Used to draw blood from antecubital veins of infants and small children or from difficult adult veins, such as small antecubital veins or wrist and hand veins.
Winged infusion set (butterfly)
Gauge of butterfly needle
23-25
Rationale behind butterfly needle gauge
It is less likely to collapse or “blow” (rupture) the vein.
T/F:
A butterfly can be used with an ETS tube holder or a syringe.
True
T/F:
Large-volume tubes should be chosen when a butterfly is used with an ETS holder because the vacuum of small tubes may collapse the vein or hemolyze the specimen.
False;
Small tubes should be chosen.
Large tubes may collapse the vein or hemolyze the specimen.
Steps in performing blood collection procedure (wrist vein)
- Prepare all the materials and equipment.
- Identify the patient by making the him state his name and birth date.
- After identifying the patient’s diet restriction and latex sensitivity, explain the procedure then position the patient. Apply tourniquet and ask patient to make a fist.
- Search and select for the prominent vein, clean the site, and reapply tourniquet.
- Anchor the vein firmly, and insert the needle intro the vein, bevel up.
- Once the needle has entered the vein, a flash of blood should appear in the tubing, pull the plunger back slowly.
- Release the tourniquet, apply cotton, remove the needle and activate its safety feature. Apply pressure to the site for 3-5 minutes.
- Transfer the desired volume of blood sample to the correct blood tube. Follow the correct number of inversions if necessary.
- Dispose the materials.
- Label the tube with the complete name of the patient, date
and time of collection. - Thank the patient. Deliver the specimen to the laboratory sections.
Steps in performing blood collection procedure (wrist vein)
- Prepare all the materials and equipment.
- Identify the patient by making the him state his name and birth date.
- After identifying the patient’s diet restriction and latex sensitivity, explain the procedure then position the patient. Apply tourniquet and ask patient to make a fist.
- Search and select for the prominent vein, clean the site, and reapply tourniquet.
- Anchor the vein firmly, and insert the needle intro the vein, bevel up.
- Once the needle has entered the vein, a flash of blood should appear in the tubing, pull the plunger back slowly.
- Release the tourniquet, apply cotton, remove the needle and activate its safety feature. Apply pressure to the site for 3-5 minutes.
- Transfer the desired volume of blood sample to the correct blood tube. Follow the correct number of inversions if necessary.
- Dispose the materials.
- Label the tube with the complete name of the patient, date
and time of collection. - Thank the patient. Deliver the specimen to the laboratory sections.
Where should the hand be supported when performing blood collection on a wrist vein?
Support the hand on the bed or armrest.
Where should the tourniquet be applied?
Apply it proximal to the wrist bone.
Consideration for vein selection
Select a vein that has bounce or resilience and can be easily anchored.
How do you anchor the vein?
To anchor, use your nondominant hand to hold the patient’s hand just below the knuckles and pull the skin taut over the knuckles with your thumb while bending the patient’s fingers.
Another way is to have the patient make a tight fist, encircle the fist with your fingers, and use your thumb to pull the skin over the knuckles.
Insert the needle into the vein at a shallow angle between how many degrees?
10 to 15 degrees
T/F:
A “flash” or small amount of blood will appear in the tubing when the needle is in the vein.
True
T/F:
“Seating” the needle by slightly threading it within the lumen of the vein keeps it from twisting back out of the vein if you let go of it.
True
T/F:
Blood will not flow until the needle pierces a tube stopper.
True
Place a tube in the holder and push it part way onto the needle with a (clockwise, counterclockwise) twist.
clockwise
