Venepuncture is the process of inserting a needle into a patient\u2019s vein to take a sample of blood for testing. When taking blood samples, it is important to ensure that the correct sampling tubes are used, and that the samples are labelled and processed correctly. There are different methods for obtaining blood samples for testing; this film shows the use of an evacuated blood collection system.<\/p>\n
Once you have watched this video, why not attempt the multiple choice quiz to test your knowledge?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Venepuncture is the process of inserting a needle into a patient\u2019s vein to take a sample of blood for testing. When taking blood samples, it is important to ensure that the correct sampling tubes are used, and that the samples are labelled and processed correctly. There are different methods for obtaining blood samples for testing; […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2,1],"tags":[12],"class_list":["post-142","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-tomorrows-clinicians","category-uncategorized","tag-venepuncture","entry"],"youtubeVideo":"463777279\/6686a2ad32","question1":"What are the risks associated with venepuncture?","answers1":"Bleeding | Bruising | Haematoma formation| All of the above\r\n","correctAnswer1":"3","correctAnswerText1":"Venepuncture involves inserting a needle into a vein, which can cause any of these complications.","question2":"Which patients are at risk of complications from excessive bleeding?","answers2":"If the patient is on anticoagulants| If the patient is on beta-blockers| If the patient is on simvastatin| If the patient is on metformin\r\n","correctAnswer2":"0","correctAnswerText2":"Anticoagulants decrease clotting ability and can make patients prone to bleeding, bruising and haematoma formation.","question3":"When selecting a site for venepuncture, what must you avoid?","answers3":"The arm where the patient has previously had venepuncture| The arm where there is an IV infusion running| The patient\u2019s dominant upper limb| The arm where patient had surgery for a fracture 2 years ago\r\n","correctAnswerText3":"Performing venepuncture on an arm where is there is an IV infusion running may result in incorrect readings due to haemodilution secondary to the infusion.","correctAnswer3":"1","question4":"To decide upon the most appropriate site for venepuncture, what should you NOT do?","answers4":"Apply the tourniquet| Tap or flick the veins| Palpate using one finger| Use adequate lighting\r\n","correctAnswer4":"1","correctAnswerText4":"Tapping or flicking the vein is NOT an appropriate method of finding a suitable venepuncture site.","question5":"How should you prepare the skin before venepuncture?","answers5":"Clean for 15 seconds and allow to dry for 15 seconds| Clean for 30 seconds and allow to dry for 15 seconds| Clean for 15 seconds and allow to dry for 30 seconds| Clean for 30 seconds and allow to dry for 30 seconds\r\n","correctAnswer5":"3","correctAnswerText5":"Adequate preparation should be taken to prevent infection at the venepuncture site.","question6":"How should you anchor the skin prior to inserting the needle?","answers6":"Using the dominant hand below the site of anticipated entry| Using the dominant hand above the site of anticipated entry| Using the non-dominant hand below the site of anticipated entry| Using the non-dominant hand above the site of anticipated entry\r\n","correctAnswer6":"2","correctAnswerText6":"This is to prevent the vein from moving as the tip of the needle is inserted into the skin.","question7":"How should you insert the needle?","answers7":"At an angle of 10 \u2013 30 degrees| At an angle of 30 \u2013 40 degrees| At an angle of 40 \u2013 60 degrees| At an angle of 70 \u2013 90 degrees\r\n","correctAnswer7":"0","correctAnswerText7":"A greater angle of insertion will lead to the needle entering and exiting the vein.","question8":"How should you dispose of the blood collection system?","answers8":"By putting it as a whole into a clinical waste bin| By dissembling it and putting all parts into the sharps bin| By putting it as a whole into the sharps bin| By dissembling it and putting the needle into the sharps bin and the plastic parts into a clinical waste bin\r\n","correctAnswer8":"2","correctAnswerText8":"You must always dispose the blood collection system as a whole into the sharps bin. Dissembling the system can increase the chance of needle stick injury and must not be attempted. NEVER put sharps into the clinical waste bin.","question9":"Which type of blood sample must always be hand written?","answers9":"Full Blood Count| Clotting screen| Blood cultures| Group and Save (Cross match)\r\n","correctAnswer9":"3","correctAnswerText9":"If the Group and Save specimen is not clearly and correctly labelled by hand, it will be disposed of and not be analysed. This is to reduce blood transfusion errors.","question10":"When should you use biohazard stickers on the blood forms?","answers10":"If the patient has a blood borne virus such as HIV or Hepatitis | If the patient is suspected of having MRSA | If the patient has septicaemia | If the patient has recently had chemotherapy\r\n","correctAnswer10":"0","correctAnswerText10":"The blood forms should be appropriately completed and any relevant information in the patient\u2019s history should be stated in the clinical indication box. Laboratory workers must also be informed if there is a risk of blood borne viruses.","question11":"","answers11":"","correctAnswer11":"","correctAnswerText11":"","question12":"","answers12":"","correctAnswer12":"","correctAnswerText12":"","question13":"","answers13":"","correctAnswer13":"","correctAnswerText13":"","question14":"","answers14":"","correctAnswer14":"","correctAnswerText14":"","question15":"","answers15":"","correctAnswer15":"","correctAnswerText15":"","icon":"venepuncture","parentId":"","recapId":"346","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/vapp.rguc.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/142"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/vapp.rguc.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/vapp.rguc.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vapp.rguc.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vapp.rguc.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=142"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/vapp.rguc.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/142\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":562,"href":"https:\/\/vapp.rguc.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/142\/revisions\/562"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/vapp.rguc.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=142"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vapp.rguc.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=142"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vapp.rguc.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=142"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}