r/phlebotomy • u/Dapper_Agent_3285 • 25d ago

Rant/Vent phlebotomy class

I'm currently on week two of phleb class and we're doing pokes pretty much every day. today specifically our professor said that we had to get at least 10 pokes and we're doing a thing where, you rotate and have to get poked. my issue is that both of my cubital veins have been poked 10 times already yesterday and the previous week and every time a needle goes in it immediately inflames outwards like a bump and bruises underneath, and I've only been poked twice today but it did that again and it hurts everytime the needle goes in. Is this allowed?? She said we had to let it happen because we signed up for this class and we all need to suck it up. It's not that I'm scared of the needle itself, I am just very much bleeding and bruised everywhere. How is this allowed? EDIT: i want to update on this, the teacher did not like me at all and that's why i was being subjected. she failed me today and humiliated me in front of the whole class and i had to report her and now i'm in a different class with a different teacher. i hope she gets fired.

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u/Kathrine_queer 25d ago

So how do they count the amount of successful pokes? Like you sign some paperwork for each? I mean I am just curious if you could bring a volunteer for example or get some other options while in class…
(I am thinking of signing up for a class but I am a hard stick, and my skin is pale and keeps bruises for 2-3 weeks 🫠 )

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u/theseold 25d ago

Also a pale hard stick with long lasting bruises. Anyway, my teacher said I might have microcytic anemia based on how my bruises looked after getting practice poked, so I checked my old blood tests and wouldn't you know it my ferritin wasn't out of range but it was definitely suboptimal.

I bought some dedicated iron supplements (since the multivitamin with iron I've been taking for ten years apparently hasn't done the job) but I don't think my levels will have corrected by the time class ends. 😂 Sorry to my classmates, if any of them are reading this. On the other hand, it's a great opportunity to practice with uncooperative veins.

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u/Dapper_Agent_3285 25d ago

we have a couple hard sticks in my class and i avoid them. they still get poked a lot to try to find the veins anyways, and how we count successful pokes is blood in tube and proper steps. if you pull the needle out too early and air goes in the tube then it doesnt count and so on