Venipuncture Flashcards
IV sites to avoid (8)
1) . areas of infection/cellulitis
2) . skin rashes
3) . new tattoos
4) . extensively scarred areas
5) . same side upper extremity of mastectomy
6) . hematoma present
7) . IV line or fluids
8) . arm with fistula or canula
potential complications of IV insertion? (5)
1) . cellulitis
2) . phlebitis
3) . thrombosis
4) . vein laceration
5) . hemorrhage/hematoma
* complications increase with repeated puncture at site
what is serum?
substrate that remains when fibrinogen is removed from plasma
where is the cubital fossa?
triangular hollow area on anterior aspect of elbow
which two veins are most prominent for venipuncture?
cephalic and basilic
best vein for vacutainer procedure?
median cubital (then cephalic, then basilic)
what happens if tourniquet is too close to venipuncture site?
vein may collapse
how to do vacutainer procedure?
stretch skin downward with nondominant hand, insert needle bevel up halfway into vessel, hold needle steady while inserting/replacing tubes, fill tubes 3/4 full, release tourniquet and allow pt to relax when last tube is filling
order of draw
1) . cultures (purple and green)
2) . light blue (full draw-coag)
3) . red (chem tests)
4) . gold (chem tests)
5) . green then lavender (requires full draw and inversion 8x- heme test)
6) . gray (full draw- lithium, sodium, heparin, glucose)
7) . dark blue
after filling syringe with blood, which size needle do you switch to in order to fill tubes?
18 or 19 gauge
what do you do if you stick an artery?
apply firm steady pressure for 10 mins
MAX time to leave tourniquet on?
2 minutes (hemoconcentration)
what can happen if you draw syringe plunger back too forcefully?
can shear cells and collapse BVs
never draw blood above ____ site
IV
don’t use what material when drawing blood alcohol level?
alcohol swabs
