Human Pin Cushion

As part of my new job at the hospital I had to go and get some vaccine boosters and some routine tests and lab work done. I patiently waited my turn to go in and visit with the occupational health nurse. My turn came and I met with the nurse. She looked over my paper work and decided I would need a tetanus booster and a TB test. So away she went and gave me the TB test and tetanus booster. No problem, hardly felt them.

Needle Tally: 2

She then wrote up the form for me to bring to the hospital lab to get my other vaccine levels checked to make sure I am immune still. Again I patiently waited my turn at the lab to get my blood drawn.

I was approached by a nervous looking guy who called my name and asked me to follow him. When I got into the chair to have my blood drawn he stated that he was a BCIT lab tech student and asked if it would be ok if he did my blood tests. Being a student myself I felt for the guy and told him sure he could take my blood! :) No worries right!?!

He started by palpating my arm to find a good vein. He appeared to have found one and proceeded to put the elastic tourniquet EXTREMELY tightly around my arm and began to get his supplies in order. Then there was more palpation and some nervous laughter from him and then he says "I think I found your vein but if I miss it's gonna hurt." Oh....ummmm yah...what am I supposed to say to that!?! I told him well then be sure you have a vein before you start, in the sweetest voice I could muster. I don't mind needles really but I am not keen on being poked a million times and have him not hit a vein.

By now, my hand is totally white and tingly and cold because I still have the tourniquet on my arm and he is STILL palpating. It has been a few minutes and his supervisor lab tech came over to see how things were going. She reassured him that he was doing fine and palpated my vein as well and said he should go ahead. So he did...."small poke here Stacey....uhhhh...hmmm let me just move the needle a bit.....ok no blood." Now the poor guy is sweating and his hand is shaking. Yes the needle is still in my arm...kinda hurts. So he digs a bit and then gets frustrated and pulls the needle out.

Needle Tally: 3

He looks at me sheepishly and asks if he can try it again. For some crazy reason I agree. So repeat all of the above palpating etc and in he goes again. This poke hurt a bit more but whatever...he looked confident...Hmmmm...I still don't see any blood entering the specimen tubes. Crap! Ok lab guy looks even more nervous and he jiggles the needle around in my arm hoping to find the vein again. STILL NO BLOOD!! He removes the needle.

Needle Tally: 4

Ok, "Can I maybe try the other arm, I am sure that will be better." Again, stupid me says sure...I am a student and I feel for the guy especially with his supervisor standing over him. The guy is now really sweating and his hand is shaking as he preps my left arm and applies the crazy tight tourniquet and palpates yet again. "I can totally feel a big juicy vein on this side!" says lab guy. Ummm great I say, then away we go. Poke......nothing....nothing...no blood.....nothing....yup, he is still digging...ok crap he still can't get any blood. He pulls out the needle AGAIN!!

Needle Tally: 5

I look at him with understanding in my eyes, and maybe a tear because now both arms are killing me and rather bruised and I say..."Maybe she should do this next one" pointing to his supervisor. He agrees and away we go again with the supervisor palpating. She pokes me with confidence and PRAISE THE LORD THERE WAS BLOOD!!! She filled up her two vials and band-aided both my arms up and apologized for the amount of pokes. No worries I told her....I hardly felt them....*cough* *cough* (I lied). Then I turned to the lab tech student guy and told him not to get too down, that I hardly felt his pokes (another lie) and he just needs more practice!

Needle Tally: 6

Yup, I am sooo done with getting needles for this week!! Keep them needles away from me!