Nikki
Member
- Mar 18, 2003
- 1,586
- 7
I started a Phlebotomy course this week. I go 3 days a week from 9-5. Then on May 8th, I start my clinicals at the hospital Mon-Fri. The following week, I'll be at a privte doctors office. Then the 3rd week, I'll be at an Endocronologist office and so on.
Today was our first day to "stick" (that's what we call it when we draw blood). We've only read about hw to do it. We never even played with the needles before today.
I was a nervous wreck. There is one girl in the class and while I was watching her practice on the fake arms, I kept thinking that there was NO WAY she was coming near me. She would end up having the needle all bent and when she put the vacutainer on it, she would jab the needle farther into the arm. Then when she would pull the vacutainer off, the needle would come out.
Two girls went before me. Both went in just fine, but they pulled the needle out when pulling off the vacutainer (tourniquet still on) causing blood to spew everywhere. There was blood all over the table. That made me even more nervous.
It was finally my turn. I ended up shaking so bad towards the end, but I did it perfectly! I was so excited. What a relief!
I ended up being the class guinea pig though because my veins are so big and stick out so far. My poor arms hurt.
I ended up letting that one girl stick me and I thought she was going to rip my vein to pieces. The instructor was like "Watch what you're doing, watch what you're doing!". Her problem was that she didn't have all the stuff ready before sticking me, so she was reaching all around to get the stuff while the needle was in my arm. Other than that, she did great. :D
Despite it hurting a bit, it was fun! I'm really LOVING this class. The instructor is really young, laid back and a ton of fun. And with there only being 6 of us in there (5 today), it's nice. :o)
So, I got my first documented successful stick (successful is when we actually get the blood to come out into the tube (vaccutainer)) today! Now just 99 more to go!
Today was our first day to "stick" (that's what we call it when we draw blood). We've only read about hw to do it. We never even played with the needles before today.
I was a nervous wreck. There is one girl in the class and while I was watching her practice on the fake arms, I kept thinking that there was NO WAY she was coming near me. She would end up having the needle all bent and when she put the vacutainer on it, she would jab the needle farther into the arm. Then when she would pull the vacutainer off, the needle would come out.
Two girls went before me. Both went in just fine, but they pulled the needle out when pulling off the vacutainer (tourniquet still on) causing blood to spew everywhere. There was blood all over the table. That made me even more nervous.
It was finally my turn. I ended up shaking so bad towards the end, but I did it perfectly! I was so excited. What a relief!
I ended up being the class guinea pig though because my veins are so big and stick out so far. My poor arms hurt.
I ended up letting that one girl stick me and I thought she was going to rip my vein to pieces. The instructor was like "Watch what you're doing, watch what you're doing!". Her problem was that she didn't have all the stuff ready before sticking me, so she was reaching all around to get the stuff while the needle was in my arm. Other than that, she did great. :D
Despite it hurting a bit, it was fun! I'm really LOVING this class. The instructor is really young, laid back and a ton of fun. And with there only being 6 of us in there (5 today), it's nice. :o)
So, I got my first documented successful stick (successful is when we actually get the blood to come out into the tube (vaccutainer)) today! Now just 99 more to go!
