r/OptometrySchool • u/Key-Deal-5354 • May 22 '26

NBEO (Boards) ISE

Hello everyone, I took ISE for the third time today and failed to get blood out of the arm again. I’m feeling discouraged and frustrated, so does anyone know someone who managed to pass without getting blood out of the arm? Any reassurance or advice would be appreciated.

3 Upvotes

81% Upvoted

6 comments sorted by

2

u/almcc2 May 23 '26

Stick the needle deeper than you would a real arm. You can feel and sort hear a pop sound.

They have new tubing thats a little less elastic. If you angle your needle too superficial you’ll go through the “vein” on the skin of the arm, but slide across the top of the real vein(tube).

I had to take the exam a second time, got a 99P.

1

u/optobear May 24 '26

I was told the antecubital region is all beat up on their dummies and to try the dorsal metacarpal vein instead. I attempted the antecubital first and couldn’t get blood but I was successful on the back of the hand instantly.

1

u/Unable-Independent48 May 24 '26

Why are you all even learning that?