Answer:
Supplies and Equipment
Sterile syringe (20 cc) and three needles (usually 20 gauge)
Two blood culture bottles (one for anaerobic and one for aerobic specimens)
Betadine solution or alcohol swab.
Sterile cotton balls or gauze pads.
Gloves.
Tourniquet.
Band-aid.
Chux (to protect the bed)
Laboratory request form
Preparation
The test requires little preparation for the patient. The patient will be asked what kind of medications he is taking, including prescriptions and nutritional supplements. The patient may be asked to stop taking certain medications that may alter the blood culture results.
Procedure
Discuss the procedure and the reason for doing it to the patient.
Bring together all supplies and equipment needed to patient’s bedside.
Assist the patient to comfortable position. Ask for someone within the team to assist if the patient is uncooperative.
Observe proper hand hygiene.
Clean the top of both culture bottles with betadine solution or alcohol swab.
Place the needle on the syringe.
Apply the tourniquet to allow the veins to fill with blood and become more visible.
Put on gloves and clean the drawing site with betadine solution or alcohol swab.
Draw at least 10 cc of blood from the patient (5 cc is needed for each bottle).
Unbind the tourniquet.
Remove the syringe and needle while applying pressure to the venipuncture site with the cotton ball or gauze pad. Have the patient apply pressure to the site.
Replace the needle on the syringe with another sterile needle.
Inject 5 cc of blood into the anaerobic bottle, not allowing air to enter the bottle.
Replace the needle on the syringe with another sterile needle.
Inject the remaining 5 cc of blood into the aerobic bottle and while the needle is still in the bottle, disconnect it from the syringe so that air enters the aerobic bottle.
Gently mix the blood with the solution in both bottles.
Label both bottles with the patient’s identifying information and the type of culture that is, aerobic or anaerobic.
Fill out the laboratory request form completely and send the specimens to the laboratory immediately.
Secure a band-aid or some gauze over the puncture site.
The role of nurses in collecting, labeling, and ensuring the timely and proper delivery of specimens to the laboratory plays a very important thing in the hospital setting. With this, nurses should be knowledgeable enough about the hospital’s policy and procedures for specimen collection. However, nurses should not only possess the right knowledge, but as well as the skill and understanding in performing necessary procedures in accordance with the organization’s protocols, policies, and guidelines.