Skill Checklists for Taylor's Clinical Nursing Skills: A Nursing Process Approach

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Copyright © 2011 by Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. Skill Checklists for Taylor's Clinical Nursing Skills:

Skill Checklists for Taylor's Clinical Nursing Skills:

A Nursing Process Approach, 3rd edition

Name Date

Unit Position

Instructor/Evaluator: Position

SKILL 18-11

Obtaining an Arterial Blood Specimen for

Blood Gas Analysis

Goal:The blood sample is obtained from the artery without

damage to the artery. Comments

1. Gather the necessary supplies. Check product expiration
   dates. Identify ordered arterial blood gas analysis. Check
   the chart to make sure the patient has not been suctioned
   within the past 15 minutes. Check facility policy and/or
   procedure for guidelines on administering local anesthesia
   for arterial punctures. Administer anesthetic and allow
   sufficient time for full effect before beginning procedure
   (American Association of Critical Care Nurses [AACN],
   2005; Hudson, et al., 2006).


2. Bring necessary equipment to the bedside stand or overbed
   table.


3. Perform hand hygiene and put on PPE, if indicated.


4. Check the patient’s identification and confirm the patient’s
   identity. Tell the patient you need to collect an arterial
   blood sample, and explain the procedure. Tell the patient
   that the needlestick will cause some discomfort but that he
   or she must remain still during the procedure.


5. Close curtains around bed and close the door to the room,
   if possible.


6. Check specimen label with the patient’s identification
   bracelet. Label should include patient’s name and identifi-
   cation number, time specimen was collected, route of col-
   lection, identification of person obtaining the sample,
   amount of oxygen the patient is receiving, and any other
   information required by agency policy.


7. Provide for good light. Artificial light is recommended.
   Place a trash receptacle within easy reach.


8. If the patient is on bed rest, ask him or her to lie in a
   supine position, with the head slightly elevated and the
   arms at the sides. Ask the ambulatory patient to sit in a
   chair and support the arm securely on an armrest or a
   table. Place a waterproof pad under the site and a rolled
   towel under the wrist.

ExcellentSatisfactoryNeeds Practice

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