Something that gives me anxiety

Hi, I've only had my blood drawn once at my Dr. because I refused once because I don't know if I just have this phobia of blood & needles-The lady who draws the blood at this facility does not wear gloves & I'm not sure if Iv'e seen her wash her hands before drawing blood- The 1st and onlt time that she did draw my blood she did not wear gloves and I did not like that-The 2nd time I went in to have the blood test to determine the chances of Down Syndrome I refused and happily so as I found out that test was inaccurate-But I refused mainly because she did not wear gloves and she wasn'nt so friendly-So that made me really feel uncomfortable. In 4 more weeks I will have to have my blood drawn for the Gestational Diabetes/Gloucose testing and I am already starting to feel anxiety about my encounter with her. I really do not want her to be upset with me if I ask her could she please wear gloves-Also I do not want to cause any problems/like her being offended. I am big on sanitary-But am I working myself up for nothing? Am I being a bit paranoid? What would you do in this situation? And does the person who draw your blood wear gloves or you at least see them wash their hands right before? Because she deals with so many different people ( drawing their blood and all) And because I am carrying my babies I would not want any mistakes to happen (hepatitis or anything else) Thanks in advance for your responses. :unsure:

 

Most healthcare workers wear gloves now when drawing blood. However, it's more to protect them than you. It is nearly impossible for them to infect you with something becuase they would have to be gushing blood and then get it into the tiny hole the needle leaves in your arm. It's more of a danger to them to draw the blood and then a) accidently stick themselves (though most use devices to prevent this now) or b) have a cut on their hand and your blood gets on them - even a paper cut.
Also, depending on how old the person is, they may have been trained without gloves and it can be hard to adjust to a new technique.

I'm an RN and when they came out with retractable needles for IV's, it was REALLY hard to learn how to use those after using the other ones for years.

I agree that in the least, they should wash their hands or use a sanitizing gel before they draw your blood and you can ask them to do that. I had patients that I may have washed my hands in the hall and they asked me again to do it. I would do it again and not be offended.

 

QUOTE(lewis514 @ Mar 7 2009, 08:41 AM) [snapback]1217922[/snapback]
Most healthcare workers wear gloves now when drawing blood. However, it's more to protect them than you. It is nearly impossible for them to infect you with something becuase they would have to be gushing blood and then get it into the tiny hole the needle leaves in your arm. It's more of a danger to them to draw the blood and then a) accidently stick themselves (though most use devices to prevent this now) or b) have a cut on their hand and your blood gets on them - even a paper cut.
Also, depending on how old the person is, they may have been trained without gloves and it can be hard to adjust to a new technique.

I'm an RN and when they came out with retractable needles for IV's, it was REALLY hard to learn how to use those after using the other ones for years.

I agree that in the least, they should wash their hands or use a sanitizing gel before they draw your blood and you can ask them to do that. I had patients that I may have washed my hands in the hall and they asked me again to do it. I would do it again and not be offended.

What my fear is about that is.. if she mistakenly prick herself with the needle and then continue to draw my blood afterwards. Because I am a nursing student myself I know that we are constantly checked for different diseases for the safety of the patients. I wonder if plabotamist <(SP?) go through this 6 mth. screening as well? Also I had a very bad experience in a dr. office before-where I was taken into a room that had not been cleaned-bloody gloves was on the counter, and at the foot of the table/bed that I was to lay on for my annual checkup...there was blood-because I am a person who observes things...I pointed this out to the lady who had brought me in the room....(It's a long story) They wanted to pay for my trip to the office...apologized constantly... That's only one of the 3 scary experiences that I have had with Dr./Denist offices-One time blood from my tooth flew into my dentist eye (she was not wearing her protected goggles while extracting my tooth). But if what you are saying is that I should be safe...I'll try to calm myself-Because I know that much of my paranoial has to do with those bad experiences.Thanks Again.

 

that doesn't sound right to me I would be nervous, is there another place u can go to give blood

 

I would either talk to your doctor ahead of time or make an annonymous call to the lab. Make sure someone knows about this because I am sure you are not the only one freaked out about this.

 

No gloves, no drawing blood from me and I do not care who they are.....

Yes, I am a B*^!H when it comes to this crap, but no way, no hell!

Jenn

 

Have to agree with Jenn here. No gloves, no drawing blood.


32W0D mono/di boys

 

just ask her to put the gloves on...if she doesn't tell the office to refer you to another office that does....

 

Agreed with above posters....

No gloves, no touching me... no blood drawing, no vaginal exams..... I also prefer them to wash their hands before touching me just in general.... Maybe a bit phobic, but whatever! LOL.

 

I would prefer that someone wear gloves when drawing blood (I always do when I draw blood, I'm an RN) but as the first responder said, it's really more for the employee so she doesn't come into contact with your blood than anything else. So, I'm not worried about them (as long as their hands have been washed, see below ).

No biggie if you ask her to wear gloves and also no biggie to ask her to wash her hands. I'd just phrase it as "I know you probably just washed your hands after the last patient but would you mind washing them again for me?" I wash before and after each pt, and sometimes before I've had a chance to wash before a pt, someone will say something. No harm, no foul, I just let them know I was just about to and wash up.

And ktannor, I'm surprised your school screens you for things, ours never did and none of the facilities I've worked in do either. Only TB and that's either been annual or 6 months depending on the population we've worked with. And we had the option to have the Hepatitis B vaccination and have to say we've either had it or are declining it with each job I've gotten since then.

 

I totally agree with pp! I actually have never seen someone not put on new gloves when working on me, i thought they had to. Dont feel bad for demanding it. Good luck!

 

QUOTE(Chillers @ Mar 7 2009, 03:41 PM) [snapback]1218296[/snapback]
I would prefer that someone wear gloves when drawing blood (I always do when I draw blood, I'm an RN) but as the first responder said, it's really more for the employee so she doesn't come into contact with your blood than anything else. So, I'm not worried about them (as long as their hands have been washed, see below ).

No biggie if you ask her to wear gloves and also no biggie to ask her to wash her hands. I'd just phrase it as "I know you probably just washed your hands after the last patient but would you mind washing them again for me?" I wash before and after each pt, and sometimes before I've had a chance to wash before a pt, someone will say something. No harm, no foul, I just let them know I was just about to and wash up.

And ktannor, I'm surprised your school screens you for things, ours never did and none of the facilities I've worked in do either. Only TB and that's either been annual or 6 months depending on the population we've worked with. And we had the option to have the Hepatitis B vaccination and have to say we've either had it or are declining it with each job I've gotten since then.


I know someone who works at Emory Hospital In Atlanta,Ga. And I was told that every 6 mths that they are checked.As for me...I am still a student, so I am not sure how things are done elsewhere. Personally I think that anyone in a position to draw someones blood should be regularly checked-But that's just me. From reading the responses....I will somehow kindly have her to wear gloves...for my mental well being. From what I read to wear gloves is mainly for her safety......I have to ask myself...why is she not protecting herself? I believe it was in Vegas where alot of people was infected w/HIV because (I don't want to say Nurses-because it could have been trained people to draw the blood) But in any event...they were administering shots from the same vial....although not the same needle...but from the same vial...which was contaminated...and that carelessness or accident affected many lives who thought that they were in good hands.Thanks Again for your advice...I have peace with what I should do. :hug:

 

I work in a lab and OSHA rules say that she has to wear gloves. I run the tests but, we are required to wear gloves at all times. I also know that phlebotomist have to wear gloves too. I would ask her to put them on. Also, you may want to see if there is hospital near by that you go to. Most of them have an out patient clinic that draws blood. If she stresses you out that bad it is something to look into.