Question

You arrive at the patient's room and begin the identification process only to find that the patient does not have his armband on, it is lying on his nightstand. You explain that you must go find the nurse when he slips it back over his wrist. The phlebotomist should:

a) Proceed with the blood draw without the armband.
b) Ask the patient to verify his identity verbally.
c) Wait for the nurse to reapply the armband.
d) Use the patient's name and date of birth for identification.

Answer 1

The phlebotomist should wait for the nurse to reapply the armband to ensure correct patient identification before proceeding with the blood draw.

Step-by-step explanation:

When a phlebotomist arrives at a patient's room and encounters an identification issue, such as the patient not wearing their identification armband, proper protocol must be followed to ensure patient safety. In this scenario, the correct action would be c) Wait for the nurse to reapply the armband. It is crucial to adhere to proper patient identification procedures before proceeding with any clinical intervention, including a blood draw. This ensures that the specimen collected is correctly labelled and that the intended procedure matches the correct patient, reducing any risk of medical error. Verbal confirmation alone is not sufficient, and the use of the armband is a critical step in the identification process.