Help with blood draws

[raiderlover94]

Ok so I'm not a nurse or nursing student. I'm a medical assistant student and I'm finished this Friday and moving to nursing soon. But I'm really scared about my blood draws. I honestly use to be pretty good at them, I would mess up here and there but nothing serious. But for the past month I've noticed I've been really bad I keep missing the vein or missing either by a little or not even being close or I just can't find the vein especially on people I've done blood on in the past I'm frustrated because finished in 3 days and I'm not even close to being decent with my blood draws. I don't want to get a job and I can't even do a decent blood draw. I was thinking about doing a phlebotomy class but I can't find schools close to me at all. I just need advice if this has happened to anyone during there career and if so what steps or tricks did you do to get better at blood draws. Thank you very much in advance :)

[firstinfamily, RN]

When I was in home health I had frequent blood draws. I actually became better with the frequency that I had to draw. I even surprised myself at my skills becoming better. Most phelbotomists try to use the same site time after time, as a nurse this would kind of aggravate me as eventually the vein became sclerotic and could not be used. I like the veins on the lower arm, even though I was taught to use the hand veins. The antecubital seems to be the major place most labs draw from. I did have a few patients who I was able to draw from and then when I had them the next visit, I couldn't get a drop. It sometimes depends on if the patient is hydrated enough, if they are dehydrated you are not going to be able to get blood as easily. Perhaps you can do a shadow day with a lab personnel. The Home Health agency had us do this and it did help my skills.