I'm giving good energy and many THANKS to my team and to all of my wonderful patients. It was another great week of early morning blood draws.
While meeting my patients this week, I attempted to chat about the natural blood cleansing foods they might like to add into their diet, one person said, "you should be a doctor". Suggesting "An apple a day" is not enough to qualify me but yes, she is right. It's my pleasure to be smart phlebotomist, who takes the time to make all my patients the most comfortable, while being superiorly helpful. Creating a positive experience around a needle (blood test) gives me a feeling of success.
While meeting my patients this week, I attempted to chat about the natural blood cleansing foods they might like to add into their diet, one person said, "you should be a doctor". Suggesting "An apple a day" is not enough to qualify me but yes, she is right. It's my pleasure to be smart phlebotomist, who takes the time to make all my patients the most comfortable, while being superiorly helpful. Creating a positive experience around a needle (blood test) gives me a feeling of success.
Winter blood tests: I'm having to be extra careful while doing blood tests called PT/INR because of this cold weather. The tube is designed to stop filling up all by itself using a built in vacuum. My tubes that are exposed to "cold air" have been overfilling which is very unusual. I've had to get into a vertical viewing position, using a butterfly needle & my headlamp to watch closely and pull the blue tube off just as it's hitting the black arrow. A straight stick needle can't work, because if you're a drop or two off is to close to being overfilled. The blood ends up being delicately mixed with the Sodium Citrate in my blue top vacuette. Inside the lab and hospital the blue top has not experienced any vacuum changes and fills up perfectly. In house I have it pretty easy.
I've already written the vacuette manufacture "Greiner Bio-One" and they were very responsive. An incorrect blood to additive ratio can lead to inaccurate test results and flawed patient management. I won't let any of those mistakes actually happen but delivering good customer service and trouble shooting techniques do take time during the morning rush of blood testing. Safely driving my blood tests back to the laboratory takes time too, so lucky I have a fancy GPS that helps me doge traffic jams.
What is a PTINR blood test*?
Prothrombin Time with International Normalized Ratio.
Prothrombin Time with International Normalized Ratio.
Clinical Significance:
Used to monitor dosing of the anticoagulant Coumadin and to assess the extrinsic pathway of the coagulation system. *Measures your Blood Thinners!
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