Final answer:
When unable to palpate a vein in the patient's dominant arm, turn to the non-dominant arm, flexing the arm, or applying a warm compress before considering specialist referral.
Step-by-step explanation:
If you cannot palpate a vein on the patient's dominant arm for venipuncture, the recommended steps would be to use the non-dominant arm, ask the patient to flex their arm to make the vein more prominent, or apply a warm compress to the area to dilate the veins. Referring the patient to a specialist should be considered only if standard vein access techniques are unsuccessful. Palpating a vein involves manually pressing the tips of your fingers lightly across a superficial artery.
Commonly, the radial or common carotid arteries are used to find a pulse. If the veins are not visible or palpable in the antecubital region, other strategies to make the veins stand out can include hydrating the patient, using a blood pressure cuff to apply pressure, or tapping the vein with a finger.