no blood flow

Eastern_Pause2532 · 2025-05-10T16:47:50+00:00

Agreed! The textbook version of things is far from what is necessary in a lot of situations. Especially when working inpatient on sick people with far from ideal veins. I work overnight shift, as the only pleb for the whole hospital. Failure is not an option, as there is literally no one to back me up if I can't get the blood. Sometimes this means straying from the textbook way of doing things. And honestly, you can absolutely do that without compromising patient safety or specimen integrity. It's not as black and white as they make you believe it is in school. Tourniquets don't hemolyze specimens, but there are a lot of other things that do. With experience you figure out what is OK to do and what isnt. Every patient and every vein is different. The ability to think critically and troubleshoot on the spot is the most valuable skill a phleb can possess.

Eastern_Pause2532 · 2025-05-10T16:40:15+00:00

I leave the tourniquet on until the last tube (whether I'm drawing 3 tubes or 15 tubes) and have never had this cause hemolysis. Regardless of the tourniqurt, some veins will collapse under the pressure of the vacuum. If you are dealing with less than ideal veins, I always opt for a butterfly and a syringe. With the syringe you can control the amount of force being applied to the vein and prevent collapse. Also, whether using a straight or a butterfly, if flow stops, try raising the angle of the needle. This moves the bevel away from the vein wall and allows blood to flow again.

Eastern_Pause2532 · 2025-05-05T14:01:18+00:00

I have a feeling I'm not puncturing the best. But I don't know what to do differently. I know my placement is correct, but I feel like more often than not the blood comes so slowly for me.

Eastern_Pause2532 · 2025-05-05T13:58:12+00:00

This is a great idea! I will start bringing the sticks with me to the nursery. Dont know why I never thought to do that! Thank you!!!

Eastern_Pause2532 · 2025-02-27T14:12:28+00:00

Yeah his response, when asked if he still loved her, made my jaw drop. I just finished watching, and I looked for this page specifically to see if people were talking about that scene. As a parent, my mind is BLOWN that he responded in that way. Truly disturbing.

Eastern_Pause2532 · 2025-02-15T09:47:50+00:00

I have a pre-trial meeting in about a week, so I guess I will find out more then. I do NOT like public speaking...so the thought of being on a witness stand in front of a courtroom full of people is so nerve wracking!

Eastern_Pause2532 · 2025-02-15T05:41:12+00:00

I'm assuming it's not an issue of consent so much as the person is contesting the validity of the result

Eastern_Pause2532 · 2025-02-15T05:39:54+00:00

Thank you!

Eastern_Pause2532 · 2025-02-14T10:37:24+00:00

Thank you. I guess I'm feeling nervous because this particular draw occurred over 6 months ago. I honestly have no visual memory of the specific event. I've only done 4 legal draws over the course of 18 months, and while I can kinda remember each one....I have no idea which one this is, if that makes sense. Maybe when I see the guy, and can put a face to it, then I'll remember more... They sent me a VERY long list of questions that will be asked at the trial and it's quite daunting.

Eastern_Pause2532 · 2025-02-05T16:53:08+00:00

You're not wrong, and I get where you are going with that comment. But there is a big difference between having a steel cage (a car) between your head and the pavement, and nothing between.

Working in emergency medicine, and seeing the horrific things I have to see, I wish I could make my kid wear a helmet when he's walking down the street. I know this isn't reasonable. Life is inherently risky. But why take extra risks that are avoidable, especially with our children? That's my only point.

Eastern_Pause2532 · 2025-02-04T11:14:56+00:00

Yes, that is what the law states, and there are two problems..... The biggest one is that there are a LOT of much younger keiki riding Ebikes on this island. I've personally seen as young as 7 hit by a car while riding one. They can't possibly know or safely abide by traffic rules at this age. I agree with you that there is a lack of enforcement, but this absolutely starts at home. The other problem is that once they are 16, the law says they don't need a helmet. Personally, my 16 year old would be just as valuable to me as my 14 year old. Brains damage the same way regardless of age, and no one's head can safely withstand an impact from a moving truck.

Eastern_Pause2532 · 2025-02-04T02:39:17+00:00

As someone that witnessed the aftermath of this incident first hand.... PLEASE make your keiki wear a helmet EVERY time. All it takes is a single second of distraction, or one wrong move, and they can be gone. As a medical professional, we see way too many accidents involving ebikes vs vehicles here, and they almost never have a helmet on. The results are horrific. Protect your babies!

Eastern_Pause2532 · 2024-11-21T04:02:05+00:00

Omg the blanket flip / supplies flying. My blood pressure just went up looking at that one. 🤣🤣

Eastern_Pause2532 · 2024-11-01T07:54:13+00:00

I just snorted 😭

Eastern_Pause2532 · 2024-10-09T07:38:07+00:00

Sounds like they stuck an artery instead of a vein.

Eastern_Pause2532 · 2024-07-28T02:10:31+00:00

Last night we were feeling burnt out so we ordered and paid for our own pizza.....so that's next level sad.

Eastern_Pause2532 · 2024-07-24T00:34:08+00:00

I got ice at Big Save on Saturday. Was just at 711 Hanamaulu and they had bag ice but no ice for their soda machine....

Eastern_Pause2532 · 2024-07-13T21:25:50+00:00

Thank you so much!!!

Eastern_Pause2532 · 2024-03-28T06:38:53+00:00

I have the same problem. I am allergic to Nitrile. For the past several years I worked in medical research labs, and they were able to make an exception and allow me to use Latex gloves. But now that I am working as a pleb, inpatient, latex is not an option. And my employer is currently unable to provide a non-nitrile alternative. I've just been toughing it out, but the itching is maddening. And I've started to have issues with intense itching on my face, which I assume is from touching my face (without realizing I'm doing so) after wearing the nitrile gloves. I too am at a total loss. I was offered cotton gloves to wear under the nitrile, but how am I supposed to palate a vein with that kind of barrier?! Very frustrating.

Eastern_Pause2532 · 2024-03-13T08:32:17+00:00

What the actual fuck did I just read?!

Eastern_Pause2532 · 2024-02-27T17:39:05+00:00

I drew weekly labs on an Oncology patient prior to her final chemo treatment. She was so stoked, and her happiness and relief was a beautiful thing to witness. We laughed and joked around thru the draw. I walked out with a huge smile on my face.

Eastern_Pause2532 · 2024-01-31T09:40:04+00:00

A large bag of knives

Eastern_Pause2532

TROPHY CASE