I love taking bloods. Before I did my first one, I spent an hour in the phlebotomy clinic watching and listening to how to do it. I then took a needle and bottle home and practised on a pillow (yes, I know, but it was what was suggested to me). I then took blood from the phlebotomist who was happy that I could manage - even though I moved the needle slightly and ended up with blood running down her arm...hahaha - and then it was straight into it.

I asked my mentor If I could do the first one on someone who only needed one bottle, so that I didn't get flustered so much, but in the end it was two bottles. Like you, she just said to the woman, is it okay for KS to take your blood, rightio, off you go then!

Then, once I was on the wards, I got given the job of taking bloods from all the medical staff admitted to the ward - which was both terrifying and a very good way of learning how to get good quick. When you have women watching you do it, who do it themselves, you learn very quickly to become proficient....lol

Then to help find the veins, a couple of days doing GTT bloods in the clinic is good practice as it is harder to find veins on a starving woman. So managing this is a good confidence booster.

Now we have just introduced vacutainers, and I love them! So much easier to use.
KS x

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Kentish Spitfire
Moderator, Student Services
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"It's better to be thought a fool - rather than proved a fool!"