Nurses or phlebotamists question about needle?!
Question: Nurses or phlebotamists question about needle!?
Long story short my daughter needed to have a blood draw at her pediatricians office!. The office is reputable!. The nurse called us into the lab as there was a previous patient in there!. When we got in there was cotton soaked in alcohol, blood tubes, and a butterfly needle already out of the package but still with a plastic piece covering the needle!. I asked why it was already out of the package and the nurse said she had just taken it out!. The needle looked clean no visible blood (but then there was no visible blood on the needle after as she was unable to draw blood with that needle )!. I stupidly let her continue!. She did not draw blood with that needle as she could not get the vein ,so she proceeded to get another needle to try again!. I am nervous that the needle was possibly re sheath and then reused on my daughter by mistake!. Is it common for a nurse to unpackage a needle ansd set up a blood draw before the patient gets in the room!? Would the needle have be en able to reused!?Www@Answer-Health@Com
Answers:
You should NOT worry!. Federal regulations for Universal Precautions forbid recapping or re-sheathing!. It appears that the nurse was efficient and did the right thing!. Nurses and health care personnel in this country (USA) are very aware about preventing the spread of infectious agents and sterile precautions!. Needles may not be reused!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
Those needles get discarded as soon as they are used!. Did you notice the little red box!? That is for needle disposal!. Disposal of the sharps immediately after use is such a habit, it is practically a reflex!. I am going to trust our nurse here!. And yes, most nurses or phlebotomists set up their trays in advance, as different blood tests require different tubes and such!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
When dealing with a child, I always got the equipment out before bringing the child into the area because watching the things get unpackaged increases their stress level!.
If they were in hospital, I had it ready and in my pocket before I entered the room!. If at all possible, I never let them even see the needle get uncapped!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
If they were in hospital, I had it ready and in my pocket before I entered the room!. If at all possible, I never let them even see the needle get uncapped!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
i doubt the needle was pre used!. if she new your daughter was on her way she may have just got everything ready before hand!. this is a scary thing and i am glad you asked questions!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
It was a medical assistant who did the blood draw, not a licensed nurse!. I want to make that distinction!. It's a standard protocol to set up for any procedure but not to open packaging in advance!. At my hospital, we don't unpackage butterflies until we are ready to use them!. This practice maintains sterility!. And you were not stupid about this!. But next time, insist if you have to on an intact package whatever the equipment is!.
I highly doubt that the needle was preused!. You have nothing to worry about but you might mention this unwise practice of the medical assistant to her/his supervisor!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
I highly doubt that the needle was preused!. You have nothing to worry about but you might mention this unwise practice of the medical assistant to her/his supervisor!.Www@Answer-Health@Com