Blood draw without gloves and swab(alcohol) has this happened to anyone? Is this normal?

[Misg]

I had my blood taken today by a nurse at the hospital. I have difficult veins on my arms and it is hit or miss with blood tests. This time it was a miss. She had tried three areas for the test but only swabbed one of those areas once; the other places weren't whilst not wearing gloves.

I wasn't so worried about her bare hands because of the dissenfectant swabs but the fact she didn't use it twice alarmed me.

At the time I was more focused on her finding a vein and getting out i realised as she placed the third one that she had not swabbed and was using her bare finger to tap for a vein and she had done also for the other one. Bare in mind she had changed the needle three times for the three different areas but is that enough?

I am a bit dissapointed in myself lol because I have come on here before talking about a similar issue but I have gotten to the point where I am now noticing things after they have been done rather than before.

I just want to know if anyone has had a similar experience and is this normal? Should i be worried?

[Souppie]

Nobody should draw blood without gloves, period. This healthcare worker, nurse whatever she was should have known better.

Swabbing the skin is only to clean the skin, she still should have gloves on for your protection and for her protection.

I would report this person, she is putting others at risk.

[Misg in reply to Souppie]

Thank you. I'm going to have to report her. I'm just going to be watching out for any changes in my health for the next two to three days as dramatic as it seems but yeah partially my fault for not even forcing her to wear one. Thank you for your response.

[Souppie in reply to Misg]

Hi,

Are you in the UK or the states? It does not matter but I was just wondering.

Yes, you have to report this person so she does not do this anymore.

I think you will be fine, I would not worry about that, just inform the place you had your BW that they did this.

Good luck

[Misg in reply to Souppie]

Hi I am from the UK. Yeah I am okay today thank goodness. Yeah i really don't remember the name of the nurse however. I'll ask when I call.

[LAJ123]

Misg,

If you are going to complain, and for future reference, it is always a good idea to have the facts.

This is a link to guidelines for nurses in training who will be performing venepuncture in the NHS.

eastlancsdue.nhs.uk/images/...

Other than worries about aseptic technique by health workers, I hope you are well.

Jim

[Misg in reply to LAJ123]

Thank you for your reply. I am quite well just ongoing pains in other organs but nothing out of the usual in this last month. Thank you for the link as well.

[suzyj61]

Misg

When I was at university I was taught the gloves are for your protection not the patient. They are not sterile and are just out in open boxes. What protects you is hand washing. I was told never grab a pair of gloves in place of hand washing unless it is a dire emergency with no time. Watch that your nurse or doctor is washing their hands before grabbing the gloves. If they have washed hands properly it is more a problem for them than you if they don’t wear gloves but there is probably a hospital standard procedure that should be followed. Never be worried about asking about hand washing no health professional should mind being asked. Alcohol swabbing seems to to regularly debated but the alcohol must dry to be useful. Hope this helps

[Misg in reply to suzyj61]

Thank you for this. Yeah it just did make me feel uneasy as I did not see handwashing and I am so used to gloves being and the alcohol swabs. It was a bit alarming for me but thank you for this message it did put me at ease.

[Faithfull]

Yes same