Better Efficiency
Posted By: james christeck 
Date Posted: November 3rd, 2009 Category: Cost & Quality
I would like the "Powers That Be" to consider having the Blood Drawers install I.V.’s into a patients arm rather than an R.N. Why? The Blood Drawers are more efficient at what they do. This is what they deal with on a daily and hour to hour basis. I would also like to see the I.V be installed very soon after arriving at the Hospital. Too frequently an R.N. who isn’t real skilled at installing an I.V. has to go hunt down a co-worker that is, and take that person away from his/her job to do a task that the blood drawers take right in stride. Also if an I.V. can’t be installed and a Central Line must be put in, who is better to judge the situation and save the Hospital lots of time in the decision making process.? The blood drawer. Thank you.
Comment By: Cary Bynum
Date & Time: November 9, 2009 at 1:38 pm
James: It only takes being a patient one time and having someone fish in your arm for a vein to know that what you're saying makes sense.
Comment By: Rebekah
Date & Time: November 23, 2009 at 4:12 pm
Unfortunately at BJH we don't have people functioning specifically as phlebotomists (blood drawers) on the inpatient units anymore. Nurses and patient care techs do those things every day. If there is difficulty – and there often is, MANY people have tricky veins! – there is an IV Therapy team of nurses who do nothing but line placements. Sometimes it's a delay to get them though.
Central Lines can be a recommendation, but the ultimate decision on line placement has to come from the patient's doctor. We can't even place an IV without a doctor's order.
Comment By: Debbie Poole
Date & Time: January 14, 2010 at 10:52 am
Rebekah, I agree, it may be delayed but the IV Therapy team is great. They kept my Mothers arms from extra bruising that would have come from fishing. The regular Nurses normally do a great job (on me, my husband, my Dad) but My Mother had very tricky veins. Everytime she was admitted to the hospital whether thru ER or addmittance, we always ask for the IV Team to put the IV in. Towards the end of her life she would get central line or something like that. When the nurses couldn't do it, they would not try more then twice but mostly the IV team came running for my Mom. BJC slways took good care of her, I thank all the nurses for that.
Debbie
Comment By: Rebekah
Date & Time: January 18, 2010 at 9:01 am
Debbie, I agree. The IV therapy nurses do a great job. Sorry if I implied otherwise. I do think it's worth the wait for the patients to get that team if they are a difficult stick.