[fat cat]

I had a situation where a particular patient had such bad veins that I as well as several other nurses were unable to obtain it. However several days later a nurse working with this patient who had E.R. experience drew the blood. When I questioned that nurse about it she said that it was no problem - that she just got it from the patient's foot. As a nurse I have drawn blood for many years but never considered using the foot. I asked the nurse if she got a doctor's order for that and she said no that one was not needed. I want to know if any other nurses out there draw blood from the foot as a last resort.

[cookie102]

tho i have never drawn blood from the foot, i have heard of nurses doing it,,,i thought that a specific MD order was needed for that,,,interested in what others have to say

[2shihtzus]

We have to have a doctors order for foot draws or foot IV access.

[PRESLA]

NO, NO foot off limits s MD order.

Lisa

[wibobr]

As a former phlebotomist, I would NOT use a foot without a physician order. I would be more inclined to draw the patient from the radial artery(Granted a little trickier) but I can do that without an MD order.

[NursingAgainstdaOdds]

So...why is the foot off-limits?

I'm hypothesizing that it's due to it being so peripheral, which frequently has compromised circulation (especially in a person who doesn't have veins in the UEs, and therefore also has some other significant medical hx), and can have difficulty healing if it became infected?

[nursesherry]

Originally Posted by fat cat

I had a situation where a particular patient had such bad veins that I as well as several other nurses were unable to obtain it. However several days later a nurse working with this patient who had E.R. experience drew the blood. When I questioned that nurse about it she said that it was no problem - that she just got it from the patient's foot. As a nurse I have drawn blood for many years but never considered using the foot. I asked the nurse if she got a doctor's order for that and she said no that one was not needed. I want to know if any other nurses out there draw blood from the foot as a last resort.

I wouldn't want to draw from the foot on a diabetic pt.

[CyndieRN2007]

Unable to perform blood draw from foot without dr order.

[flightnurse2b]

Originally Posted by fat cat

I had a situation where a particular patient had such bad veins that I as well as several other nurses were unable to obtain it. However several days later a nurse working with this patient who had E.R. experience drew the blood. When I questioned that nurse about it she said that it was no problem - that she just got it from the patient's foot. As a nurse I have drawn blood for many years but never considered using the foot. I asked the nurse if she got a doctor's order for that and she said no that one was not needed. I want to know if any other nurses out there draw blood from the foot as a last resort.

you are always supposed to have an MD order to access a leg or foot vein, and some facilities to go to the axillary area... unless its an emergency. typically the ER is a little more leniant but definately on the floor you need an MD order.

[Emmanuel Goldstein]

I've never worked anywhere that didn't require a physician's order before a leg/foot stick. I've done them before, but as much as I love needles, I always cringe when sticking a foot or leg. You know that's just gotta hurt.