Deck 10: Venipuncture Procedures

Question 1

Prior to performing a venipuncture, why is it important to get information about whether or not the patient has eaten recently?

A) Laboratory tests can be affected by the ingestion of food and drink.
B) Meals tend to calm a patient down.
C) After eating, patients usually have enlarged veins.
D) To help evaluate on which side to perform the venipuncture.

Answer 1

Laboratory tests can be affected by the ingestion of food and drink.

Question 2

Select one step that should not be in the handwashing procedure:

A) lathering with soap and water
B) scrubbing between the fingers
C) washing around the wrist area
D) turning off the water faucet with hands

Answer 2

turning off the water faucet with hands

Question 3

If a patient is obese, what special equipment, if any, would be helpful in the specimen collection process?

A) specially sized collection tubes
B) an oxygen mask in case of fainting
C) a large blood pressure cuff
D) no special equipment should be needed

Answer 3

a large blood pressure cuff

Question 4

When a patient has "difficult" veins, what strategies, if any, can be used to improve the likelihood of a successful puncture?

A) slight rotation of the patient's arm to a different position
B) palpating the entire antecubital area to trace vein path
C) warming the site
D) all of the above

Question 5

Arteries differ from veins in which of the following ways?

A) thicker vessel walls with a pulsating feel
B) bluer in color
C) smaller in diameter
D) tend to be lipemic

Question 6

If arm veins cannot be used for a venipuncture, the preferred alternative veins lie in the:

A) ankles or feet
B) anterior surface of the hand or wrist
C) dorsal side of the hand or wrist
D) earlobe

Question 7

Where should the tourniquet be placed on the patient during the venipuncture procedure?

A) 1 inch above the venipuncture site
B) over the venipuncture site
C) 3 inches above the venipuncture site
D) 3 inches below the venipuncture site

Question 8

During a typical venipuncture, the needle should be inserted at what angle to the skin?

A) 30 degrees or less
B) 45 degrees
C) 60 degrees
D) 90 degrees

Question 9

During the venipuncture procedure, what should the phlebotomist do after the needle is inserted and blood begins to flow?

A) release the tourniquet
B) withdraw the needle
C) release the adapter
D) adjust the hub of the needle

Question 10

When the evacuated tube method is used for venipuncture, select the correct order of collection for the following tubes: blood culture tubes, coagulation tube, and hematology tube. Choose the order of tubes by their color of closures.

A) light blue, lavender, yellow blood culture tubes
B) lavender, light blue, yellow blood culture tubes
C) yellow, blue, lavender blood culture tubes
D) light blue, yellow, lavender blood culture tubes

Question 11

Which of the following information is essential for labeling a patient's specimen?

A) the patient's name and identification number, date of collection, room number, and the phlebotomist's initials
B) the patient's name and identification number, date of collection, time of collection
C) the patient's name and identification number, date and time of collection, the phlebotomist's initials
D) the patient's name and identification number, date of collection, the physician's name

Question 12

The term STAT refers to:

A) abstaining from food over a period of time
B) using timed blood collections for specific specimens
C) using the early-morning specimens for laboratory testing
D) immediate and urgent specimen collection

Question 13

Why is it important to get patient information about latex sensitivity?

A) Laboratory tests can be affected by the ingestion of latex particles.
B) Allergies to latex cause skin irritations.
C) Patients usually have preferences for special tourniquets.
D) This information is only important for the phlebotomist, not the patient.

Question 14

Steps in the identification process should include:

A) checking the verbal identification with a room number
B) a three-way match with verbal, ID bracelet, and requisition information
C) a two-way match with the ID bracelet and the verbal confirmation
D) a four-way match with the doctor, verbal ID, ID bracelet, and bed number

Question 15

If a patient is frail and has a tendency to faint, what equipment, if any, would be helpful in the specimen collection process?

A) a glass of juice
B) an oxygen mask
C) a recliner
D) a commercial warming device

Question 16

If a patient has a bruise in the antecubital area of his right arm (his nondominant arm), what alternate site should be considered?

A) slight rotation of the patient's right arm to a different position
B) the edge of the antecubital area of the right arm
C) the antecubital area of the left arm
D) forget alternate sites and do a fingerstick on the right hand

Question 17

One reason for hematoma formation during venipuncture is that the:

A) medial cubital vein is used
B) needle is parallel to the vein
C) needle is partially inserted in the vein
D) needle is too small

Question 18

If a venipuncture procedure is almost completed and suddenly you see hints of a hematoma beginning to form, what should you do?

A) finish collecting the tubes as quickly as possible
B) reinflate the blood pressure cuff to slow bleeding
C) remove the tube and try another one
D) discontinue the procedure and apply pressure with gauze

Question 19

How many more times should a phlebotomist try to perform a venipuncture on a patient if he has failed once already?

A) once
B) twice
C) three times
D) four times

Question 20

When using the syringe method to collect a blood specimen, how is the blood added into additive and nonadditive tubes?

A) the needle is removed from the syringe, the caps are removed from the tubes, and blood is pushed into each tube, then re-stoppered and mixed
B) the syringe needle is used to puncture the cap of each tube, then blood is pushed into each tube
C) using a clean needle, puncture all tubes to release the vacuum, then remove the caps and gently fill each tube
D) using a syringe transfer device attached to the syringe, insert each tube into the device and allow the blood to flow freely

Question 21

Which specimen collection tube is commonly used for hematology tests?

A) EDTA
B) heparin
C) sodium citrate
D) serum tube with clot activator

Question 22

Which specimen collection tube is commonly used for hemostasis tests?

A) EDTA
B) heparin
C) sodium citrate
D) serum tube with clot activator

Question 23

Adding too much blood to a sodium citrate tube can cause:

A) shorter clotting time
B) elevated hemoglobin
C) elevated glucose value
D) WBCs to clump

Question 24

When collecting a blood specimen with the butterfly method and PT and PTT tests are the only tests ordered, what is the correct procedure?

A) use a single serum tube with clot activator
B) collect a sodium citrate tube first, then EDTA
C) use a discard tube, then collect a sodium citrate tube
D) collect a single blue-topped tube

Question 25

Specimens may be rejected for a variety of reasons, most of which can be prevented by experienced, professional phlebotomists. Identify one reason for specimen rejection that relates to unnecessary, but excessive, mixing of the specimen.

A) Specimen is lipemic.
B) Specimen is hemolyzed.
C) Specimen is arterialized.
D) Specimen is icteric.

Question 26

When preparing a patient for a venipuncture procedure, phlebotomists should reassure the patient by saying, "This won't hurt at all."

Question 27

Specimen tubes should always be prelabeled with patient information.

Question 28

HIV, HBV, and HCV are bloodborne pathogens.

Question 29

TDM refers to thyroid disease measures.

Question 30

The preferred way to stop blood flow is to ask the patient to hold a cotton ball over the site until it stops.

Question 31

If a patient is healthy and strong, he can be allowed to stand at a counter during his venipuncture procedure to speed up the process.

Question 32

After a venipuncture on a 1-year-old child, be sure to give them a colorful bandage.

Question 33

Recapping needles after a venipuncture is acceptable in many cases.

Question 34

Collection tube additives may be accidentally transferred from one specimen tube to the next when the tubes are not oriented in a downward position during filling.

Question 35

You should release a tourniquet at the end of the procedure after removing the needle from the patient's arm.

Question 36

All hospitalized patients should have a ________ identification number.

Question 37

The order for a laboratory test is often called a requisition or ________.

Question 38

Every blood specimen should be treated as if it were hazardous or ________.

Question 39

One way to cleanse your hands prior to phlebotomy is to use an ________-based hand sanitizer.

Question 40

When washing hands with soap and water prior to performing a venipuncture, ________ soap should be used.

Question 41

Phlebotomists should monitor the patient closely during venipuncture because some patients may feel ________, nauseous, or queasy.

Question 42

After a venipuncture procedure, activation of the ________ device will prevent accidental needlesticks.

Question 43

CPR stands for ________.

Question 44

Paper and plastic waste that accumulate during the venipuncture procedure may be discarded in a ________ container.

Question 45

A blood specimen can be rejected if the collection tube is out-of-date. Another term for this is ________.

Question 46

Describe four strategies for reducing the incidence of iatrogenic anemia.

Question 47

Describe what you would do if you have made one unsuccessful venipuncture attempt on a patient and the patient refuses to let you try again.