Phil is feeling a bit distracted. He is finishing one specimen collection and thinking about the stat draw he was just notified of, as well as the timed draw already scheduled on his run. After the collection tube is filled to the correct level, Phil quickly removes the needle, covers the puncture site with gauze, labels the specimen, and leaves the patients room. What (if anything) has Phil done wrong?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Phil did not remove the tourniquet before removing the needle. He also did not check the site for bleeding before leaving the patient's room. Both are steps in the venipuncture procedure. Part of a phlebotomist's duty is prioritizing work and recognizing when help from co-workers is needed to meet the volume of orders, while keeping patients safe.
Phil's error-leaving a tourniquet in place-could result in serious injury to the patient. If he had checked the site one more time before leaving the room, he may have noticed the tourniquet. The procedure for application of a tourniquet advises a tourniquet should not be applied for longer than one minute to prevent hemoconcentration. All venipuncture sites should be checked for bleeding before leaving the patient.

Phil Is Feeling a Bit Distracted