Roll Up Your Sleeves and Get Ready to Draw Some Blood!

Tips From The Pros...

  Don't forget to ask if the patient is on an anticoagulant therapy and/or taking blood thinners such as Coumadin, or receiving injections such as Calciparine or Liquaemin. These patients can bleed excessively for a prolonged period after the needle is drawn and also they may bruise quite easily! -- Anonymous 

  If the patient is taking anticoagulant therapy and/or taking blood thinners such as Coumadin, be sure to take special precautions when applying the tourniquet. Elderly patient's epidermis may be extremely thin in which breakage of the skin cells may result. -- Sharon

Does anyone here speak Spanish? Bilingual phlebotomists are an invaluable asset to any medical office, blood donation center, or blood bank. Put "proficient in English and Spanish" on your resume and it will likely immediately land on TOP of the stack of submitted applications. For those phlebotomists who don't speak Spanish, here is a link of Spanish phlebotomy terms.

  If I have a patient where I can feel a deep vein in the antecubital fossa area, but don't think it is popping enough to get it, I will tie another tourniquet around the patients forearm. This usually helps to bring up the vein. Just make sure to untie the tourniquet(s) as soon as you get blood! -- Anonymous 

  Be careful how tight you tie the tourniquet when drawing on a patient that already has bulging veins. A tight tourniquet on these type of patients can easily cause the vein to blow. -- Anonymous 

  Always keep in mind the white lab coat syndrome and reassure the patient to relax before you begin the venipuncture procedure. -- Dora 

  Check the pulse after applying the tourniquet. If you cut off the arterial blood flow you will not get any venous return, hence poor venous distention. -- Michael V. 

  When drawing blood at people's home or place of business I ask them to make a fist, place it on the table, and set their elbow right on top of the fist to straighten their arm. Presto! Straight arm at the kitchen table for a quick easy draw. -- Bonnie 

  The person taking the blood has to be extensively trained in the methods and equipment used in the process. Incomplete information and training can lead to very serious consequences. -- Norma Oliver