Question

A phlebotomy technician is preparing to draw blood from a patient's arm and observes a sore at the site where the tourniquet is to be placed. Which of the following actions should the technician take ?

A. Keep the tourniquet on the patient's arm for 2 min.
B. Use a slip tourniquet.
C. Tie the tourniquet over the patient's sleeve.
D. Position the tourniquet distal to the antecubital area.

Answer 1

If a sore is present at the site where the tourniquet is to be placed, the technician should avoid placing the tourniquet and communicate the observation to the patient and healthcare professional in charge.

Step-by-step explanation:

If the phlebotomy technician observes a sore at the site where the tourniquet is to be placed, they should avoid placing the tourniquet on the patient's arm altogether. Placing the tourniquet over the sore can cause additional pain and discomfort to the patient and may even lead to an infection or exacerbate the existing sore. Instead, the technician should communicate the observation to the patient and the healthcare professional in charge so that an alternative site for drawing blood can be determined.