Phlebotomy- A gateway to laboratory diagnostics

Shehla Ambreen Alizai; Rabia Sadaf; Maliha Atif; Kanwal Shehzadi; Naima Noor; Muhammad Saeed

doi:10.55629/pakjpathol.v35i1.790

Author(s)

Shehla Ambreen Alizai Islamabad medical & Dental College,Islamabad,Pakistan

Rabia Sadaf Akhtar Saeed Medical College,Rawalpindi,Pakistan

Maliha Atif Akhtar Saeed Medical College,Rawalpindi,Pakistan

Kanwal Shehzadi Qaid-E-Azam University, Islamabad Pakistan

Naima Noor Rawal General & Dental Hospital, Islamabad Pakistan

Muhammad Saeed Rawal General & Dental Hospital, Islamabad Pakistan

Abstract

Objective: To assess the knowledge, practice and attitude about venipuncture amongst Nursing staff of a tertiary care hospital. Material and Methods: This questionnaire-based survey was done at Rawal General and dental hospital, Islamabad, from January to April 2022. The Questionnaire was developed as per the CLSI H3A6 and WHO's venipuncture guidelines. It was distributed to nursing staff by hand. Most were filled inside the classes in front of the teacher. Results: The frequency of correct responses in the knowledge section varied from 4(4.6%) about the number of tube inversions to 79(90.8%) about wearing of gloves before taking a sample while 47(54%) selected the correct option of identifying a patient. Regarding the standard phlebotomy protocols, the response was quite low which was 26(29.9%), 18(20.7%) and 8(9.2%) about the correct angle of needle insertion, what to inspect of the supplies and the location of applying the tourniquet respectively. Recapping with two hands is still done by 13% and 79% still put the sample by holding tube in the other hand. In spite of all this 66% still think that one can learn venipuncture by practicing the techniques without going through a proper course. Conclusion: Nursing staff in Rawal General and dental hospital is not fully aware about basic laboratory protocols and their importance. This unawareness can lead to generation of erroneous lab reports. Formal education, training with summative assessments should be a part of the curriculum of nursing courses followed by rigorous implementation monitoring.

Publication Details

Page(s) 26-33

DOI 10.55629/pakjpathol.v35i1.790

Published Journal: Pakistan Journal of Pathology, Volume: 35, Issue: 1, Year: 2024

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Keywords

Nurses, Awareness, Phlebotomy, Venipuncture, Sample