No blood draw from IV starts?

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One of the facilities I work agency in just recently "banned" blood draws from IV starts unless they are a code/trauma/child or limited sites d/t fistula etc...is anyone else doing this?

Their rational is the supposed high rate of hemolysis from these draws and it was slowing down lab times because the lab wasn't calling the nurses to let them know the sample was hemolyzed. I had never heard of this kind of policy before (except from PICC lines) and think it is rather stupid causing the patients an extra stick just because some nurses possibly need some education on ways to minimize hemolysis when drawing from an IV start.

Specializes in ER - trauma/cardiac/burns. IV start spec.

Good grief. We never started an IV on nights without drawing blood. Just do not pull to fast and the blood would be OK. We even put the blood in the tubes and lab just came by and picked them up. Shortened lab turn around and we were sticking for large vein. Just do not draw with a 22 or 24.

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Specializes in ER.

The Kendall company makes a device which attaches to your IV clave. This device is called an ANGEL Wing. Put your IV in attach your extension without flushing it first tape things in place, screw on your Angel wing insert blood tubes and you are done! This system is completely closed and safe no needles EVER! I love this system.

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Specializes in Peds, ER/Trauma.
The Kendall company makes a device which attaches to your IV clave. This device is called an ANGEL Wing. Put your IV in attach your extension without flushing it first tape things in place, screw on your Angel wing insert blood tubes and you are done! This system is completely closed and safe no needles EVER! I love this system.

There is also a similar Vacutainer device that I have used at several hospitals- works great!

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