variability in blood draw experience

[TonyaH]

Hi Cheryl,
<br />You may already know this, so forgive me if so. There are some lab tests that cannot use blood samples drawn through the same line that was used to deliver medication. For example, when Andrew has a picc placed we always keep his peripheral iv in for administering his medication until it is time to go home. Since his tobramycin, gentamycin, etc. are run through his peripheral, they can get drug levels through his picc, which has not had any of the medication running through it. Once all of his levels are good to go, we start using the picc line to administer meds. So, if you have been told the picc can't be used for a blood sample it may because they are testing her drug levels and need the sample from a clean line or vein.
<br />

 

[Lety]

We've had traumatic draws with Alexa. Some nurses don't really know how to deal with children. Of course there are the good nurses who really try hard. We go to a Children's Clinic days before her appoinment. A was "torture" several times at the CF clinic.

 

[Lety]

We've had traumatic draws with Alexa. Some nurses don't really know how to deal with children. Of course there are the good nurses who really try hard. We go to a Children's Clinic days before her appoinment. A was "torture" several times at the CF clinic.

 

[Lety]

We've had traumatic draws with Alexa. Some nurses don't really know how to deal with children. Of course there are the good nurses who really try hard. We go to a Children's Clinic days before her appoinment. A was "torture" several times at the CF clinic.

 

[NancyLKF]

I don't have time to read all the replies, so I don't know if this has been mentioned but....
Our first experience was horrible (couldn't find a vein and the guy was so scared he just quit and found someone else to come in), then another parent clued me in to "The Comfort Zone" in our hospital. That is where we did Maggie's blood draw in April (she was 15 months old). They had toys everywhere and two nurses who specialize in pediatrics and one child life specialist on hand. She had numbing cream put on both arms and sat on my lap facing me. And while the nurses took the blood the child life specialist was blowing bubbles, showing her toys, etc to keep her distracted. She never cried and didn't fuss until the last couple of minutes. They got all the blood they needed and Maggie barely noticed what was really going on 'cause she was having so much fun with the child life specialist. Of course, it's probably a LOT harder to fool an older child!! <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">
But the fact that this was a staff TRAINED to do these things with children was so great!

 

[NancyLKF]

I don't have time to read all the replies, so I don't know if this has been mentioned but....
Our first experience was horrible (couldn't find a vein and the guy was so scared he just quit and found someone else to come in), then another parent clued me in to "The Comfort Zone" in our hospital. That is where we did Maggie's blood draw in April (she was 15 months old). They had toys everywhere and two nurses who specialize in pediatrics and one child life specialist on hand. She had numbing cream put on both arms and sat on my lap facing me. And while the nurses took the blood the child life specialist was blowing bubbles, showing her toys, etc to keep her distracted. She never cried and didn't fuss until the last couple of minutes. They got all the blood they needed and Maggie barely noticed what was really going on 'cause she was having so much fun with the child life specialist. Of course, it's probably a LOT harder to fool an older child!! <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">
But the fact that this was a staff TRAINED to do these things with children was so great!

 

[NancyLKF]

I don't have time to read all the replies, so I don't know if this has been mentioned but....
<br />Our first experience was horrible (couldn't find a vein and the guy was so scared he just quit and found someone else to come in), then another parent clued me in to "The Comfort Zone" in our hospital. That is where we did Maggie's blood draw in April (she was 15 months old). They had toys everywhere and two nurses who specialize in pediatrics and one child life specialist on hand. She had numbing cream put on both arms and sat on my lap facing me. And while the nurses took the blood the child life specialist was blowing bubbles, showing her toys, etc to keep her distracted. She never cried and didn't fuss until the last couple of minutes. They got all the blood they needed and Maggie barely noticed what was really going on 'cause she was having so much fun with the child life specialist. Of course, it's probably a LOT harder to fool an older child!! <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">
<br />But the fact that this was a staff TRAINED to do these things with children was so great!