If a phlebotomist corrected you on order of draw, what would you do?

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I currently work as a phlebotomist before entering nursing school. Today, a nurse tried to correct me on my order of draw (she thought I should draw a blood culture last). When I corrected her and tried to explain how she was wrong, she berated me. I told her that I could fetch the lab manual, but she still would not listen.

My question is, would you as a nurse interfere with a phlebotomist's blood draw? If you were wrong and were corrected by the phlebotomist, how would you react?

Specializes in FNP, ONP.

I don't know squat about that sort of thing, so I would never presume to tell the phlebotomist how to do his/her job. Were I the phlebotomist, I'd tell the nurse to step off and stick to his or her job and leave me to mine.

I don't know squat about that sort of thing, so I would never presume to tell the phlebotomist how to do his/her job. Were I the phlebotomist, I'd tell the nurse to step off and stick to his or her job and leave me to mine.

I was actually floored that this woman wanted to tell me how to do it. I offered to get the lab manual from the lab, and she didn't want it. If I come across anything like it ever again, I will tell the nurse that she can do my job AND put her full name on any erroneous work. I may not get paid much, but I do get paid to avoid collection and laboratory errors.

Specializes in Oncology.

I remember paying attention to the order of the draw for about 2 weeks when I first started my job.

Specializes in Oncology.

I do remember cultures go first though.

Specializes in Med Surg.

I'm with Blue Devil. The only blood I draw is through PICCs or ports. I've done one other regular draw in my life, so I would never tell a phleb how to do his or her job. Likewise, I would expect the same respect.

Specializes in Med Surg - Renal.

Who has time to argue with phlebotomists?

Specializes in retired LTC.

Just FYI - I'd still give Missy Know-It-All a copy of the lab policy just to show her. She needs to come down a peg or two.

Another thing, might be to ask Infection Control ot explain the logic involved. I never thought about it (never had to do cultures) but I can reason out the whys of doing the cultures first.

Specializes in Trauma-Surgical, Case Management, Clinic.

I don't think I would question a phlebotomist. I have never noticed or thought about the order that labs were drawn in. I actually just looked it up because I was never taught that there is a certain order. Sure enough there is. For the few years that I have been a nurse I usually draw my cultures last just to get the small tubes out of the way. You learn something new everyday.

Specializes in retired LTC.

I, too, only draw from PICCs so you don't do cultures from them. I do try to prioritorize the tubes just in case of problems, but I'll need to check out the book for future reference.

Thanks to OP for a thought provoking thread - always something new to learn as RNewbie coments.

Specializes in Progressive Care.

We are required to do our own morning lab draws (regardless if the patient has a PICC) on my unit. I call down to the lab and phlebotomists all the time with questions because I know they are the experts in that field of medicine and I am grateful for their help. Teamwork people, teamwork. :)

Specializes in Neuro ICU and Med Surg.

I still would give her a copy of the lab manual order of draw.

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