Question

Upon entering a patient's room to draw several blood specimens, the phlebotomist learns that the patient is not there but is instead in another area...

A) Proceed to draw blood from another patient
B) Leave the room and come back later
C) Check with the nurse for patient location
D) Draw blood from another patient in the same room

Answer 1

If the phlebotomist enters a patient's room to draw blood specimens and learns that the patient is not there, they should check with the nurse for the patient's location. This is important to ensure patient safety and avoid potential errors.

Step-by-step explanation:

If the phlebotomist enters a patient's room to draw blood specimens and learns that the patient is not there but is instead in another area, the first step would be to check with the nurse for the patient's location (Option C).

This is important because the nurse is responsible for the overall care and management of the patient, including knowing their whereabouts. By checking with the nurse, the phlebotomist can ensure that they are drawing blood from the correct patient at the right time and in the right place.

Proceeding to draw blood from another patient (Option A), leaving the room and coming back later (Option B), or drawing blood from another patient in the same room (Option D) without confirming the patient's location with the nurse can lead to potential errors and compromise patient safety.