Finger pricking rant

They used to use the ear lobes which was much more comfortable. AHHH but we MUST suffer!

 

This is has been discussed in previous threads where the responses and nurses seem to vary.

 

And they especially love to do the index finger, right in the middle. Nurses, HCAs and paramedics, all of them, it's their favourite.

 

Not seen the previous threads but. . .

As a paramedic I generally ask the patient what finger they want me to use. I also try not to use the pad and certainly point out to my students that they shouldn't use the pad. This is partly for patient comfort but also because very early in my career a diabetic patient with significant visual problems pointed out the negative effect of constantly pricking the pads on the sensitivity of the finger which she used for braille.
If any healthcare professional needs to test you then they should give you the opportunity to choose which finger to test. If they start to go for the wrong one simply offer the finger you want to be tested on and insist that they use it.

 

I do not mind the finger pricking, as i can stand that, but when they want to take blood, my veins go and play hide and seek (always have), and they go on a hunt for a vein, promising they can get the blood out, despite my requests to take it out of bicep or back of my hand.

So they drill away, leaving puncture wounds and pain, plus last time they ended up getting from my forearm, and leaving a whacking great bruise

 

I'm a nurse, and if i have to do finger pricks, I'll use the little finger and always do it towards the side.

 

I find it hard to get enough blood from the side even set with the deepest depth. I use the middle of whatever finger.

Is that why the nurses do that as well?

 

Unless they completely immobilised you, perhaps instead of turning the other cheek, you should have turned your finger. .... Or shown one.

 

As @helensaramay said, we've had other discussions about this.

I also prefer the pad as pricking the siide of my finger hurts more! But I never ever prick my index fingers or thumbs, as these are my fine picky up work tools..

Years ago we used to have regular checkups and blood tests at work for health sand safety reasons, and the nurse used what looked like a blooming great scapel that was thrust into our finger pads and produced enough blood to sink a thousand test strips... With the result that any sort of injection or blood taking put the fear of god into me and when I first started using my meter to test, the memory of that meant took me ages before i could actually prick my finger wthout having to close my eyes tight, take a great breath and "Think of England"!! And I'm eternally grateful to whoever created the Fastclix for the confidence it gave me!

Robbity

 

I normally just present the lancing devise to a finger and press the plunger I never know just where it is going to go as it's hard to tell with your eyes closed.

One thing I hate is having arterial blood samples taken at the wrist as the needle has to be moved about quite a bit while being inserted.

 

I can't get enough blood out of the side of my fingers, I don't like giving my blood up that easy. I have always used the pads of my fingers

 

Ummm 'wasn't allowed'? You haven't let them take your insulin off you have you? You may need a quick refresher on being obstinate for what is right and standing up for yourself.

When I go into hospital, I remain in possession and in control of my insulin. The nurses/doctors do not get to take it or my bg test kit away from me. If a nurse asks very politely, I may allow her to hold my insulin vial to read the information on it. If it's an emergency admission or I am non compas mentis, my husband keeps my insulin.

There is NO WAY I am ever going to hand over my insulin to someone who may have had as little as half an hours training on insulin dependent diabetes.

 

At my recent appointment for an epidural steroid injection I overheard the hospital staff say that they were going to test my sugar levels to make sure that they were OK before I was allowed to go home. I promptly took out my own meter and checked my levels myself and they accepted my figure. It made sense to compare my result with my own earlier checks using the same device as well as avoiding the possibility of a painful finger prick.

 

Side of finger, and when I recently had a check before an out patient procedure the nurse asked me which finger and where.

 

Hi @EllsKBells
Hope you make it out soon. If you are on a diabetes ward can you ask a doc for basal to be supplied to You? If a non-d ward request that a diabetic nurse come and see you and ask her to supply/ inform team on your ward that you need it.
And perhaps talk to them about the fingers.

 

The sisters at my GP's procedure rooms always ask which finger as well, it's a multi choice decision for tetanus shots arm or arse.