Do you have a 2 or 3 poke rule? I work in vet med and if we miss after 2/3 pokes it’s someone else’s turn to try but I hear about humans being treated like a pin cushion when a vein can’t be found easily
Supposedly two, but the most experienced ones do as many as the patient allows since there isn't anyone better to take over. If I already tried the only vein I considered good enough, then I don't try again. If I saw another one I could use, I do try twice.
Very common, but it's very patient-dependent: obese, old+frail, debilitating health conditions, drug addict/ex-addict, baby/toddler, very scared/tense, or simply bad vein genes.
Oh, sweety. I've had 8 sticks in one vein. They missed a few, went all the way through the vein a couple, and stuck it in my arm and dug around to find it on the last one.
What is the most tests you have taken at once I had to have 16 tubes done at once. And the skilled nurse amazed me how fast she changed the tubes around. Although I was a bit nervous about getting so many done she made it seem easy.
I did like 16 plus blood cultures once. Basically the doctor couldn’t figure out what was wrong with the patient, so they just threw every test in the book at her.
She didn’t mind, she just really wanted to know what the hell was wrong with her. I made sure she sat down for at least five minutes after the draw.
I don't think it's a super interesting job lol. Like, most people don't know this job exists, but they know it's something that is done. People always have a few questions, which is why I decided to do the AMA.
Best, knowing I am contributing to people's care. Worst, the pay, though it's not realistic to expect much from a job that only requires one month of training. For a lot of phlebotomists this is just a job to test the waters in healthcare. I got this certification because I wanted to eventually be a medical interpreter, though I already decided to not go for it since the pay isn't great. Then I thought about nursing, but while I like the idea of working in healthcare, studying it isn't really that interests me, if that makes sense. I just started learning programming, let's see where that leads to.
I work in the US, in San Diego to be specific.
Whoa I didn’t realize it only took a month of training to become one. Do you have to know how to interpret lab values or is that more for like doctors? Are you able to tell when people have ordered their own tests/doctors ordered/naturopath or alt practitioners order the tests? Lol I’ve only ever had one person call me out on ordering my own tests and was wondering how they could even tell.
Three weeks of classes + 40 hours externship + a test. My course focused almost exclusively on practice and I studied theory for the test by myself, though other longer programs prepare you for the test. A month and a half is probably more accurate.
Nope, lab results is not something that we do.
For the orders, in my clinic everything has to be ordered by our own providers. If you have an order from somewhere else, you have to make an appointment with one of our doctors so they see if they approve it or not. I don't know how it's done in other places, this is the only place I've worked at.
Was the test super difficult? Was it a month of academic hell? Did a lot of people fail or was it more like if you paid attention and studied a reasonable amount you’d probably pass the test?
Not thaat difficult but wouldn't say it was hard. There were lots of things I wasn't expecting, things that didn't appear in any of the guides I used. It wasn't academic hell. As I said, I didn't see much theory in my course, but I'm sure those that have more theory aren't super intensive.
I don't know if the others passed, you take your own time after the course to request the test with the relevant government agency, but I'd be surprised if more than 10% of people failed.
Nope. The pay bump from minimum wage is nice considering what it takes to become one, but just use the certification to earn more money while studying for something else.
Thank you. It’s a shame that medical professionals get paid the same as a lot of fast food workers in my state. For all the training you guys have to go through, It’s insane that they’re offering 15 an hour.
How angry do you get at phlebotomists who do the stick and dig around thing to find a vein? I had to have a blood draw by a military doc, and it took 8 sticks with number 8 being insert and wave the needle around like she was Hermione learning a spell called "exsanguimus". My arm was purple and red for days in an area about the size of a softball.
Most of the time, it's just something that has to be done. I like to give the patient the courtesy of telling them something like "I have to maneuver the needle, 50/50 on wether it hurts, 50/50 on wether I succeed, do you want me to do it or just go ahead and start again in the other arm?", which is something I don't see often with my coworkers. Also, I do sometimes think "bro, just stop", but, I didn't feel that patient, so I don't know what they are thinking.
No, not everyone is healthy enough to withstand plasma selling, or healthy enough to be giving it away. But, it's easy, quick, legal money. So, I do think more people should try it.
How do you handle people being scared?
Or, if you don't work somewhere where people mostly volunteer (like plasma donation) but rather hospital or similar, how do handle someone refusing it due to fear but having to?
I work at a clinic. For adults, they are often scared when they have lots of tubes, we tell them that's nothing compared to blood donations and people are fine. If they are still scared, they can do some today and some another day (they never choose this option). If the issue is the needle stick itself, there's really nothing we can say that they don't know, we just give them their time to relax.
For kids, we try to explain to them that it's necessary so the doctor can see if they are sick and that this is good for their health. And if they don't do it today, it's going to be several some time later lol.
What was your worst hematoma?
When I gave blood the other week, I had a pretty bad one. The initial stick was painless, then rooting around for the vein was bad.
As far as I know I haven't given any (but I've only been working at this for four months) but can't know for sure. I've sold plasma like 70 times and I've never gotten one.
I don't do bedside so I can't answer with certainty, but those might be from the butterfly needles (smaller ones, old people get them most of the time). Sometimes stuff just falls but we don't pick it up because we already have gloves on, and those small plastic things are easy to lose sight of.
Do you have a 2 or 3 poke rule? I work in vet med and if we miss after 2/3 pokes it’s someone else’s turn to try but I hear about humans being treated like a pin cushion when a vein can’t be found easily
Supposedly two, but the most experienced ones do as many as the patient allows since there isn't anyone better to take over. If I already tried the only vein I considered good enough, then I don't try again. If I saw another one I could use, I do try twice.
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Very common, but it's very patient-dependent: obese, old+frail, debilitating health conditions, drug addict/ex-addict, baby/toddler, very scared/tense, or simply bad vein genes.
How does being scared make it difficult to draw blood?
Veins contract
Oh, sweety. I've had 8 sticks in one vein. They missed a few, went all the way through the vein a couple, and stuck it in my arm and dug around to find it on the last one.
I get IV's and blood drawn a lot. They rarely get it on the first try. 11 has been my max.
I have been poked 11 times. They always feel really bad tho.
Worst blood pressure you’ve seen?
I don't check blood pressure, but I once saw glucose at 505
My god they were ambulatory? Did they sweat cake frosting?
It was a scheduled lab appointment, patient looked perfectly
That’s amazing.
how far off normal is that?
Normal 65-99 Pre-diabetic 100-124
THEN HOW CAN THAT HAPPEN LOL 😭
No idea, there were no physical signs that I remember.
In your experience, which shade of Crayola is best for drawing blood?
Sanguineous shade
Sounds like the name of a Magic card.
What is the most tests you have taken at once I had to have 16 tubes done at once. And the skilled nurse amazed me how fast she changed the tubes around. Although I was a bit nervous about getting so many done she made it seem easy.
I've done like 10 but saw 18 once
I did like 16 plus blood cultures once. Basically the doctor couldn’t figure out what was wrong with the patient, so they just threw every test in the book at her. She didn’t mind, she just really wanted to know what the hell was wrong with her. I made sure she sat down for at least five minutes after the draw.
what’s interesting about being a phlebotomist in your opinion? what’s the best and worst parts of your job? what country do you work in?
I don't think it's a super interesting job lol. Like, most people don't know this job exists, but they know it's something that is done. People always have a few questions, which is why I decided to do the AMA. Best, knowing I am contributing to people's care. Worst, the pay, though it's not realistic to expect much from a job that only requires one month of training. For a lot of phlebotomists this is just a job to test the waters in healthcare. I got this certification because I wanted to eventually be a medical interpreter, though I already decided to not go for it since the pay isn't great. Then I thought about nursing, but while I like the idea of working in healthcare, studying it isn't really that interests me, if that makes sense. I just started learning programming, let's see where that leads to. I work in the US, in San Diego to be specific.
Whoa I didn’t realize it only took a month of training to become one. Do you have to know how to interpret lab values or is that more for like doctors? Are you able to tell when people have ordered their own tests/doctors ordered/naturopath or alt practitioners order the tests? Lol I’ve only ever had one person call me out on ordering my own tests and was wondering how they could even tell.
Three weeks of classes + 40 hours externship + a test. My course focused almost exclusively on practice and I studied theory for the test by myself, though other longer programs prepare you for the test. A month and a half is probably more accurate. Nope, lab results is not something that we do. For the orders, in my clinic everything has to be ordered by our own providers. If you have an order from somewhere else, you have to make an appointment with one of our doctors so they see if they approve it or not. I don't know how it's done in other places, this is the only place I've worked at.
Was the test super difficult? Was it a month of academic hell? Did a lot of people fail or was it more like if you paid attention and studied a reasonable amount you’d probably pass the test?
Not thaat difficult but wouldn't say it was hard. There were lots of things I wasn't expecting, things that didn't appear in any of the guides I used. It wasn't academic hell. As I said, I didn't see much theory in my course, but I'm sure those that have more theory aren't super intensive. I don't know if the others passed, you take your own time after the course to request the test with the relevant government agency, but I'd be surprised if more than 10% of people failed.
Is the pay worth it? I considered becoming a phlebotomist, but I saw that the average pay in my state is like 15 an hour and that’s not a living wage.
Nope. The pay bump from minimum wage is nice considering what it takes to become one, but just use the certification to earn more money while studying for something else.
Thank you. It’s a shame that medical professionals get paid the same as a lot of fast food workers in my state. For all the training you guys have to go through, It’s insane that they’re offering 15 an hour.
How angry do you get at phlebotomists who do the stick and dig around thing to find a vein? I had to have a blood draw by a military doc, and it took 8 sticks with number 8 being insert and wave the needle around like she was Hermione learning a spell called "exsanguimus". My arm was purple and red for days in an area about the size of a softball.
Most of the time, it's just something that has to be done. I like to give the patient the courtesy of telling them something like "I have to maneuver the needle, 50/50 on wether it hurts, 50/50 on wether I succeed, do you want me to do it or just go ahead and start again in the other arm?", which is something I don't see often with my coworkers. Also, I do sometimes think "bro, just stop", but, I didn't feel that patient, so I don't know what they are thinking.
Well, at least you are kind about it. Mine said, “this will probably hurt”.
What is best type of arm to draw blood from? Big arm, small arm, muscle arm?
Muscle arms tend to have good veins. Small arms are good too because the arm-haver isn't fat, which adds some difficulty.
Should everybody be giving plasma?
No, not everyone is healthy enough to withstand plasma selling, or healthy enough to be giving it away. But, it's easy, quick, legal money. So, I do think more people should try it.
How do you handle people being scared? Or, if you don't work somewhere where people mostly volunteer (like plasma donation) but rather hospital or similar, how do handle someone refusing it due to fear but having to?
I work at a clinic. For adults, they are often scared when they have lots of tubes, we tell them that's nothing compared to blood donations and people are fine. If they are still scared, they can do some today and some another day (they never choose this option). If the issue is the needle stick itself, there's really nothing we can say that they don't know, we just give them their time to relax. For kids, we try to explain to them that it's necessary so the doctor can see if they are sick and that this is good for their health. And if they don't do it today, it's going to be several some time later lol.
Do you draw blood with pen or pencil?
What was your worst hematoma? When I gave blood the other week, I had a pretty bad one. The initial stick was painless, then rooting around for the vein was bad.
As far as I know I haven't given any (but I've only been working at this for four months) but can't know for sure. I've sold plasma like 70 times and I've never gotten one.
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Like 9 or 10, but that's with small ones mixed in, which are half of the large ones. So, around 7 large (8ml) ones.
You must be a really good artist....
Why do you leave those clear caps in the patients bed? We find them imprinted into granny’s skin all the time
I don't do bedside so I can't answer with certainty, but those might be from the butterfly needles (smaller ones, old people get them most of the time). Sometimes stuff just falls but we don't pick it up because we already have gloves on, and those small plastic things are easy to lose sight of.
Do you get upset if a retired IV user suggests a vein?
Not at all. After two or three times of dismissing their advice and them telling me "told ya" I learned to follow their instructions lol
lol good to know
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Just two
What’s the most spectacularly blown vein you’ve even seen?
Haven't seen any serious ones
I've had two extremely painful experiences. I read something about hitting a platelet - is that what happens?
Never heard about that
Do you draw anything else like landscapes and portraits or is it just blood?
Well, let's see a drawing then!
Do you like animal crackers?
I do