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 18-11

Obtaining an Arterial Blood Specimen for

Blood Gas Analysis (Continued)

Comments

15. After collecting the sample, withdraw the syringe while your
    nondominant hand is beginning to place pressure proximal
    to the insertion site with the 2 2 gauze. Press a gauze pad
    firmly over the puncture site until the bleeding stops—at
    least 5 minutes. If the patient is receiving anticoagulant
    therapy or has a blood dyscrasia, apply pressure for 10 to
    15 minutes; if necessary, ask a coworker to hold the gauze
    pad in place while you prepare the sample for transport to
    the laboratory, but do not ask the patient to hold the pad.


16. When the bleeding stops and the appropriate time has
    lapsed, apply a small adhesive bandage or small pressure
    dressing (fold a 2 2 gauze into fourths and firmly apply
    tape, stretching the skin tight).


17. Once the sample is obtained, check the syringe for air bub-
    bles. If any appear, remove them by holding the syringe
    upright and slowly ejecting some of the blood onto a 2  2
    gauze pad.


18. Engage the needle guard and remove the needle. Place the
    airtight cap on the syringe. Gently rotate the syringe to
    ensure that heparin is well distributed. Do not shake.
    Insert the syringe into a cup or bag of ice.


19. Place label on the syringe per facility policy. Place iced
    syringe in plastic, sealable biohazard bag.


20. Discard the needle in sharps container. Remove gloves and
    perform hand hygiene.


21. Remove other PPE, if used. Perform hand hygiene.


22. Transport the specimen to the laboratory immediately.

ExcellentSatisfactoryNeeds Practice

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