In my hospital use of butterflies is very much discouraged. My neighbour works in another hospital close by and she says butterflies is what they most commonly use.
I have no problem using 22 gage, however, most patients on my floor are elderly, bruised and are on blood thinners.
I am still drawing blood under supervision of the nurse.
One night, my very expereinced co-worker was drawing a blood on an elderly woman with a butterfly in front of me. The vein collapsed. They had to stick her again.
2 days later, I was assigned to draw blood on the same patient.
Explained to the nurse what happened previously, the nurse advised me to go with 22 gage anyway. Of course, I misssed.
The same tech who worked on this patient 2 days ago came in, had to find another site on the pateint's bruised arm (hands were already out of the question) and stick her again.
My first question is what do u prefer to use and what is your hospital's policy?
Second question is should I debate with the nurse who is supervising if i don't feel comfortable using the large needle?
I usually do what i'm told, but in the case I described, I am looking out for the patient, not for my personal comfort. I felt horrible that night. what would u do?