A phlebotomist is called to the ER to draw a STAT hct, hgb, and plt ct on a young girl who appears extremely pale and very close to being unconscious. While checking for a good puncture site, the phlebotomist notes the “M” pattern of veins on both arms but really can’t feel the veins that well. After reapplying the tourniquet and making it a bit tighter, the vein in the middle of the AC on the right arm becomes palpable, but when entered, the blood slowly drips into the tube. After the tube is filled, the phlebotomist applies pressure to the puncture site and makes a point of holding it longer than usual before applying a new gauze and tape. While waiting, she overhears the nurse say that the patient’s BP is 80/50, and her pulse is weak. The mother says her daughter had a nose bleed that lasted almost all night. Ready to go back to the laboratory, the phlebotomist checks the puncture site again and sees that the bleeding has not stopped. The ER tech continues to put pressure on the site as the phlebotomist leaves. Why is the blood flowing so slowly into the tube?
A phlebotomist is called to the ER to draw a STAT hct, hgb, and plt ct on a young girl who appears extremely pale and very close to being unconscious. While checking for a good puncture site, the phlebotomist notes the “M” pattern of veins on both arms but really can’t feel the veins that well. After reapplying the tourniquet and making it a bit tighter, the vein in the middle of the AC on the right arm becomes palpable, but when entered, the blood slowly drips into the tube. After the tube is filled, the phlebotomist applies pressure to the puncture site and makes a point of holding it longer than usual before applying a new gauze and tape. While waiting, she overhears the nurse say that the patient’s BP is 80/50, and her pulse is weak. The mother says her daughter had a nose bleed that lasted almost all night. Ready to go back to the laboratory, the phlebotomist checks the puncture site again and sees that the bleeding has not stopped. The ER tech continues to put pressure on the site as the phlebotomist leaves.
Why is the blood flowing so slowly into the tube?
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