Do you donate blood?

LindseySmith · Jun 23, 2010

I do not, as I have tattoos, and the wait is 12 months in a unregulated state, which is most of them. I usually get some sort of tattoo work done each year!

pitaya · Jun 23, 2010

I don't because every time I have gone in to attempt to donate blood, I am ineligible due to me traveling around in a 3rd world country on a bus. I travel out of the country every year and I don't just stay in one spot, so they have to look up all the places I've traveled to on a map, and then I'm ineligible, so I have just stopped trying! Oh, and the one time I would have been eligible, they told me my veins weren't juicy enough. I have decided that no one wants my blood, even though I am the universal donor, so it's not worth trying anymore.

gpatry · Jun 24, 2010

I'm ineligible because I lived in the Netherlands and the rules state here that if you stayed in that country (as well as many other western European countries) for over 6 months after 1984, you might have mad cow disease. So I can't donate until they find a way to test for mad cow disease.

It's funny because I've wanted to give blood for so long and I waited until I was old enough, and was going to go on my birthday, but was sick, so I couldn't. Then I waited 2 hours at the blood drive at my school a few weeks later to find this out. So I'm kind of bitter

Conclusion: Put all your money into mad cow research

TerpGal02, ASN · Jun 24, 2010

I don't. I have a massive needle issue LOL! I "vagal out" when I get blood draws/etc

mwc1230 · Jun 24, 2010

I do!!! Although, sometimes I am refused due to low iron but over the past few years I have been able to everytime. I try to do it as much as I can so whenever I see Bloodshare at WalMart or wherever I stop by. I am O+ so I feel like I SHOULD since he can help everyone. Those low blood supply commercials really get to me! lol

ShantheRN, BSN, RN · Jun 24, 2010

I voted yes but....being a nursing student had no bearing on my donations. I did the same long before I ever considered nursing as a career :)

Justanotherday · Jun 24, 2010

I do not, but I am a plasma donor, which I understand is used a lot in NICUs and burn centers. Not many people can receive my blood type (A-) so my plasma is more useful, and I am paid $55/week to donate. I would donate blood, too, if I could, but you can't do both.

CrunchyMama, ASN, RN · Jun 24, 2010

I've donated once in high school and then a couple years ago me and my sisters donated. We planned on going again but it just never works out with work and kids and whatnot. There was a blood drive at my school a couple months ago, I didn't know about it and didn't bring my license so I wasn't able to donate....talked my husband into it though, lol.

StangGang92 · Jun 24, 2010

I do not, but I am a plasma donor, which I understand is used a lot in NICUs and burn centers. Not many people can receive my blood type (A-) so my plasma is more useful, and I am paid $55/week to donate. I would donate blood, too, if I could, but you can't do both.

Not sure how correct my information is, but in my A&P class while we were talking about blood the instructor told us that many times, not all, but many times plasma is used in cosmetics and other non-medical uses and thats the reason you are payed for it. The companies pay for it, but like I said I'm not sure how true that actually is.

To the OP: I try, I have "White Coat Tachycardia" as someone on this board put it. I have good intentions and about 50% of the time I get to donate, but the other half I get turned away.

gumby1411 · Jun 24, 2010

I try to donate a few times a year, but I'm always denied because of low iron. It's been about 2 years since they allowed me to donate last. I've been donating blood (when they let me) for about 7 years, so being a nursing student has no impact on me being a blood donor.

tokyoROSE, BSN, RN · Jun 24, 2010

I know there is a need for blood, but I cannot bring myself to donate. I have needle phobia -- but have no problems starting IV's/giving shots to patients. Just my luck.