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I am in the unfortunate position of having to visit hospital regularly to have blood samples taken.
I want to describe my experiences over the last few years to see how they compare to anybody else who has had blood taken...
My first experience was at the local quacks. The nurse spent 5 minutes at her computer, all the while running her fingers through her hair. Then she got up, and proceeded to prep a syringe!
I asked her to wash her hands. She looked at me with a face like thunder, then said "Pardon?"
I repeated my request then waited. She stared at me again, then did as I had asked. Then she picked up the syringe she had just prepped with dirty hands...
My second experience was at another local health centre. Similar, but this time the nurse was rummaging through the bins prior to taking my sample!!!
Subsequent samples have been taken at hospitals, but my experience of procedure varies wildly. Some nurses automatically wash their hands and put on gloves, others just wash their hands, others don't wash hands but put on gloves & some do nothing!! Or in my case, they do nothing, then get asked politely but firmly to clean up before taking the sample.
One nurse even said to me, "I have just washed my hands, you know."
My reply, "Maybe. but I didn't see you do it. Please wash your hands in front of me."
I always insist now that at the very least they wash their hands or use a sterigel.
It's my body: am I being incredibly finickity or reasonable? Or somewhere in-between?
Be honest!!
I want to describe my experiences over the last few years to see how they compare to anybody else who has had blood taken...
My first experience was at the local quacks. The nurse spent 5 minutes at her computer, all the while running her fingers through her hair. Then she got up, and proceeded to prep a syringe!
I asked her to wash her hands. She looked at me with a face like thunder, then said "Pardon?"
I repeated my request then waited. She stared at me again, then did as I had asked. Then she picked up the syringe she had just prepped with dirty hands...
My second experience was at another local health centre. Similar, but this time the nurse was rummaging through the bins prior to taking my sample!!!
Subsequent samples have been taken at hospitals, but my experience of procedure varies wildly. Some nurses automatically wash their hands and put on gloves, others just wash their hands, others don't wash hands but put on gloves & some do nothing!! Or in my case, they do nothing, then get asked politely but firmly to clean up before taking the sample.
One nurse even said to me, "I have just washed my hands, you know."
My reply, "Maybe. but I didn't see you do it. Please wash your hands in front of me."
I always insist now that at the very least they wash their hands or use a sterigel.
It's my body: am I being incredibly finickity or reasonable? Or somewhere in-between?
Be honest!!