Practicing My Stick

[ClassyKitten]

Hello! I'm currently in the phlebotomist program at my school and I expressed to my family how scared I was to stick an actual person since dummy arms are nothing like the real thing so my mother in law decided to gift me a kit filled with (unused) needles, tubes, gauze and alcohol pads.

I'm super thankful for it and I have family members and friends willing to let me stick them for practice but what am I supposed to do with bloody needles and tubes? I know they have to be disposed of in a particular manner but is there a number I call to get it picked up since I'm doing this out my home? Should I just take everything with me to work (I work at a hospital) and get rid of it there?

It'd really suck if I couldn't get good practice because I can't throw them away properly hahaha

[ERNurseErica, BSN, RN]

I had this same problem, so I just never did it. I actually wanted to practice before starting my ER Tech job. I ended up just getting on the job training. I researched it a bit and the internet says to get a puncture resistant container to dispose of the needles and stop when it gets about 2/3 full. Call your local health department and they can give you a list of drop off sites. I think you should call before you start practicing and maybe the health department can provide you with a puncture resistant container. Wouldn't that be awesome?! Hope this helps and I wish you all the best in your program!!!