Question

Medical assistant is performing phlembotomy on an 80-year-old patient who has small veins, which of the following venipuncture methods should the assistant use for this patient?

1) Butterfly needle
2) Vacuum tube system
3) Winged infusion set
4) Hypodermic needle

Answer 1

For an 80-year-old patient with small veins, the best venipuncture method is a Butterfly needle, which is suitable for fragile veins due to its design and smaller gauge.

Step-by-step explanation:

When performing phlebotomy on an 80-year-old patient with small veins, the most suitable venipuncture method is using a Butterfly needle. This option, which is also referred to as a winged infusion set, is especially useful for patients with fragile or small veins and allows for more precise access to the vein. Other methods, like a vacuum tube system or hypodermic needle, might be too invasive or difficult to use with small veins. In contrast, the butterfly needle's design and smaller gauge make it an ideal choice for gentle venipuncture in such cases.