I have multiple questions about certain topics

[RNnewbie2014]

A. I don't know how any other hospital works, but as night shift, we draw all the blood on our patient's. I had a patient with a port. Wasted 10 cc. Drew my blood. Flushed with 10 cc. Put needle on my syringe, put the blood in the vacuum tube, and sent it to lab. Called for recollect within 15 minutes of it (while I am trying to get off) and saying it needs to be recollected! Please tell me if there is any special way I need to be doing this? I draw back slow, but I find it crazy its been 2 days in a row I had to recollect on this same patient.

B. What is the normal insulin orders for your hospital? Are they doing any new sliding scales? Doctor's at my hospital are doing a new thing where you can possible give 1 unit of humalog before bed time if blood sugar 150 or higher. What do you think of this? Just wanted to see some discussions on it.

[meanmaryjean, DNP, RN]

NEVER transfer blood with a needle. NEVER! Do you have the transfer devices? If not, you should. I'm guessing you used a small needle and perhaps that is the issue. Why is lab wanting you to recollect? That would be important to know.