Safety issue??????

[horsejody]

I am guessing that the person drawing the blood was afraid he would report her and she would get in trouble. So she reported him first and probably lied and said that he said something else to her. She may have lied and said he sexually harrassed her or something equally ridiculous. I would definitely file a complaint. I would also send a letter to the health dapartment and whatever agency certifies the hospital. They should now that proper health guidelines are not followed.

 

[HennysMom]

Quote:
Well I dont know - I can see where ya'll are coming from IF there were no gloves at all - but... if someone is a hard stick even after having the torniquet put on and pumping - you have to feel for a vein to see if its going to roll or not and depending on what type of gloves you have to work with, it makes it hard to feel sometimes. Case in point - most doctors use the small thin latex gloves, rip easily - yet lab techs use thicker purple or green gloves. Purple are thicker than the green and both are thicker than regular clear/yellow.

The nurse who blew my vein on Friday with the IV stick I knew was going to blow it... told her to feel FIRST... double check before she stuck... she felt...with gloves on...wasnt sure - ripped one tip, rubbed Purell on her hands, felt my vein... then swabbed me and replaced her glove she tore -then stuck. It blew. No good. So she called the anestesiologist over to stick me and he did the exact same thing except he used the Green Gloves because they were thinner and better for feeling - and told the nurse the same thing.

So - I guess it depends on the person and how they do it. If someone ever tried to stick me bare handed - forget it . I'd be gone in a heart beat and never would I allow them to touch me. But if they're just FEELING for a vein and not sticking you at that point - and they swab you a few times after they've found which vein they're looking for - then yeah - its not an issue really.

How was it being done with your husband? Was the nurse bare fingered WHILE she was about ready to stick him? If that was the case then...she was in the wrong, absolutely. If it is as I described above, then no harm no foul I'm afraid. I've seen it done thousands of times from nurses in the PICU to doctors themselves.

 

[EweSheep]

Quote:
Its either having a lawsuit for passing diseases and at the risk of the hospital's dollar signs OR worried about your job or getting a job and bypass the safety issues??????????

He was hired and he is a very likeable guy!

 

[Fudgie]

Quote:
Good point, report them to the agency!!!! Honestly if this is the way they run their hospital maybe your DH does not WANT to work for them!

 

[ksacres]

I thought you said he was fired? Maybe I didn't read it correctly...

 

[EweSheep]

Quote:
Well I dont know - I can see where ya'll are coming from IF there were no gloves at all - but... if someone is a hard stick even after having the torniquet put on and pumping - you have to feel for a vein to see if its going to roll or not and depending on what type of gloves you have to work with, it makes it hard to feel sometimes. Case in point - most doctors use the small thin latex gloves, rip easily - yet lab techs use thicker purple or green gloves. Purple are thicker than the green and both are thicker than regular clear/yellow.

The nurse who blew my vein on Friday with the IV stick I knew was going to blow it... told her to feel FIRST... double check before she stuck... she felt...with gloves on...wasnt sure - ripped one tip, rubbed Purell on her hands, felt my vein... then swabbed me and replaced her glove she tore -then stuck. It blew. No good. So she called the anestesiologist over to stick me and he did the exact same thing except he used the Green Gloves because they were thinner and better for feeling - and told the nurse the same thing.

So - I guess it depends on the person and how they do it. If someone ever tried to stick me bare handed - forget it . I'd be gone in a heart beat and never would I allow them to touch me. But if they're just FEELING for a vein and not sticking you at that point - and they swab you a few times after they've found which vein they're looking for - then yeah - its not an issue really.

How was it being done with your husband? Was the nurse bare fingered WHILE she was about ready to stick him? If that was the case then...she was in the wrong, absolutely. If it is as I described above, then no harm no foul I'm afraid. I've seen it done thousands of times from nurses in the PICU to doctors themselves.

Will ask him on that one! Thanks for that comment....you're making sense here!

 

[ksacres]

Quote:
This is my experience too. I used to sell my plasma so I have a lot of scar tissue in my veins. If they don't feel for a good stick, it hurts like the dickens. I have no problem being felt bare handed, provided they clean the area before they stick. It's not like you are both cutting your fingers and pledging to become blood brothers...

 

[jbowyer01]

Okay I'll chime in! I am a phlebotomist, infact I'm at work now (not really working though as you can see! BYC is just too adictive). Yes you are now taught to NOT rip the tip of the index finger of your glove. If your a good phlebotomist you really dont need to rip it off. It is considered a lack of biohazard safety to rip it off. The glove is to be kept whole as to protect not only the phlebotomist from any potential disease but also the patient from anything that the phlebotomist has come into contact with. Its not always blood that you need to be worried about (you could possible pass on staph and MRSA, etc..) I also worked as a paramedic for 9 years so I know its done by paramedics also. Now having said all this, have I ripped of the tip of the index finger, yes I have! It is very hard to feel for a vien to start an IV or to draw blood. I have been doing this for a very long time and mostly pull the tip off out of habit (a bad one at that). You should ALWAYS demand for a individual to have complete intact gloves on before drawing your blood. I do not have a problem with an individual pointing it out when I do it. I do not understand how this could be an issue for losing a job though. If the JACHO (joint commision) ever saw someone pull the tip off a glove the hospital can heavily fined. You DH needs to file a complaint with the hospital and state that he pointed it out for his safety.

 

[SpottedCrow]

I've had so much blood drawn I could flood the Panama Canal!
I have never ever EVER had a blood sucker rip the tip off the glove to feel the vein.
Your DH was in the right and the blood sucker was in the wrong.
That's all you had to say is that it was a safety issue.

 

[EweSheep]

Ok folks here is what I found out from him when he got back from telling his instructor before he decided to go to the next step.....

She tied his arm up, ripped the finger part off from her glove, felt for his vein, SWABBED it, and took the stringe AND tube together (not punched the tube just yet) and hubby said WHOA!!!! Why did you tear the glove off your finger?

She asked him rather sternly "Do you want somebody ELSE to DO this?" The needle was pretty close to him that it made him very uncomfortable having that kind of so called threat with that needle and tube really close.

He replied "Yes"

She didn't say anything to him, puts the syringe and tube down on the counter and walked out of the room to find someone else.

Now I see TWO things wrong here.....one is the finger, the other one is the syringe and tube sitting there.....someone could have taken it for themselves for their own purposes or what if it falls on the floor???????????

Now you guys tell me whats happening here?????? The attitude of this woman is bad enough. Out in the sitting room, all they say NEXT, NEXT and NEXT! No names or buzzers passing around. Even there are Caterpillar folks wanting jobs were sent there too for exams as well for pre employment purposes.

Here is what the instructor said, in no reason she should acted that way to threaten you or make you feel really uncomfortable. Two, its a safety violation to tear off gloves in that place that people come and go by the hundreds. Three, she DID not wash her hands upon visiting you or at anytime in the room with you did she washed her hands. Who knows whats going on ON the doorknobs, backboard memos, pens, etc. And three, a real deal breaker, THE DARN needle and tube sitting left out with the patient by himself!!!!!!!!!

She was clearly upset about this and she reported to her upper instructor at college (overall for hospitals) and see why hubby was terminated for this minor thing and they will find out for sure. Hubby's instructor was unable to get the info because of the patient confidentality reasons and I thought if hubby would get it, he can read the grounds of reasons of his termination.

Something is really fishy here!

Where can I find the bad scoop about Decatur Memorial Hospital????? Regulations being broken?