If a phlebotomist corrected you on order of draw, what would you do?

[pyriticsilence]

I currently work as a phlebotomist before entering nursing school. Today, a nurse tried to correct me on my order of draw (she thought I should draw a blood culture last). When I corrected her and tried to explain how she was wrong, she berated me. I told her that I could fetch the lab manual, but she still would not listen.

My question is, would you as a nurse interfere with a phlebotomist's blood draw? If you were wrong and were corrected by the phlebotomist, how would you react?

[BlueDevil,DNP, DNP, RN]

I don't know squat about that sort of thing, so I would never presume to tell the phlebotomist how to do his/her job. Were I the phlebotomist, I'd tell the nurse to step off and stick to his or her job and leave me to mine.

[pyriticsilence]

I don't know squat about that sort of thing, so I would never presume to tell the phlebotomist how to do his/her job. Were I the phlebotomist, I'd tell the nurse to step off and stick to his or her job and leave me to mine.

I was actually floored that this woman wanted to tell me how to do it. I offered to get the lab manual from the lab, and she didn't want it. If I come across anything like it ever again, I will tell the nurse that she can do my job AND put her full name on any erroneous work. I may not get paid much, but I do get paid to avoid collection and laboratory errors.

[blondy2061h, MSN, RN]

I remember paying attention to the order of the draw for about 2 weeks when I first started my job.

[blondy2061h, MSN, RN]

I do remember cultures go first though.

[Aurora77]

I'm with Blue Devil. The only blood I draw is through PICCs or ports. I've done one other regular draw in my life, so I would never tell a phleb how to do his or her job. Likewise, I would expect the same respect.

[MN-Nurse, ASN, RN]

Who has time to argue with phlebotomists?

[amoLucia]

Just FYI - I'd still give Missy Know-It-All a copy of the lab policy just to show her. She needs to come down a peg or two.

Another thing, might be to ask Infection Control ot explain the logic involved. I never thought about it (never had to do cultures) but I can reason out the whys of doing the cultures first.

[RNewbie]

I don't think I would question a phlebotomist. I have never noticed or thought about the order that labs were drawn in. I actually just looked it up because I was never taught that there is a certain order. Sure enough there is. For the few years that I have been a nurse I usually draw my cultures last just to get the small tubes out of the way. You learn something new everyday.

[amoLucia]

I, too, only draw from PICCs so you don't do cultures from them. I do try to prioritorize the tubes just in case of problems, but I'll need to check out the book for future reference.

Thanks to OP for a thought provoking thread - always something new to learn as RNewbie coments.

[reveriies, BSN]

We are required to do our own morning lab draws (regardless if the patient has a PICC) on my unit. I call down to the lab and phlebotomists all the time with questions because I know they are the experts in that field of medicine and I am grateful for their help. Teamwork people, teamwork. :)

[nrsang97, BSN, RN]

I still would give her a copy of the lab manual order of draw.