QUESTIONS:
- How long did it take for y’all to feel confident in your blood-drawing skill?
- Am I on the right track and at the right pace?
- What tips do you for palpating small veins in general, but especially with bariatric patients?
*I really just need some advice & encouragement 😭*
It is my third week working at an outpatient clinic.
On good days, I can draw from 40–50 patients on my own with only occasional help from the more experienced phleb auntie. I can be quite fast, drawing around 10 people per hour.
Bad days, however, consist of a string of "hard sticks." I get very discouraged when I miss one after another, or when patients get annoyed, which tends to stress me out
At this stage, it takes me a while to find veins that I feel confident poking. I keep getting told—or even yelled at—by my supervisor that I’m not fast enough, or that I’m not as good as the person who held this position before me. (I’ve also noticed that seeing a crowded lobby stresses me out too.)