Chapter 8 Venipuncture

You have a requisition to draw blood from an inpatient named John Doe. What is an acceptable way to confirm the patient's identity?

• Ask the patient, "Are you Mr. John Doe?" and see if he says "Yes"

• See if the ID band matches the requisition to be sure of the patient's identity

• Match the ID band and requisition with the patient's verbal statement of ID

• Check the patient's ID band and say, "I see that you are John Doe"

The following tests have been ordered at the same time on different patients. Only one phlebotomist is on duty. Which test should be created first?

• ASAP CBC in the cardiac unit

• Routine Hgb in long-term care

• STAT electrolytes in the ER

• Timed blood culture in ICU

During the vein selection process, which action is bad for the specimen?

• Lowering the patient's arm

• Using a warm towel to increase blood flow

• Palpating the anteculbital area

• Asking the patient to pump her fist

Which of the following actions before obtaining a blood specimen from a child demonstrates poor technique?

• Greeting the parent and the child

• Telling the child it won't hurt

• Establishing rapport with the child

• Telling the child what to expect

The patient has just eaten when the phlebotomist arrives to draw a fasting specimen. What should the phlebotomist do?

• Draw the specimen since the meal was just eaten and probably not absorbed

• Draw the specimen but write "nonfasting" on the lab requisition

• Check with the patient's nurse to see if the specimen should still be collected

• Refuse to collect the specimen and fill out an incident report slip

What may happen if you mix a specimen too vigorously?

• Microclot formation

• Glycolysis

• Hemoconcentration

• Hemolysis

How can you tell if you are in a vein when using a needle and syringe to draw blood?

• You can tell only by pulling back on the syringe plunger

• Blood pumps into the syringe on its own

• You will normally see blood appear in the hub of the needle

• There is no way to tell this when you use a needle and syringe

What is the most critical error a phlebotomist can make?

• Misidentifying a patient specimen

• Collecting a timed specimen late

• Failing to collect a specimen

• Giving a patient a hematoma

A new phlebotomist must draw a specimen on a patient with belonephobia. What should they do?

• Use a small gauge needle

• Have the patient lie down

• Ask an experienced phlebotomist to do the draw

• Tell the patient it will only hurt a little

How do you identify a specimen from an unconscious unidentified patient in the ER?

• Process the specimen after she is identified

• Assign a name to the patient after she is identified

• Use a 3-part ID band and labels

• Assign a number to the patient after she is admitted