TL;DR
Venipuncture: Blood collection using Vacutainer system following order of draw and proper site selection.
Venipuncture
Definition
Blood collection using Vacutainer system following order of draw and proper site selection.
Practical Example
Clinical Procedure: Pulse measurement is relevant to venipuncture.
Technique: Radial (most common), count 60 sec if irregular. Apical: left MCL, 5th ICS, count 60 sec. Pulse deficit: apical minus radial.
Normal values: Normal adult: 60-100 bpm. Tachycardia over 100, bradycardia under 60.
Assessment Techniques
Temperature: Oral (under tongue, lips closed, 3-5 min), tympanic (pull ear up and back for adults), temporal (across forehead). Normal: Oral: 97.8-99.1 F. Rectal: +1 F. Axillary: -1 F. Tympanic: close to core.
Pulse: Radial (most common), count 60 sec if irregular. Apical: left MCL, 5th ICS, count 60 sec. Pulse deficit: apical minus radial.. Normal: Normal adult: 60-100 bpm. Tachycardia over 100, bradycardia under 60.
Step-by-Step Procedure
Procedure: Blood pressure measurement (relevant to venipuncture).
Technique: Seated, arm at heart level, cuff on bare upper arm, inflate 30mmHg above palpated systolic, deflate 2-3mmHg/sec, Korotkoff sounds: first=systolic, disappear=diastolic
Normal values: Normal: under 120/under 80. Elevated: 120-129/under 80. Stage 1 HTN: 130-139 or 80-89. Stage 2: 140+ or 90+.
Clinical Significance
Medical assistants encountering venipuncture should be familiar with associated laboratory values. CBC reference ranges:
- WBC: 4,500-11,000/uL
- RBC: 4.2-5.9 million/uL
- Hematocrit: 37-47% (F), 42-52% (M)
Why It Matters
Venipuncture technique and order of draw tested on MA exam.
Related Terms
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