The best magazine
- 1). Locate the median cubital vein on the anterior forearm of your patient. Always inspect and tap the areas to elevate the veins and make them more visible.
- 2). Wrap a tourniquet about 2 to 3 inches above the desired puncture site. Wipe the skin with an alcohol pad to disinfect the area.
- 3). Ask your patient to make a fist and carefully and slowly insert the butterfly needle into the vein. Gently move the needle deeper until you see blood entering it.
- 4). Stabilize the butterfly needle by firmly pressing down on the plastic sides. Attach an empty syringe to the end of the butterfly needle hub connector and gently pull out the plunger to extract blood. If you plan on using a Vacutainer, attach the necessary adapter to the hub connector before proceeding.
- 5). Continue collecting the necessary amount of blood as requested in the blood test order. Make sure the patient's name is clearly written on the collection tubes before drawing blood. This will prevent a mix-up with other patients' blood samples.
- 6). Release the tourniquet and carefully pull out the butterfly needle. Wipe the puncture site with an alcohol swab and cover with a sterile bandage or sterile gauze and tape. Dispose of the butterfly needle in the biohazard wastebasket.
Source: ...