Interesting morning....

Nurses General Nursing

Published

So I got up this morning to go donate plasma for the first time. I figured, hey I'll get some cash while I study for A&P II, and I am interested in the process. (We just got done with blood) Anyway, has anyone ever been straight up scared in the center? The front room looked like a jail waiting room......People with gold teeth, missing teeth, 5 inch nails, 350 pound women eating McDonald's, scary looking men. It's in a really BAD part of town. Then I signed in and waited like 45 minutes for anyone to even acknowledge my existence. When I get called, the phlebotomist asked for my social security card (didn't bring it). Great. 45 minutes in a very uncomfortable place. The should have said something to me when I signed in. There was a lady standing right next to the sign in sheet and didn't even look at me or say hi. They should have at least had a sign up or something. They sure did make sure to have a sign up explaining the payments for each donation though!

I don't know maybe I'm just so used to customer service from working in a restaurant for so long, but it IS a darn business!

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Specializes in Med/Surg/Tele.

They pay for plasma donations?

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In MI where I went to school, they paid for plasma. I don't believe they do in upstate NY - at least I have yet to see it.

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They pay for plasma donations?

Absolutely!

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Absolutely!

If you look up plasma donations centers online, sometimes it doesn't say anything about compensation and it definitely won't tell you how much if it does. You have to call and ask.

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Specializes in LTC, Dementia/Alzheimer's.

Lol! I felt the same way.. It was scary!! I also had a freaking reaction and my BP dropped to 50/30 and was damn near going to faint. All for 20 lousy bucks, no thanks!

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Lol! I felt the same way.. It was scary!! I also had a freaking reaction and my BP dropped to 50/30 and was damn near going to faint. All for 20 lousy bucks, no thanks!

It's 30 here for first timers and if you come back 2 days later it's fifty. Then it's 20 for the first time in a week and 35 for the second time in the week.

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While being really grateful to the people who donate blood and plasma, I wouldn't return to that place. I have given blood at school and church drives but if I ever had to go in a place like that just for $20 or $30 bucks, I wouldn't feel it is worth the medical risk or the risk of being attacked or something in a bad neighborhood. Sorry for your wasted morning!

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Specializes in Wound care, Surgery,Infection control.
They pay for plasma donations?

Some blood banks will pay : the amount the donor receives is nothing compared to the profit these centers make. It's BIG business, and for the American Red Cross it's good till the last drop. Plasma is separated and the components are sold at unbelievable prices ; it helps thousands of patients every day and the 450 million in profits makes these centers very happy.

My first nursing job was with the Red Cross . They treated us like cr**p and the pay was pitiful, but my co-workers were a hoot.

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Specializes in Rehab, Telemetry/Med-Surg.

I remember going to a plasma donation center when I first started going to college. Just like in your situation, it was in a bad area and the people in the waiting room looked pretty...interesting. It was even down the street from one of the hospitals. Anyway, once I FINALLY got situated and had the needle in my arm, a nurse comes by and puts a bucket in my lap. She said to me "Sorry, the roof is leaking and this should catch the water so it doesn't drip on ya." I NEVER went back after that! :eek:

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Specializes in Pediatrics.
I remember going to a plasma donation center when I first started going to college. Just like in your situation, it was in a bad area and the people in the waiting room looked pretty...interesting. It was even down the street from one of the hospitals. Anyway, once I FINALLY got situated and had the needle in my arm, a nurse comes by and puts a bucket in my lap. She said to me "Sorry, the roof is leaking and this should catch the water so it doesn't drip on ya." I NEVER went back after that! :eek:

:eek::eek::eek:

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Specializes in Pulmonary, Cardiac.

I worked at a Plasma donation center for three months when I was an EMT. I did physicals on new donors, yes they pay, and yes the place looks like a jail, because usually its poor people that are donating, they are the ones that need the money... The thing is, a person can donate plasma twice a week, but can donate blood only every 120 days. Plasma rebuilds faster.

Its interesting what they do with the plasma. Some places use human plasma for make-up, and others use it to make drugs. Grifols, where I worked used it to make Immune Globulin, Albumin (Human) and the tested donors for Tetorifice titer and hepB titers, they can make immunizations from these donors.

In the end it was a dirty facility that didn't seem to adhere to their own rules and I wasn't comfortable working there, I don't think I would have been comfortable donating either.

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