that your manager has heard about this and is assuring that no one else is going to be confronted by this situation?

Finally, warmest thoughts to you and your son for a safe return home.