How often do you draw blood?

HawaiiRN808 · May 21, 2006

As an Intensive Care Nurse, I draw blood from my patients atleast 2-3 times a shift. However, the method of obtaining blood differs. I usually obtain blood samples from Triple Lumen catheters, PA lines, A-lines, PICCs, and IV heplocks. I would recommend keeping up your skills as a phlebotomist because you definitely will use your skills especially if you work in the ER, ICU, or Pre-Op. Good Luck!

allnurses Guide · May 21, 2006

I work med/surg, ob and er and I draw blood all the time.

steph

SharonH, RN · May 21, 2006

I work in employee health so I draw blood daily. I also drew blood daily when I worked in home health and pre-surgical testing as well as when I worked on peds. So it is not unusual for nurses to perform phlebotomy. I certainly wouldn't get a part-time job just to maintain that particular skill. If you get a job which requires it, it will come back to you soon enough, like within a week's time.

HeartsOpenWide, RN · May 21, 2006

I work in employee health so I draw blood daily. I also drew blood daily when I worked in home health and pre-surgical testing as well as when I worked on peds. So it is not unusual for nurses to perform phlebotomy. I certainly wouldn't get a part-time job just to maintain that particular skill. If you get a job which requires it, it will come back to you soon enough, like within a week's time.

It not just for that (I am also saving for lasix eye surgery).I have been drawing blood for 4+ years. So it is like riding a bike hu? :lol2:

TiffyRN, BSN, PhD · May 21, 2006

It depends on the area you work in. The first job I worked at we drew blood rarely; maybe once a month, most draws were per lab. The job I currently work in I draw blood frequently though mostly by heelstick (NICU).

Having said that the nurses that had experience as phlebotomists were highly sought after for when we did need to draw blood. It will not hurt you to have this skill. I would stay in this field IF you plan on working during this time anyway.

babiesX2 · May 21, 2006

I'm in well baby nursery, and I draw labs on babies frequently.

Gennaver, MSN · May 21, 2006

How often do you draw blood as an R.N? I am certified to draw blood at a Certified Medical Assistant now. I start nursing school in August. At my work they announced that they will not longer be offering blood drawing services after June 1st. They say it is a "conflict of interest" that we could get in trouble for telling patients which lab they should go with their insurance, and that since insurance companies are all different, we have been having to pay a lot of the patients bills for sending them to the wrong labs...we do not have time to call each insurance company to find which lab they will pay services to be done at. We will just write out a slip for the patient on one lab form, tell them that they need to find out from their insurance company which lab they can go to (there are two) and have them go on their merry way.(besides it IS the patients responsibility to know their benefits) Part of the reason that I am working this summer before school starts is to keep up on my skills, like blood drawing. I am considering getting a part time job in the lab at the hospital just so I can keep up my "vampire skills". Then some one told me not to worry about it because nurses do not draw blood very much because they have phlebotamist(sp) in the hospital.

Hi,

Just want to say congrats on choosing to maintain your blood draw skills. I a student nurse and have been a phlebotomist for over 5 years and also work as a pct.

Where I work though, sadly, many of the techs were not phelbs when they came to the job and got training on the job. Oh, the training is great there but, for some reason they nearly all use butterfly and the smaller sized ones at that, for everything.

I went to occ health a few weeks ago for a draw and the rn who drew it in my antecub, (which is a honking big rope like vein as I am an athlete) used a little blue butterfly and a long tied tournequet. Okay, a tournaquet wasn't even needed with me nor was a butterfly.

Keep your skills. :)

Gen

GooeyRN, ADN, BSN, CNA, LPN, RN · May 21, 2006

I have been an RN three years and I only drew blood from a TLC. We have lab techs at our CAH hospital that do the blood draws, unless the pt has a TLC. The techs aren't allowed to access them so I do them.

Burnt Out, ASN, RN · May 21, 2006

At my hospital, nursing has to draw their own labs. So I draw blood at least once a day if not more, just depends on what is going on.

TazziRN, RN · May 21, 2006

Daily, in the ER.