How to draw labs in contracted pt?

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I have a new home health patient who needs an INR drawn weekly. His arms are contracted, and I couldnt get a line in to draw blood. We sent him to an outpatient clinic but they had the same problem- they couldn't get it either. Now I'm told that he will be going to a special clinic just for coumadin patients. I am a new grad and I was wondering, couldnt I try his leg or foot?

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Does ypur agency have an inr fingerstick machine...if so I would do my best to get the order changed to fingerstick

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Specializes in Pedi.

I would go for the hand or the foot for peripheral sticks.

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Hand or foot always works. Never had to try the foot yet but hands and many times fingers even. I'm in the ER so sometimes I even have to call the lab when I really can't get it.

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I recently did an end run around a similar situation in that I worked with the Dr's office to get the patient changed to one of the newer coumadin analogs that don't require weekly blood draws ;)

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Definitely the hand or the foot. I've done peripheral sticks (and started IVs!) in the foot.

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