Question

CRITICAL THINKING

2) What are some problems that medical assistants may encounter when attempting to draw blood from patients – and particularly from elderly patients?

Answer 1

Blood is the most frequent body fluid which is used for the analytical purposes , and it can be collected by

1.venipuncture

2.Arterial puncture

3. Skin puncture

There are many problems faced by medical assistance when drawing blood sample. For eg: critical care patient , elderly, children , psychiatric patients etc. Also some desease and autoimmune conditions.

In elder peoples are already have bad experience such as repeat blood collection, fear about some past incidence etc this make uncomfirtable situations when drawing the blood also panic nature this make difficulty for collection because in such conditions patient skin is thickened and hardened that of sclero derma. It make hard to find vein also slow blood flow lead haemolysis etc.

Elder people also have dectease elastic nature of vein.so hard to draw the blood.

Vein patancy and also chance to fragilty ,smaller and delicate etc .this lead some times that needle enter in to vein but no blood or required ml of blood cannot be drawn.

Elder people have decrease understanding behavour also i have experience that they have low tollerance capacity of simple pain also there is increase chances of sudden removal of hand during blood collection time that lead very fifficultis of medical assistance also there is a chance of accidental needle pricking, out flow of blood etc.

Elder people have low muscle mass , so there are position stability of vein is low and this lead accidental prick to bone etc.also cause embolism.

Dehydration also a problem in elder people.

Elder people who have autoimmune desorder have problem in blood collection and medical assistant have extreme care and ask about that( conversation also problem in elder people because they already loose of increase a ility of understanding and ear capacity etc) so medical assistance take extreme care and soft minded towards the elder people also ask about them to family persons. Some medications eg: steroids are make the vein to shrink also some autoimmune deseases also in arthritis patients contacted limb also a problem in such vonditions medical assistance take appropreate techniques like small sized needle use is help to draw blood more eaaily.

Obese is also a problem also some are faint during blood cllection , medical assistance take pre arrangement in these cases also correct positioning and make peaceble atmosphere warm mind also important. Also apply bandage aftrr taking blood because elder people some time excessive out flow of blood is happen (haparin like anticoagulant treatment patients also strock patients etc).