What to do if you can't find a vein to draw blood?

If the medical staff does not see a vein that will work for a blood draw, they may take blood from another location. Depending on the protocols of the lab, clinic, or doctor's office, they may be able to do a blood draw from the top of the hands, wrists, and other areas on the arms.

Why can't they find my veins to take blood?

Coffee, teas, caffeinated beverages, and alcohol can cause dehydration and the veins to shrink. The time of day may also influence difficult veins' ability to be drawn from. Drawing blood in the afternoon may be more successful, as some veins may not be as prominent in the mornings.

Why do I keep missing the vein?

Evaluate Why You Keep Missing Veins

Here are some common reasons: Tourniquet is too tight. Perhaps you keep blowing veins because you are placing the tourniquet too tightly on the arm. If that's the case, you might need to reduce your pressure.

What happens if they miss your vein?

When you miss the vein, you lose the shot. But that's not the only problem. A missed shot can get infected and cause an abscess at the site. Getting the shot right by using good injecting technique saves a lot more than just your drugs!

What does it mean when you can't draw blood?

If you have been to a clinic or lab before and had the phlebotomist stick you more than once for a blood draw, you may have been told that you are a "difficult stick." This can happen to people for quite a few different reasons, including small or deep veins, rolling veins, dehydration, collapsing veins, constricted ...

Hard to Find Veins Blood Draw, IVs, Venipuncture - Nursing, Phlebotomy

What happens if IV is not in vein?

When an IV is not inserted properly or is otherwise misused, fluids or medicine can leak into the surrounding tissue. This is called IV infiltration, and it can cause harm ranging from irritation to fluid overload, infections, nerve damage, stroke, brain injury, or even death.

Does drinking water make your veins more visible?

By drinking more water your body will naturally excrete more fluid, thereby decreasing your body's water retention by means of increasing your metabolism. No matter what, the only way to make your veins more visible is to lower your body fat percentage.

What supplement will make my veins pop?