My first blood

On Friday night I was asked to help out with health fair training. I instructed people at the glucose testing station, but there were stations on how to take blood pressure, do breast exams, eye and ear tests, and phlebotomy (and no, it has nothing to do with a lobotomy). So, after the people began to pan out, I decided to go take a crash course in drawing blood. I first practiced on a dummy arm which seemed easy enough (they even had fake blood that would fill the tube if you did it correctly). Then two of my pathology group members generously offered their veins to me (I made a mental note to bake them something). The first thought that came to mind was how I wished I could somehow practice on myself instead of having to hurt someone else. But then I remembered how I cannot stand seeing my own blood (I figured this out after accidentally dropping a knife onto my foot, and saw my blood pooling on the floor). So…..I tied the tourniquet onto my first volunteer, and crudely palpated for her veins…..they felt a lot deeper than my veins…..oh well, I guess the needle will have to go a little deeper. I drew a pen line over where I thought it was…..swabbed the area…..then proceeded to insert the needle. Apparently I didn’t go deep enough. Nothing - I didn’t even get her to bleed from the needle pick (damn – I was hoping to be a ‘one stick wonder’). I didn’t have it in my heart to stab her again (she’s such a happy person). The next set of veins offered to me were definitely more attractive….I could work with these. The first time (yes I’m afraid to say I had to stick her twice), I uncapped the 21-gauge needle and slowly stuck it into her arm (you’re not supposed to be slow about it because it will hurt more). Again, I was unsuccessful – at least she bled a little from where I had put the needle in. Then, they brought me over a butterfly needle – which is apparently smaller, easier to learn on, and hurts less (geez people, why do we have to make things painfully difficult!). Finally, on my third try I almost got everything right. I successfully penetrated the vein and drew my first blood. Unfortunately, I got so excited about finally getting some, I prematurely withdrew the needle before I undid the tourniquet. Oops.