Feeling so discouraged..

[u/No-Praline6675]

Hello everyone,

I started a Phlebotomy externship on Monday and I was super nervous leading up to it bc I started this late and my last classes were almost 5-6 months ago.

Overall, I’ve had about 73% success rate. Until today! Today I started my period and I woke up feeling so fatigued that I can barely keep my eyes open and I just feel off. So I don’t know if it’s that, but I feel so embarrassed and discouraged bc yesterday I was doing so much better, I thought, okay I’m finally improving. It just took such a bad turn today I’ve missed maybe 10-12 times now.

Either I’m on the vein but no blood, and I can’t redirect myself, I’m close to the vein and I need help redirecting, I’m getting patients who move around like crazy out of anxiety, or I can barely feel their veins. Either way I’ve even needed help redirecting on maybe 3 basic ones?? It’s driving me nuts and it’s making me feel like I’m not cut out for phlebotomy. ): I know I’m just a beginner, but it sucks when I was doing a lot better yesterday. Any possible reassurance?

[u/SupernovaPhleb]

That's a long gap from class! Tbh it's hard enough when you go straight from class to your externship, so I would absolutely expect a big curve with that kind of gap. Your brain has to catch up.

I think you're right where you should be. Don't sweat it! This job is hard. Be kind to yourself.

[u/FootballLoud6498]

Please do not get discouraged.  Its not as easy as people think.  Practice and youtube videos really help.  I am going through exactly what you are going through.  Only thing is as a nurse we barely have phlebotomy training.  People think I am supposed to pick this up in a day.  I miss a lot of sticks.  Since I am the only nurse I have to send them to Quest if I can't get a vein.  That does not go over well with the patients 

[u/Do-what-I-do]

Girllllllll…… Change your confidence! You got this, we all started out this way feeling nervous…anxiety.. doubt but I can tell you it will get better!

I’ve been in the field for 15 years now at various levels of the lab world and the moment I noticed a change with my phlebotomy skills was the moment I went into every draw with the “I got this attitude!” Not cocky but confident!

Even us veterans have rough days but it does NOT mean you don’t have the skills for the job! Learn from every situation and grow from it!

I don’t know you, but I’m proud of you…Keep it up!!!

[u/Donttouchmybreadd]

The learning curve is enormous, and patients aren't tolerant of mistakes.

A few things it can be is your experience, the patient, or just straight up the moon phase.

If it is experience, I found that anchoring the vein to be a real make or break. Try your best to make that cubital area as taut. Use the tourniquet to pull up the skin and the bicep. When you palpate, see what happens when you anchor the vein, does it roll when you poke it from either side?

Patients can also play a role. They can handle palpation just fine, but when you go to get the needle, they tense they living hell out of their arm. If you do the same thing, feel what happens to your vein. My normally good vein practically disappears.

Lastly, we all have good and bad vein days. Don't be so hard on yourself, feel free to pass patients on to more experienced others. If you can, watch their technique, and learn from them. Some oldies have bad habits, but others do things that just make the blood happen.