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Taking of blood.

H

hallii

Well-Known Member
I have just come back from a routine blood taking.

It was not the best experience I have ever had, in fact it was not at all good. Four bloody goes before blood was in the vial.

It hurt, it hurt a lot, and I am not a wimp and I have had lots of blood taken quite painlessly.

I am very cross, (understatement) the person doing the job is an HCA , usually I have a proper Nurse, and they have the skills to do the job properly.

I will be making my feelings known to my doc. when I next see him, I don't think anyone who is not sufficiently trained and skilled should be sticking needles in my arms and hand.

I will tell the doc. I want a proper skilled Nurse to take my blood in future, and not a part time person in a psuedo nurses uniform.

Rant over.

H
 
I have just been doing a bit of research, here are the qualifications required for an HCA :-

"Qualifications
Unlike individuals who wish to become healthcare professionals, potential healthcare assistants do not need to hold any specific qualifications or have a scientific background. However, individuals will need to pass a medical check and, because of the amount of close contact with vulnerable patients of all ages, a Criminal Records Bureau check will also have to be carried out. Furthermore, a driving license is useful, since healthcare assistants often need to visit patients in their own homes throughout the day.

Once healthcare assistants have started work, they can study for NVQ qualifications in Health or Health and Social Care. These qualifications will allow employees to learn more about patient care and, once they have been completed, individuals will often be allowed to perform tasks which require a greater level of responsibility."

From http://www.myjobsearch.com/careers/heal ... stant.html

Well that's the last time any UNQUALIFIED person sticks a needle in my arm!

Still fuming!!!

H
 
I read this with interest.

my last bloodtest also hurt more than normal (not horrendously) and stayed bruised for a week It was I think) done by a HCA not the nurse.


Mary x
 
Not all Nurses are good though....our practice Nurse is renowned for causing bruises and telltale signs that last for a week!! :thumbdown:
I got a load taken on Tuesday by a phlebotomist and she had to try both arms as the first vein wouldn't share it's contents. Anyway the next day there was no trace of either puncture wound. What a difference!!

Regards
Angie
 
Slow down there people.

Qualified Nurse, Doctor, Midwife or whoever all go through exactly the same training in order to take blood and are not allowed to take blood until they have completed the training. This includes HCA's. Phlebotomists are only qualified to take blood, nothing else.

It amazes me that you were willing to let the person taking your blood continue to try do so. I am a Midwife and I make it quite clear to whomever takes my blood which arm they may use and if they think they are unable to do it, get me someone who can. If they are ok with that, they get one chance. I find the procedure incredibly painful so I want competance.

When taking blood, I only ever try once and if I don't succeed, ask somebody else to do it. Thankfully, my technique very rarely lets me down.

wiflib
 
Some times it isn't the person taking the blood, it's the person giving it.
In the past I have had nursing assistants to nursing managers, student doctors up to consulants, not being able to draw blood or insert canulars.
Appently, every time one of my viens feel a needle, it shrinks away from it.
Have also been told, this can happen to anyone at any time.
So please dont give the health care givers a hard time.
 
Many years ago prior to an emergency op the staff tried 30 minutes to take a blood sample from me after which time I said, "That's it I have had enough!" One replied, "That's ok, we can take a bucket full when you're under" By the way, I have been to hospital 30 times here in Bali and had at least 60 needles in my arm and never felt a thing. Don't come to Bali for the scenery, the nurses are far more gentle and beautiful.
 
hallii said:
I have just been doing a bit of research, here are the qualifications required for an HCA :-

"Qualifications
Unlike individuals who wish to become healthcare professionals, potential healthcare assistants do not need to hold any specific qualifications or have a scientific background. However, individuals will need to pass a medical check and, because of the amount of close contact with vulnerable patients of all ages, a Criminal Records Bureau check will also have to be carried out. Furthermore, a driving license is useful, since healthcare assistants often need to visit patients in their own homes throughout the day.

Once healthcare assistants have started work, they can study for NVQ qualifications in Health or Health and Social Care. These qualifications will allow employees to learn more about patient care and, once they have been completed, individuals will often be allowed to perform tasks which require a greater level of responsibility."

From http://www.myjobsearch.com/careers/heal ... stant.html






Well that's the last time any UNQUALIFIED person sticks a needle in my arm!

Still fuming!!!

H
Click to expand...

I take bloods regularly and always tell the patient that if they are uncomfortable with any aspect of what is happening then please let me know. The fact that this lady is not a qualified nurse does not bar her from taking bloods as you will see in the Responsibilities in the link you have provided. Part of the responsibility has to be with you for what has happened too as you did not complain about four attempts but came here and moaned about it. Why didn't you say something at the time?

Healthcare bashing seems to be a popular sport on the forum. Being a HCA is a recognised job and not a "pseudo nurse". HCA's are valuable members of all Health Care Teams and they do a worthwhile job. The NHS would be in a much worse state without them.
 
HCA's are just as good as nurses at taking bloods, one hca took mine without having to get me pinned down whilst the normal nurse cant keep me calm enough to do it. Ive been in and out of A&E a lot for non diabetic reasons and the HCA's there are fab and kind knowing how scared i am of needles and talking to me, letting me do my own BG levels and telling them what they are as even that freaks me out.
 
Must comment here!
I reported a locom [bloke] HCA who when I entered the treatment room for my blood test.
Was sat with filthy fingernails " PICKING HIS NOSE!!!! " :shock: :shock: :shock:
Then he wanted to just continue to take a blood sample of me without a sorry or even washing his hands!!!! UGH...
I walked straight out to the head receptionist at my surgery and reported him...
She apologised , entered my complaint in a book to be reported to the chief GP and she offered me
another appointment with someone else. [usual HCA was on holiday]
He hadnt even come out of the treatment room to see where or why I had left in such a hurry either! :shock:
I recieved a letter from my GP's 4days later apologising and thanking me upon my swift action. :thumbup:
Never ever seen him there again...
My surgery are superb with me and do act upon things.
Not 'all' surgeries or clinics do - I know this but it 'does' help to act swiftly when needs be!
As to "prevent" is better than to let things be done with risk or harm to our/other's health and wellbeing.
Anna.
 
I've had bloods taken by all, from HCA, GP Nurse right up to consultant level.. Goodness how many I've had, as been diabetic for 23 years and had bloods taken for other things as well before and after this! But it's been a mixture of experiences over the years, so good and some not so good, worst actually wasn't that long ago, and that when the nurse missed the vein and hit the tendon behind it...

My veins are actually difficult to find, they went into hiding years ago, so I'm not any easy patient to retrieve blood from, the weirdest place I've almost had a blood taken from, was my foot :shock: I'd had to have a 4 pt blood transfusion, and the day after it was finished, they needed to get bloods to check all was ok.. the phlebotomist tried both arms, then the back of one hand, and finally managed to it blood from my other hand with great difficulty, the next stop was my foot!

I'm a qualified HCA, so is my husband (he's qualified to an higher level than me) but neither of us can take bloods nor give injections, as these are separate training to our main qualifications, and both of us have refused to do the training...

Even though my husband has had fully on going training in the administering of medication... Injections are separate to this.
 
For those who have difficulty offering blood samples from the arm - may I suggest that they ask for blood to be taken from the back of the hand. As can be observed the veins are clearly obvious there and less painful for most people.
 
I have also had bloods done regularly for the past 10 years. Luckily most of the time its fine. One arm does seem to have more prominant veins though, so this is usually th one they go for. ( I do have quite plump ones that pop up quite easily .)

Where I lived previously I used to have to go the the path lab at the hospital for bloods, now its at the gp and done by a phlebotomist. They do seem more confident, but no wonder if this is all they specialise in! The few times I have had a nurse some have not seemed as confident. Its like anything if its practised regularly then you will be more proficient.

Lucy.
 
I have calmed down a bit now :D

I didn't complain at the time because like most of us I am a nice person and the HCA is a nice person and I didn't want to cause a fuss.

The blood was eventually obtained from the back of my hand.

I am pleased to note that there is little bruising today.

It can obviously be a problem getting a needle into a vein that is not to prominant, and maybe mine are of that sort.

I also noted the lack of gloves and no wipe over with sugical spirits, I wouldn't want to be messing with blood without gloves.

Hey Ho! now I have to wait and see what my HbA1c is doing.

H
 
Surgical spirits? Not really necessary :wink:

HCP-Don't really care as long as they are reasonably competant.

No gloves??!!! :shock: - They wouldn't be allowed anywhere NEAR me!!
 
I'm very difficult to get blood from.
I have permission from my GP to go to thehospital pathology department [mostly the phlebotomist goes to our health centre]
the worst was when 3 different phlebotomists tried, until no.3 did it with minimal pain and maximum efficiency.
I wouldn't ever let anyone keep trying without getting someone else in.
Libby
won't you come down to our hospital please?
I'm not likely to need your midwifery skills at my age, but first try for blood would be nice.
Actually saying that i think the woman 6 months awgo did that.
I'm due to go =tomorrow!! :(
Hana
 
I've got little veins so it can be difficult to get blood from me too. The first time it happened was pre-diabetes when I went to give blood. They refused to take my blood because they said I was anaemic, but tried to take a sample to send off to the hospital - very painful and I was black and blue afterwards. I found out years later that this was probably because of the slight anaemia.

More recently I had a nurse who couldn't get any out of my arm so tried the back of my hand. I don't know whether it's because my hands are very thin, but I nearly fainted. It was the most painful needle I have ever felt - it felt as if it was going into the bone. When she saw me go a funny colour the nurse stopped trying!

These days I usually cycle to the hospital and when I've gone straight in shortly after arrival there hasn't been a problem - sitting around waiting makes it much more difficult.

Two things I always try to do leading up to my blood tests now: eat lots of iron rich foods, and exercise immediately beforehand - seems to help!
 
I've not had a problem with the HCA at my practice. I do find that when she puts the strap around my arm, if I clench my fist tightly I can be ready to thump......no, not really :lol: If I clench my fist the veins to pop up a bit more so they're easier to find.
 
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