Question

Before leaving the patient's room, which of the following is required for the phleb to take?

A) Thank the patient by name
B) Alert the nurse that she is leaving
C) Initial and date/time mark each tube drawn
D) Initial and date/time the requisition form

Answer 1

The phlebotomist is required to initial and date/time mark each tube drawn before leaving the patient's room. This step is vital for maintaining the integrity of the blood samples and ensuring proper chain of custody.

Step-by-step explanation:

Before leaving the patient's room, the phlebotomist is required to initial and date/time mark each tube drawn.

Phlebotomists are healthcare professionals responsible for drawing blood from patients. After performing a venipuncture, they must adhere to specific protocols to ensure patient safety and the integrity of the blood samples. One crucial step in this process is labeling. Initialing and dating/time marking each tube right after the blood draw is essential, as it helps track the specimen and maintain proper chain of custody.

This practice helps avoid potential mix-ups or errors in the lab, ensuring that the correct test results are attributed to the right patient. It also serves as a record of who collected the specimen and when, which is important for quality control and accountability. Thanking the patient and alerting the nurse are courteous and often practiced, but the initialing and dating/time marking of each tube is a procedural requirement that is essential for patient care and sample accuracy.