So I got admitted to the hospital for closer observation, of course they had to run multiple tests to figure out what’s wrong with me since I was inflating like a balloon. During the first day of my admission I got my blood drawn 4 times already all I think 3 hours apart. I’ve always been scared of needles but the frequency of me getting my blood drawn randomly made me kind of not really freak out anymore tho I do not like the pain. I think around 2 am I was woken up by a nurse asking to get another blood drawn from me. I was all groggy and sleepy so I just let her do her thing until I suddenly felt the worse imaginable pain ever. I mean I do know it’s painful basing from the other times I’ve got my blood drawn and it’s on the same arm over and over again but this one literally got me gripping the side of my bed and gritting my teeth, it even made me tear up a little. After getting my blood taken she left and I stayed sitting there for half an hour in that position. My aunt who was watching over me was asking me what’s wrong but I couldn’t even answer as I was staying absolutely still cause one small movement and I feel excruciating pain in my arm. When I finally got to lay down I still didn’t dare move my arm, it was hurting so bad I had to stay up until 4 am before drifting off again. When I woke up around breakfast I checked my arm and there was a bruise around the area where she pricked me.
I think around 3 pm on the second day the same person came to get a blood sample from me again but I abruptly told her no. She asked what I meant and I told her to send someone else to get my blood taken. She said that I cannot be picky cause there’s so much patient they have to tend but I firmly kept refusing until she walked out angrily.
So AITA for being picky about such thing knowing the hospital was super busy?
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So I got admitted to the hospital for closer observation, of course they had to run multiple tests to figure out what’s wrong with me since I was inflating like a balloon. During the first day of my admission I got my blood drawn 4 times already all I think 3 hours apart. I’ve always been scared of needles but the frequency of me getting my blood drawn randomly made me kind of not really freak out anymore tho I do not like the pain. I think around 2 am I was woken up by a nurse asking to get another blood drawn from me. I was all groggy and sleepy so I just let her do her thing until I suddenly felt the worse imaginable pain ever. I mean I do know it’s painful basing from the other times I’ve got my blood drawn and it’s on the same arm over and over again but this one literally got me gripping the side of my bed and gritting my teeth, it even made me tear up a little. After getting my blood taken she left and I stayed sitting there for half an hour in that position. My aunt who was watching over me was asking me what’s wrong but I couldn’t even answer as I was staying absolutely still cause one small movement and I feel excruciating pain in my arm. When I finally got to lay down I still didn’t dare move my arm, it was hurting so bad I had to stay up until 4 am before drifting off again. When I woke up around breakfast I checked my arm and there was a bruise around the area where she pricked me.
I think around 3 pm on the second day the same person came to get a blood sample from me again but I abruptly told her no. She asked what I meant and I told her to send someone else to get my blood taken. She said that I cannot be picky cause there’s so much patient they have to tend but I firmly kept refusing until she walked out angrily.
So AITA for being picky about such thing knowing the hospital was super busy?
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OP has offered the following explanation for why they think they might be the asshole:
> Healthcare workers are always busy jumping from patient to patient. I feel like it was not my place to be picky at such moment.
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Contest mode is 1.5 hours long on this post.
YTA. You didn’t even tell her it was a bad stick? If you refuse the bloodwork you refuse the bloodwork. Leave the hospital.
No I don’t think you’re the AH, it’s perfectly fine in a lot of cases for the patient to ask for a different nurse or even in some cases different doctor to do the procedures or diagnosis; in this case it is clear that the nurse messed up during the procedure and acted or seemingly thought nothing bad happened but generally in the medical field you’re taught and trained to notice subtle differences especially for nurses when drawing blood or injecting someone with a needle, you had good basis for what you did and more people should know that if a doctor or nurse is or seems to be messing up the procedure in a way that injures the patient more or causing distress to the patient, the patient is always allowed to request for a different doctor or nurse.
NTA. It’s very normal to decline to allow someone to treat you, however, it’s also normal to explain why. You need to tell someone about the bad stick and explain you don’t want her drawing your blood because of it. I know it can be difficult to speak up when you’re dependent on others to provide necessary care, but you need to advocate for yourself.
you can also ask them to use the other hand, or another location, if that spot is sore or inflamed. Doesn’t matter where the blood comes from. Just be firm but polite.
NTA. I have yelled at a nurse for poking me repeatedly when she couldn’t hit a vein. Sooooo painful. Get someone else.
I’m a nurse. NTA
You do need to tell one of the other staff what happened though and make sure she isn’t sent back to your room. You have the right to request another person and refuse her care.
She may not be a nurse but a phlebotomist (they draw blood and do lab work) and she should have the training needed to do this well. The bruise isn’t concerning but the pain is. Having your blood drawn should never be anymore painful than the other times you’ve had it drawn.
I hope you have a quick and lasting recovery.
Nurses are awful. NTA.
NTA
Not a nurse but I’m a lab technician that sometimes draws blood. It’s absolutely within your rights as a patient to request a different nurse. It wasn’t cool of her to respond to you like that but she may have had a rough shift.
If a patient refuses to let me draw their blood I just say no problem and let the nurse know and go back to my closet with machines.
Some nurses are not great eith drawing blood.
You sound young, there is also a “butterfly” needle for younger patients or for those who bruise.
Also im questioning the nursing standard – Why are they not putting in an iv line if they have to take samples every few hours. ??