Identify concerns you have as a student in learning and practicing blood specimen collection. are you concerned of hurting the patient? infectious disease? what best practices and strategies can you implement to reduce your concerns?

The major concerne are, hurting the patient, transmitting infections (from the patient to the nurse or the opposite), patient faints down due to the fear of needle, patient move his arms during the collection (especially children), the nurse's hand start shaking...

The good practice for blood collection are:

Have the patient sit in an armchair. This must have an armrest to support the patient's arm, but no casters. Make sure the patient's elbow is not bent. If the patient is lying down, place a cushion under his arm for better support.

Ask your patient to shake your fist and avoid contracting it.

Go through his vein with the tip of his index finger. Tap it gently to encourage dilation.

Wait 30 seconds for the alcohol to dry so that the patient does not feel a burn when stung.

Disinfect the area where you are going to plant the needle with an alcohol wipe. Make circular movements and avoid ironing the wipe twice at the same place.

Check that your needle has no defects. The tip should not be obstructed to reduce the flow of blood.

Insert the needle into the holder. Use the protection to firmly push the needle.

Tap all tubes containing anticoagulants to move down the drops.

Insert the blood collection tube into the holder. Avoid pushing the tube past the marked boundary line on the support to avoid creating a draft.

Take the patient's arm. Your thumb should stretch the skin about 3cm-5cm below the point where you plant the needle. Make sure that the patient's arm is tilted slightly downward, to prevent blood reflux.

Align the needle on the vein. Make sure it is at an oblique angle.

Insert the needle into the vein. Push the tube into the holder until the tip of the needle pierces the plug. Make sure the tube is below the area you are sewing.

Allow the tube to fill. Detach the tourniquet as soon as the level of blood in the tube is sufficient.

Remove the tube from the holder when blood is no longer flowing. Mix the contents if the tube contains additives by turning the tube 5 to 8 times. Do not shake the tube vigorously.

Fill the remaining tubes until there are enough samples, as requested on the prescription.

Ask the patient to open his hand. Put gauze on the sting.

Remove the needle. With the gauze, apply gentle pressure to stop the flow of blood.

Disable the needle safety device and dispose of it in a special medical container.

Tap the vein with the gauze once the bleeding is stopped. Ask the patient to keep the dressing for at least 15 minutes.

Label the tubes in front of the patient. Keep them cool if necessary.

Dispose of all garbage and store your equipment. Clean the chair armrest with disinfectant wipes.