Nurse couldn't get any blood out of me today!

We have an excellent phlebotomist at my surgery, but sometimes you end up with the grumpy healthcare assistant. She finds taking blood from me quite difficult, I’ve told her several times to take it from the back of hand where I have prominent veins, she refuses and says it will be painful, I point out that this was done at the hospital by one of their phlebotomists after he’d looked at my arm, she still refuses!

My usually rather dour doctor was attempting to take a blood sample when I was first pregnant and finding it difficult.

'Oh dear', he said with a dead pan expression;' this happened last week with another patient: I had to cut her throat!'

grannysyb

We have an excellent phlebotomist at my surgery, but sometimes you end up with the grumpy healthcare assistant. She finds taking blood from me quite difficult, I’ve told her several times to take it from the back of hand where I have prominent veins, she refuses and says it will be painful, I point out that this was done at the hospital by one of their phlebotomists after he’d looked at my arm, she still refuses!

Have you written in to the practice and "asked" (ie told) them that it's necessary for it to be the phlebotomist that does this for you and not the healthcare assistant. You can't be the only poor patient she marches straight over to suit herself.

Personally - I'd regard that as a "If they don't give me the most suitable person to do this = I'll change which practice I go to" issue.

eazybee.I love that!

eazybee

My usually rather dour doctor was attempting to take a blood sample when I was first pregnant and finding it difficult.

'Oh dear', he said with a dead pan expression;' this happened last week with another patient: I had to cut her throat!'

Thank goodness for a doctor with a sense of humour

When I moved and joined a new Gp practice I realised they wouldn’t know me from a bar of soap but when blood was taken and I joked it looked like Sangria I was not amused to be asked to make an appointment on the way out to discuss my lifestyle.

I gave her my best withering look! 😂

Oh dear merlotgran - and I wouldnt have been best pleased either about that.

Fortunately medical type people seem to have realised by now about my sense of humour and I've had a couple of them comment on what a "black" sense of humour I've got...as that's exactly when it tends to come out (ie at medical appointments). So I'm used to a doubletake (of "What did she just say?"), followed by realisation I have this very dark soh and they shrug.

Way back in the 70s I had to have a blood test at a chest clinic. I warned the Sister who was examining me that it was very difficult to get blood out of me. "Don't worry" she said "I've never met a vein yet that I couldn't get blood out of!" After 20 minutes she sent me down to phlebotomy. The phlebotomist stuck a needle in - almost at random - took the blood, and I went home.

After a lifetime of needle phobia I have solved the problem. Ask one of the nurses to squeeze your other hand but firmly enough to be painful. You won’t feel the needle go in opposite arm! Works every time!

Oh dear The nurse won't be able to have any gravy with her dinner

my daughter who is a nurse says there would be no way she would try getting blood out of me, to quote her she says I have manky veins!

labazs

my daughter who is a nurse says there would be no way she would try getting blood out of me, to quote her she says I have manky veins!

My daughter is a nurse too and while she was doing her training, she said they should use me a guinea pig because if they could get blood from me, they'd be able to get it from anyone!

I’m due a blood test on the 22nd - at 8.20!😱

Last time the nurse (not the usual one, and she had long fake nails!!) was unable to get any blood out.
I ended up being sent to the hospital for it, which was a PITA.

So this time I’ve opted for the usual nurse (opting has never been an option before) so will make sure I drink about a gallon of fluid before setting off on the 15 minute walk down the hill.

Witzend - fake nails!!!!!! Surely that's a hygiene hazard? Certainly wouldnt look professional to me.

That took about two seconds flat to get the answer as to whether that nurse was allowed to wear fake nails.

NO - she wasn't! Basically for hygiene reasons.

Deedaa, my mother had what they called Shy Veins too. They would find a promising vein only for it to quietly disappear at the first touch of the needle. It happened to me once so after that I suggested that they engaged me in conversation before making a sneaky attack. Seemed to work.

eazybee 😂

I do have to look away before the needle goes in although I'm not normally squeamish.
When I had to inject myself in my stomach, I had to position the needle and look away before it went in.

Did she try the back of the hand by a knuckle? They often say it's painful but not for me and much easier for them to get blood.

They took it from the back of my hand once - ouch! The first time I gave blood, they could only fill half a bag. Then the nurse asked me to lie flat and Bingo!!Filled the bag easily. So I always ask to lie down when possible when blood is being taken , works for me.

When I'm told I need a blood test my heart sinks as I know I'll end up with lots of aborted attempts and an arm with patchwork bruising. Even years ago I was told to stop donating blood, even though I have a rare blood group, as it took around an hour to extract. Over the last twenty years I've had lymphoedema in my left arm so can only use my right arm for tests which narrows down the chances of success. If the test is at my surgery I always ask for an appointment with the most experienced nurse but that can mean a 2-4week wait and that's if the receptionist is helpful. Sometimes I have had to return three times. Like previous advice here, have been told to drink loads, keep warm and pump my hand for at least 10 minutes. Also to ask for paediatric needles and collection pots.

Well, I have only given a bag full when I was donating blood, then crashed out in a faint so they advised me not to go any more.

Usually it is taken in labelled phials with different coloured tops indicating various tests.

That was for EllieW 🙂

CariadAgain

Witzend - fake nails!!!!!! Surely that's a hygiene hazard? Certainly wouldnt look professional to me.

That’s what I thought. She wasn’t wearing a uniform either.

I agree with butterandjam,
Hydration is the key. Drinks lots in the 24 hours before.

ViceVersa

I'm a nightmare to get blood from - even with drinking water beforehand, having hot packs put on my veins etc etc. I invariably end up like a pin cushion, and even if I tell them all that beforehand, they usually have to resort to the back of my hand. I've only ever met one phlebotomist who managed to get blood from me first time with no problems!

That's exactly the same for me. If they can't get my arm I tell them to use my hand. They are reluctant and if not qualified to get it this way they have to go and get a nurse that can.

Allira

^Did they attempt to take it from your hand?^

I'm cringing, memories of cannula in the back of the hand 😲

After the nurse at the GP failed to take a sample, the hospital nurse also had trouble, so took it from my hand. Not the most pleasant experience ever but TBH it didn’t bother me.