Drawing blood

Dayray, RN · Jul 21, 2003

bad aseptic technique but dont worry your not going to die, mabey you might lose your arm or hear som voices or something but you will live and be stronger for it.

Just kidding btw but it really isent that big a deal

Chrislynn2003 · Jul 21, 2003

I've seen the phlebotomist do this several times when I have blood drawn. I have bad veins, lots of scar tissue, rolling veins, so I think that they just check to make sure that the vein is still good right before they go to stick me and its easier to feel with an ungloved finger. Sometimes i get stuck 3 times just to get a vein. I don't think that aseptic technique is really a worry.

Christine

ShelleyERgirl, LPN · Jul 22, 2003

I do this techinique myself, but when I feel with my finger right before I stick, I wipe my finger with an alcohol pad too so it will be clean too although it wouldn't be that big a deal if I didn't, it's just a little quirk I have. We have to feel the vein before we stick otherwise how will we know, most of the time you can't always go by sight.

TreceRN · Jul 22, 2003

Not proper aseptic technique, but your antecubital site will never be "sterile". I've been guilty of this myself example: when I'm trying to find a vein on one of those 80 year old ladies who've been on prednisone for 20 years, has tiny spider veins, and has already been poked 5 times! For the prevention of infection for IVs, best practice research shows a clean, dry, and intact occlusive dressing is the best defense. You may want to apply some antibiotic ointment the next time someone pulls the glove off on 'ya.

Audreyfay · Jul 26, 2003

I always wondered why we use some fo those old routines. Such as the use of alcohol on the skin. Did you know that the only way that alcohol would help, is if you did a five minute scrub with it to remove the top layer of skin? Hmm, so, why alcohol?