I have a question - I am not a nurse, but I just had a very odd painful blood draw today and wanted to ask if this is normal procedure or am I overreacting?
Im 22 and I need blood tests every 3 months to keep an eye on my hormone levels (most of my hormones all over the place). Never had any issues with any blood test, been told my veins are easy to find etc. I admire all the phlebotomists for how amazingly efficient and sweet they always are. (The blood draws here are done by phlebotomists, who dont have a nursing background, they do about a year long phlebotomy course).
Today (30min ago) I sat down as usual for a blood draw and the phlebotomist (never had her before) was a very sweet kind lady, but I was mortified when I watched the needle go in and it was a split second before she had jammed the whole 1.5 inch needle in my arm. She really just kind of shoved it in there real quick, all the way up to the plastic end. It wasnt the usual small pinch and like always, only the tip or a lil extra inserted. No blood came for a few seconds so she moved it around a little and it was ok then. It was a nasty sting and I was just freaked out a bit cause the whole thing was right in there (not a butterfly needle, this was a larger/thicker needle cause I needed many ampules drawn, similar needle to when I had IVs put in before, and the IVs also never required the whole needle to be inserted before for me either) and I was paranoid that it would break off and we wouldnt be able to fish it out lol
As she inserted the needle, she also kind of jerked/tugged the whole thing upwards in my skin, like to stretch my skin upwards or something? Either way, it was not pleasant at all and I was trying to act nonchalantly but I was nauseous and concerned that she will do some damage. I also noticed that usually the nurses palpate for the vein first but she never did, just tourniquet, alcohol swab and then needle. No gloves or sanitizer either. Is this ok? I know for vaccines no one ever used gloves on me so Im wondering if its not a requirement for blood draws either (although my blood draws in the past were done with gloves).
She was a slightly older lady, about 60 Im guessing so Im wondering if this is just an older technique or am I overreacting? My arm is pretty painful and I have a stinging kind of shooting pain, but nothing else. A slight bruise too but thats always the case. Never have any pain after my usual blood draws though. Im scared to come back in 3 months lol! I feel a bit nauseous having this image in my head haha. Please do tell me if Im being just being a baby
Thank you so much!
