I&#x27;m a Phlebotomist, AMA!

Have you ever encountered any problems within your job?

Reply 61

OP

Original post by Strelzo

Have you ever encountered any problems within your job?

No, not really. What do you mean by problems?

Reply 62

Mummy Phleb

2

Original post by -Eirlys-

No, not really. What do you mean by problems?

We sometimes have drunks and drug addicts who are in the hospital to get clean they can be abusive and difficult to bleed you just have to have a thick skin and give as good as you get without being rude.

Reply 63

Strelzo

Original post by -Eirlys-

No, not really. What do you mean by problems?

Like, if something did not go to plan.

Reply 64

Yelena Icefaren

9

Do you HAVE to say sharp scratch every time? Like I get for people who don't get bloods often it helps but I honestly just find it funny these days I hear it so much 😂

Reply 65

Yelena Icefaren

9

Also my veins are normally really easy, right near the surface and hardly bleed at all after taking blood (I've had a lot of compliments about them) but one time last year when I lifted the cotton wool ball blood literally gushed down my arm before I could slam it back on and she was like 'yeah I thought that might happen', so what is likely to have gone wrong? I've never seen anything like that with a blood test before

Reply 66

lolly333

5

It's hard for me to give blood- let's say it' s one of my most uncomfortable things in the world, when they take out blood samples from me.Do you think it would be hard for me to learn to take blood from other people, as part of another studying program?

Reply 67

Lostx

Have you ever accidentally hit an artery?

Reply 68

OP

Original post by Strelzo

Like, if something did not go to plan.

Well the plan is always to successfully take their bloods. :biggrin:

If that doesn't go to plan, we'll try again somewhere else. If we still can't do it, it's passed onto someone else to try. Almost every shift, you'll have cases where you won't be able to take their bloods (mainly on wards) or you'll have to try again.

Original post by Felicity Marx

Do you HAVE to say sharp scratch every time? Like I get for people who don't get bloods often it helps but I honestly just find it funny these days I hear it so much 😂

No you don't have to. I personally don't say it because it makes the person focus on it. I even had someone ask me not to say it. It's better to just do it and by the time they notice (that's if they feel it), you're already in and the worst part is over. But you adjust according to the patient really.

Original post by Felicity Marx

Also my veins are normally really easy, right near the surface and hardly bleed at all after taking blood (I've had a lot of compliments about them) but one time last year when I lifted the cotton wool ball blood literally gushed down my arm before I could slam it back on and she was like 'yeah I thought that might happen', so what is likely to have gone wrong? I've never seen anything like that with a blood test before

Hm, I'm not sure. Sometimes people bleed a lot afterwards or not much at all. If you have pretty big, 'juicy' veins, then they could bleed a little more than usual. Always keep pressure on the site for some time afterwards to reduce bruising and keep it from bleeding too much.

Original post by lolly333

It's hard for me to give blood- let's say it' s one of my most uncomfortable things in the world, when they take out blood samples from me.Do you think it would be hard for me to learn to take blood from other people, as part of another studying program?

No, anyone could learn with some good training! :smile:

Some phlebs don't like having their bloods taken or were scared about giving bloods before they started.

Original post by Lostx

Have you ever accidentally hit an artery?

No I haven't, it doesn't happen often. We take bloods from certain areas only. We check if we have any concern that it may be an artery by checking if we can feel a pulse through it. If we did hit one though, it would be a case of applying pressure and notifying a nurse/doctor.

Reply 69

BlueIndigoViolet

19

Might have been asked, but if someone keeps trying and fails to take blood, inserting the needle multiple times without success, which would obviously make the patient uneasy, how would you best handle it?

Reply 70

OP

Original post by BlueIndigoViolet

Might have been asked, but if someone keeps trying and fails to take blood, inserting the needle multiple times without success, which would obviously make the patient uneasy, how would you best handle it?

Phlebs can only try twice, though people probably try more than they're allowed. I've not seen someone repeatedly try more than twice when a patient is uneasy. If they think the person isn't handling it well or they're in pain, they will end the procedure, so there's no need for my intervention, if that's what you mean.

Reply 71

barror1

So you're basically a medical vampire? :tongue:

Reply 72

username4932890

8

Your jobs sounds repetitive like going around in circles.

Reply 73

nexttime

22

Original post by Lostx

Have you ever accidentally hit an artery?

You wouldn't always notice if you did.

Original post by BlueIndigoViolet

Might have been asked, but if someone keeps trying and fails to take blood, inserting the needle multiple times without success, which would obviously make the patient uneasy, how would you best handle it?

Usually phlebs are only allowed to have two goes. Sometimes they only have one. They then just give up and the doctor has to do it. If someone is trying a LOT despite someone being very distressed it is almost certainly some poor junior doctor.

Often it'll actually be a phleb who has done 1000, even 10,000+ bloods who goes to the doctor and says 'this person is way too difficult you have to do it', when the doctor might be brand new and only have done 20-30 in their whole life with no other training at all! Generally you still try to stick to the two try limit, but whereas a phleb can just give up, as a doctor you can't and sometimes there is literally no one else to go to unless you literally drag them out of a major operation or something, and that's when you get your 8, 10+ attempts. There are techniques, which the doctor might know all or none of! I think its universally very awkward and you always feel really bad when it happens.

(edited 5 years ago)

Reply 74

nexttime

22

Original post by reading & stuff

Your jobs sounds repetitive like going around in circles.

Like most jobs you mean?

Reply 75

Lostx

Original post by nexttime

You wouldn't always notice if you did

Isn’t that dangerous? Won’t it cause internal bleeding?

Reply 76

Etomidate

15

Original post by Lostx

Isn’t that dangerous? Won’t it cause internal bleeding?

Patients in hospital routinely have blood taken and devices inserted into superficial arteries for various reasons.

Very rarely there are some complications which can require surgery, but it's exceptionally rare.

Reply 77

Lostx

So when a patient has severe bruising is this due to warfarin or hitting something else?

Reply 78

OP