Phlebotomy Quiz 4

A physician brings in her elderly mother who is in a wheelchair. She states that her mother is a difficult draw and that she will perform the procedure. She cleanses the arm and proceeds to insert the syringe needle multiple times in multiple sites along the elderly woman's arm until she finally gets blood. The phlebotomist should:

• do nothing because the physician knows what she is doing

• keep quiet because the patient was a relative and gave consent

• document the incident and inform her supervisor

• take the syringe away from the physician and do the procedure herself

A 10 year old child comes into the laboratory with an insurance card and a requisition for a blood draw, stating his mother is in the car. The phlebotomist or patient representative should:

• call the physician to verify the information on the requisition

• draw the blood because the child is a mature minor

• send the child home without performing the venipuncture

• ask the child to go and get his mother from the parking lot

While in the middle of performing a difficult venipuncture, the patient states that she feels like she is going to vomit. You observe her and note that she is pale and diaphoretic, You should:

• withdraw the needle and grab an emesis basin and cool cloth

• continue drawing the blood quickly so you do not have to re-stick the patient

• Tell the patient to put her head down on her other arm and continue the draw

• pull the needle out and go get someone from the laboratory to help you

When completing a butterfly draw on a pregnant woman, the phlebotomist accidentally scratches the top of her hand through the glove as she withdrew the needle. the phlebotomist should:

• not worry . about it because the woman is pregnant and therefore not a risk.

• wash it off and not report it because it is a superficial wound and not a puncture wound.

• complete an accidental exposure report form after performing first aid

• get a complete history on the woman to give to her supervisor.

When performing POCT, the phlebotomist must make sure the cartridge is seated properly in the instrument. This is an example of:

• a preanalytic variable

• an analytic variable

• a postanalytic variable

• a delta check variable

While performing a venipuncture procedure, the phlebotomist checks the expiration date of the tube being used. This action is considered part of:

• quality assurance

• a delta check

• a point of care check

• quality control

The phlebotomist performed an I-STAT electrolyte test on a patient. The results were abnormal but within linearity of the instrument. The phlebotomist should:

• rerun the controls before reporting the results

• enter the results into the computer and report out

• draw a venous blood sample for testing in the laboratory

• recalibrate the instrument and then retest the patient.

While processing specimens, the phlebotomist finds a tube labeled with the patient's name, medical record, DOB, date and time. The phlebotomist should:

• reject the specimen because it does not have the phlebotomist's ID on the label.

• process the specimen and deliver it to the appropriate department for analysis

• relabel the tube because it contains protected personal information

• call the floor and ask who the physician and write it on the label.

While restocking the phlebotomy cart, the phlebotomist finds a labeled specimen in the rack. The phlebotomist should:

• check the time and date of collection and process accordingly

• discard the specimen in the biohazardous waste

• leave it on the tray until someone comes looking for it

• reprint the label and go redraw the patient.

The phlebotomist was preparing to deliver pathology reports to the doctors' mailboxes when she noted her neighbor had been diagnosed with Prostate Cancer. She promptly called her neighbor who had been anxiously awaiting the news. All of the following apply to the phlebotomist's actions except:

• a violation of HIPAA

• created a liability issue for the laboratory

• okay because her neighbor asked for the information

• violated physician-patient integrity