When should you use a tourniquet?
Because of the potential for adverse effects, a tourniquet should be used only as a last resort in cases of delayed care or situations where response from emergency medical services (EMS) is delayed, when direct pressure does not stop the bleeding, or you are not able to apply direct pressure.
What’s the purpose of a tourniquet?
A tourniquet is a device that is placed around a bleeding arm or leg. Tourniquets work by squeezing large blood vessels. The squeezing helps stop blood loss.
What is a tourniquet used for in phlebotomy?
A tourniquet is used by the phlebotomist to assess and determine the location of a suitable vein for venipuncture.
What are the 3 main veins to draw blood?
The antecubital area of the arm is usually the first choice for routine venipuncture. This area contains the three vessels primarily used by the phlebotomist to obtain venous blood specimens: the median cubital, the cephalic and the basilic veins.
Why should the tourniquet be released before removing the needle?
Why must the tourniquet be released before removing the needle from the vein? The tourniquet must be released to reduce bleeding at the venipuncture site and prevent the formation of a hematoma.
How long can you leave a tourniquet on a patient?
Leaving on too long: A tourniquet should not be left for longer than two hours. When applied for a longer time, tourniquets can cause permanent damage to muscles, nerves, and blood vessels.
Can you use the same needle twice to draw blood?
Healthcare providers (doctors, nurses, and anyone providing injections) should never reuse a needle or syringe either from one patient to another or to withdraw medicine from a vial. Both needle and syringe must be discarded once they have been used.
What diseases can you get from a used needle?
Some people, such as health care workers are at increased risk of needlestick injury, which occurs when the skin is accidentally punctured by a used needle. Blood-borne diseases that could be transmitted by such an injury include human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B (HBV) and hepatitis C (HCV).
Can you draw up and inject with the same needle?
While it is not recommended to use the same needle and syringe to enter more than one medication vial because of the risks described above, there are circumstances where more than one vial may need to be entered with the same syringe and needle (e.g., when reconstituting medications or vaccines).
How many failed attempts at venipuncture are allowed?
4. Do not attempt a venipuncture more than twice. Notify your supervisor or patient’s physician if unsuccessful.
What is the maximum number of times you should venipuncture a patient?
The number of venipuncture attempts to insert a short peripheral catheter is a critical factor in the ultimate health of your patient’s veins. The 2016 Infusion Therapy Standards of Practice call for no more than 2 attempts per clinician with a limit on the total number of attempts to 4.
Can a phlebotomist give injections?
Phlebotomists don’t usually give intravenous, intramuscular, or subcutaneous injections. Also, they do not administer intravenous drugs or any other kind of fluids for patients. As these things do not come under their expertise, trained nurses or physicians usually perform these tasks.