Lab draw tips??

[perfectbluebuildings, BSN, RN]

Hey all, I am in serious need of some advice. On our unit, we only draw labs from central lines or with IV starts (except of course bedside blood sugar checks.) However, we float to critical care sometimes where they are supposed to draw all labs, including peripherals; mostly with fingersticks or heelsticks. I have very little skill at this and am hoping for some tips.

Problems: No matter the age of the kids, or how well they bleed, and how well others have been able to obtain labs- after a few seconds their whole hand or heel seems to have blood on it but my lab tube has very little. If I miraculously manage to get enough, it's usually clotted by the time it gets to the lab because it took me so long to obtain.

Tips I've gotten from co-workers/experience: Heelwarmer or warm washcloth to the extremity for several minutes before drawing labs. Use a wet cloth/alcohol wipe to clean the site when it gets covered. Use a vaseline gauze to help the blood "bead" better to get into the tube. Use a helper with the little ones.

So that's what I have tried, and yet I still can't get good labs. Is it some kind of hand-eye coordination thing, or what? It's very frustrating for me. Thanks for any suggestions.

[MassED, BSN, RN]

a "scooper" for the pedi vials as well. That way you can get all of those drops in there.

Sometimes it's just difficult, period. If you try, then have another try.

[Isabelle49]

I hear you. It took me forever to get the hand-eye-tube coordination going. Remember gravity is your friend and the scooper is a good thing.

[MassED, BSN, RN]

a "scooper" for the pedi vials as well. That way you can get all of those drops in there.

Sometimes it's just difficult, period. If you try, then have another try.

I meant after you try (and don't get it) have another person try, not you have another try (after you've probably tried and tried - two times is usually the limit).

[perfectbluebuildings, BSN, RN]

I meant after you try (and don't get it) have another person try, not you have another try (after you've probably tried and tried - two times is usually the limit).

Haha, yeah, I got what you meant :) thanks! Yeah, twice is the limit here too.