Do you draw blood of peripheral IVs?

[blondy2061h, MSN, RN]

On our floor most of our patients have central lines (it's rare to have even one patient on the floor without one). Since we draw off the lines, phlebotomy doesn't even come to our floor. We do all of our own blood draws. If we do get a patient with a peripheral IV, we will generally try and draw blood off of the peripheral IV before resorting to sticking them.

However, last time I was in the hospital, I was stuck every single time they needed blood- which was often 3 times a day.

So, do you try and draw off the IV first?

[ExpatHopeful, LPN, LVN]

In our hospital we are only allowed to draw blood from a peripheral IV when it is first put in. Once it is in all bloods must come from a separate stick or from a central line (if available). I was told that after the IV has been in, the blood that is near the IV is not good for sampling any more because it doesn't flow/mix at the same rate. Now I wonder if this is true given what happens on your ward. Interesting...

[blondy2061h, MSN, RN]

In our hospital we are only allowed to draw blood from a peripheral IV when it is first put in. Once it is in all bloods must come from a separate stick or from a central line (if available). I was told that after the IV has been in, the blood that is near the IV is not good for sampling any more because it doesn't flow/mix at the same rate. Now I wonder if this is true given what happens on your ward. Interesting...

We waste at least 5 cc's before drawing the blood we actually use for the labs.

[StrwbryblndRN]

We are not to draw off anything except PICC and that is only if necessary or doc order. Phleb sticks only due to infection risk. Within the last year it changed to all phleb. But previously we did blood draws routinely with a PICC but nothing else

[Flightline, BSN, RN]

Whenever I can get it there, I do. I Waste about 3 ml (if it's a standard short piggyback) and draw the sample.

[lemondrop]

In my practice depending on the type of test needed and whether there are fluids going through a peripheral IV that can't be interrupted, I try the peripheral first. But also in ou facility only nurses can dtaw from an IV, so if you prefer that method you might have to request it from your nurse or physician.

[Daytonite, BSN, RN]

When I was an IV therapist I always checked to see if any labwork was ordered or due before starting someone's IV. If so, I drew off the blood before connecting the IV lines or capping the IV as a saline lock. When I worked night shift, I was especially alert for this as I was doing re-starts after 4am. If we got called to start an IV in the ER we always drew off blood for labs before hooking up the IV.

Also, saline locks were used for lab drawing in pediatric children who were having serial blood sugars. A saline lock was also in place for lab draws on CCU patients who had received tPN.

[ChristineN, BSN, RN]

I work pediatrics and almost daily draw labs from peripheral lines. I always waste 3cc's. We don't often have problems with tainted labs, etc. IMO, be it for kids and adults, if the labs or just as accurate, why keep sticking the pt repeatedly?

[barefootlady, ADN, RN]

Here, if lab work is ordered and a new PIV is started, then I attempt to draw the lab specimens as needed, but otherwise, taking a lab specimen from a PIV is against policy.

[ChristineN, BSN, RN]

Here, if lab work is ordered and a new PIV is started, then I attempt to draw the lab specimens as needed, but otherwise, taking a lab specimen from a PIV is against policy.

What is the rationale at these facilities that say it's "against policy?"

[meadow85]

I think it depends on the hospital policy & procedures as well as the nurses comfort level. For example I heard that in Emerg they obtain blood samples from an initial intravenous insertion only, which is a neat trick I would like to learn, but I have not heard of using PIVs to drawn BW daily on my unit anyway.

[nrsang97, BSN, RN]

In our hospital we are only allowed to draw blood from a peripheral IV when it is first put in. Once it is in all bloods must come from a separate stick or from a central line (if available). I was told that after the IV has been in, the blood that is near the IV is not good for sampling any more because it doesn't flow/mix at the same rate. Now I wonder if this is true given what happens on your ward. Interesting...

We do the same thing.