[vreihen16]

One of the phlebotomists at our regional trauma center used to say "Little pinch, won't feel a thing" before she stuck her patients. I say it to the people drawing blood from me now.

When that little pinch feels like what cmyx6go experienced above, I tell the person doing the draw that I came in for a blood test...not to donate bone marrow.....

[Littlebear]

I have veins that look like they are waiting to get poked. When I give blood I always tell the nurse, "You better not miss!" They never do.

I was in the hospital a few yrs ago, and had intravenous food & drink for 12 days. One day I heard the nurses talking outside the door, "Get Betty, she can practice on Murf!" Betty was very new.
They all have to learn on someone....

Labrador Retrievers are very hard (they have an extra fat layer). We generally started on the saphenous vein, then to the cephalic vein if that didn't work, and then to the Jugular if needed!
Sometimes they go straight to the Jugular on Samoyeds, because they can't find the leg veins.

[Finn Germai-Yaz]

Ive heard of iv drug users that will inject into their eyeballs

[vreihen16]

Originally Posted by Littlebear

I was in the hospital a few yrs ago, and had intravenous food & drink for 12 days. One day I heard the nurses talking outside the door, "Get Betty, she can practice on Murf!" Betty was very new.
They all have to learn on someone....

During my last stay, one of the senior (rank) nurses knew who I was and where I worked (which FWIW is *not* in the medical field). She asked if I would mind being a human pin cushion for a group of Pace University nursing students who were just starting their first clinicals. I was the first stick for one of them, and she kept coming back every day that she was at the hospital with her student friends asking me to be honest about it not hurting and checking up on me. Their excitement was infectious! I didn't have the heart to tell them that I jab myself with the same subcutaneous needles/shots four times a day, and there are no major nerves in that part of the abdomen.....

[KRS_SN]

In the first year after qualification (nearly 2 decades ago) I would do loads of blood tests most were easy. The more senior I became the less I had to do blood tests but I would be called only to do the worst(ones no one could get blood out of).
I would tell you to straightaway be frank and ask for the guy/gal who can draw blood out of stone stating past difficulties and quoting patient preference.

[nazali]

Originally Posted by KRS_SN

In the first year after qualification (nearly 2 decades ago) I would do loads of blood tests most were easy. The more senior I became the less I had to do blood tests but I would be called only to do the worst(ones no one could get blood out of).
I would tell you to straightaway be frank and ask for the guy/gal who can draw blood out of stone stating past difficulties and quoting patient preference.

^^^ nice advise

[upstatedoc]

Originally Posted by KRS_SN

In the first year after qualification (nearly 2 decades ago) I would do loads of blood tests most were easy. The more senior I became the less I had to do blood tests but I would be called only to do the worst(ones no one could get blood out of).
I would tell you to straightaway be frank and ask for the guy/gal who can draw blood out of stone stating past difficulties and quoting patient preference.

This. I have no problem asking for an experienced phlebotomist when I go to the lab. Same for if you go to the hospital. If you don't want students and interns poking at you just tell them so.

[Littlebear]

Originally Posted by KRS_SN

....
I would tell you to straightaway be frank and ask for the guy/gal who can draw blood out of stone stating past difficulties and quoting patient preference.

I'm not sure how far this will get you. I know hitting the vein was a macho-stud thing with vet techs, and they didn't like to admit the other tech was better.
It was a strange competition....