Lesson 7 - Venipuncture Complications Flashcards
What are the 3 steps you do when your patient who needs a draw is not in their room?
- Locate the patient
- If the requisition is STAT draw blood from the patient in whichever department they are in
- Inform the nurse of the draw or if you can do it later
You can draw blood from a patient even if their Hosptial ID band is not on their wrist.
True or false?
False, all inpatients must be wearing their hospital bands at all times. Do not draw if they are not physically wearing it
What’s should you do if you arrive and your patient is asleep?
- Try to gently wake them to get consent to draw
- DONT draw from a sleeping patient
- Let the nurse know if the patient won’t wake up
What’s it you do if you arrive at a patient’s room to collect blood but the physician and other persons are present?
- Return later for the draw
- If it is STAT, politely interrupt and continue with the draw
How is hemoconcentration initiated?
From leaving a tourniquet on a patient for too long over 1 minutes (60 seconds).
Define hemoconcentration
When the plasma portion for blood begins to filter into the tissues near by. This is known to alter potassium levels (K) and lactic acid levels causing an alteration in the ratio of the parts of the blood. (Plasma, red blood cells, & serum)
Define prefix Hem(o)
Blood
In medical terms, define hemoconcentration
A cluster of red blood cells
What is the condition of small red spots on skin seen with a capillary platelet disorder which also may require longer application of pressure to stop bleeding?
Petechiae
What are the signs of fainting?
Clammy, cold hands, beads of sweat on forehead
What do you instruct the patient to do if you see signs of fainting?
To place their head between their legs.
What should you do if you patient begins to have a seizure during the draw?
Cushion their head, call for medical help (nurse or Dr.), do not put anything in their mouth, give a basin for throw up
What are the 3 possibilities of lack of blood flow?
Defective tube, ill positioned needle, or collapsed vein
What are the 2 possibilities of increased blood flow?
Puncture of an artery and a patient on anti coagulation therapy
What are the signs of a punctured artery?
Bright red blood and well increased blood flow
How long do you apply pressure to a patient in anticoagulation therapy?
5 minutes or longer to stop the bleeding
When should you release the tourniquet on the patient?
Before 1 minute elapses or when you see a flash of blood in your needle or syringe.
You can leave the patients’ bedrail lowered after the draw. True or false?
False! You must always place the bedrail back in the upward position.
What hand do you use to anchor the patient’s vein?
The thumb of your non-dominant hand
Define suffix -lysis
Destruction or breaking down
What are 3 ways to prevent hemolysis after blood draw?
Invert tubes gently, do NOT shake them, and pull back on your syringe slowly and carefully
Low hemoglobin and hematocrit caused by repeat blood tests are symptoms of..
A. Latrogenic anemia
B. Compartment syndrome
A. Latrogenic anemia
Bleeding into surrounding tissues and occurring with hemophilia or coagulation disorders are symptoms of..
A. Latrogenic anemia
B. Compartment syndrome
B. Compartment syndrome
Needle contact comes in contact with the nerve and shooting pain or numbness in arm are symptoms of..
A. Infection
B. Nerve damage
B. Nerve damage
This is caused by lack of aseptic procedures being followed..
A. Infection
B. Nerve damage
A. Infection
What is a condition in which collection of which fluid in a combined space that prevents blood flow?
Compartment Syndrome
What is the medical term for vomiting and nausea?
Emesis
The destruction of blood cells medical term
Hemolysis
Lack of movement of lymph fluid medical term
Lymphostasis
Occluded also means..
To be blocked
The flow of blood from the collection tube back into the needle and then into the patient’s vein is
Reflux
Sclerosed also means..
To be hardened
Syncope also means..
Fainting
Based on the recently updated CLSI standards, how many forms of identification must your verify with the patient before drawing blood?
2 methods AND have them spell their name if they are able
What sites do you NOT use when drawing blood?
Hint: there are 6 areas/sites
Palm surface of wrist, infected sites, arm with fistula, any limbs on the same side as a mastectomy, around an IV or VAD, and any lower limbs.
According to CLSI, what motion is best used when cleansing the puncture site?
A back and forth motion is best used rather than and circular motion
What % of alcohol do you use when cleansing a puncture site?
A. 40%
B. 50%
C. 60%
D.70%
D.70%
According to CLSIs’ updated policies, if using a blood pressure cuff as a tourniquet, how far should you inflate the cuff?
Inflate the cuff to below the patients’ diastolic pressure
(Ex: BP is 120/80 = cuff inflated to 70mmHg)
Why should you tell a patient to make a fist and not PUMP the fist?
It can cause elevation in potassium levels and concentration
