Exam Info

Listening to Clients

This morning, some veins from hades. We've all seen them. I was baffled. Couldn't see or palpate anything. I was ready to cut off a finger ... : )

Then the man quietly volunteered that although they always have trouble with his blood draws (not something we want to hear!) that they usually had luck if they did it here (and he points to a spot) and go in at an angle, very shallow.

This man was not a nurse or doctor, and had no medical background. What he did know was his own body. And I got the blood, doing exactly what he told me to do.

The point I'm making is to listen to your clients. Ultimately, you have to make the final call as to whether you'll stick someone at a particular spot or not, but even the dumbest people are smarter than we sometimes think. Listen to them. Hear what they have to say. And very often, they'll make your job easier.

posted by Jim Huffman @ 8:55 AM