Have you had a blood sample taken from the TOP of your forearm?

That sounds retarded!

I think so. I recall it hurting quite badly. I’ve had draws taken from all kinds of places. I have difficult-to-find veins. Also, I was once hospitalized for a week and had a multitude of IVs and blood draws (not to mention the blood thinners). I was covered in bruises when I went home.

Yeah. I’m a “hard stick” as they call it. I’ve had blood drawn from the top of my hand after idiot nurses pierced every vein in both elbows.

They have to take mine from wherever they can. That includes forearm and back of the hand.

Sure. You get blood from wherever you see a vein.

You’re so vein, you probly think this Q is about you, don’t you, don’t you don’t you!

No, luckily. It sounds awful. Back of the hand is bad too.

But I can SEE the veins on the back of my hand. Can’s see them on the top of my forearm.

I’m sorry to hear about your painful venipuncture experience. Some phlebotomists have more experience and skill that others.

In phlebotomy veins of the antecubital fossa are the most ideal location for drawing blood. However veins located in other areas of the arm are also used as well as the back of the hand. The inside of the wrist where all the tendons are located is definitely off limits for a Venipuncture (good area to obtain a blood gas specimen however).

By the way, you should hear some of the stories that highly skill phlebotomists tell. I have quite a few of them myself.

OK, I’ll go first @gondwanalon! For my husband’s insurance we have to go get blood drawn and stuff once a year. We go to Wichita. We always have it done by the coolest black lady. I don’t remember what she did or said that made me like her, but boy. She could take blood slicker than snot, and you wouldn’t feel a thing! She was GOOD.

Phlebotomists are the least appreciated and understood health care professionals. They are expected to perform flawlessly with a smiling face with each patient all day even while working under very heavy workloads. This includes the last few patients of their work shift no matter how exhausted they are, much their backs are aching, how difficult the patient’s veins or how poor the patient’s attitude is. They are also expected to perform many other tasks besides drawing blood. In my opining phlebotomists have the toughest job in healthcare while being paid the least amount of pay.

It is no wonder that phlebotomists tend to not stay in the profession very long. This means there is a continual high rate of turnover. Also there are always new phlebotomists in training who may perform under pare while perfecting their skills. And the question that @Aster asked is likely a direct result.

@marinelife I have a blood test every fortnight and choose to have it taken from the back of my hand, it is normally quite painless, always the same phlebotomist though and she is good.

@Aster I would say the bruise is a direct result of the way the blood was taken, not from where it was taken.