Poked and Prodded...

I'm not sure why but I seem to have really bad luck when it comes to getting my blood drawn. It seems that I always get the people that have no idea what they're doing or are new. I went to get my blood drawn yesterday at the Salt Lake Clinic. My doctor told me to go at 7:30 am so I got there a little before that so I could sign in and whatnot. First I sat there for over an hour because the person doing the checking in was confused about my lap request. I had two. One was a standing order and the other was a one time deal that I was having done that day. She just couldn't figure it out and no matter how many times I told her she just couldn't seem to get it. And then you add in the fact that I was dropping off something too...it was just too much for her to handle. Second: So i finally get called back and the girl (different girl from the confused check-in girl) looked a little nervous and unsure of herself. That's exactly what you want in someone that is about to stick a needle in your arm and fill several large test tubes full of your blood. As she's getting everything ready she is looking up at the wall and a check list of things to do behind me. Again...not something you want in someone drawing your blood. She takes a good 2 or 3 minutes to find a vein that she likes. I generally have pretty good veins and it doesn't usually take that long. She then swabs my arm several times and jams the needle in the vein she finally decides she likes. She then fills 4 large test tubes and then puts the cotton ball on. She then proceeds to initial the paperwork and put the stickers on the tubes when she realizes that she forgot one. She looks at the sheet, counts the already filled tubes and then looks at my arm. She excuses herself quickly and I can hear her talking to the other phlebotomist asking her to come and do the other one. The other girl walks in and gets the other tube in about 2 minutes. So if you ever have to go to Salt Lake Clinic to get your blood drawn, just hope and pray that you get Brittany and not Juliene.

So i got poked twice yesterday and once the person had no idea what they were doing. I don't like people in the medical profession. I just don't. I'm sorry if that offends any of you out there but for people that are supposedly so smart and capable, they sure do mess up a lot. And i know they're people too and they make mistakes yadda yadda yadda...i don't care. I don't want my doctor making mistakes. I don't want to hear oops! or uh-oh. Even if you're not sure of what you're doing, don't let me know that! And again...phlebotomists aren't doctors, i know but if you're coming at me with a needle don't show me you're scared or uncertain.

While I was waiting an hour to get my blood drawn Elder Russell M. Nelson came in to get some lab work done too. As he walked in people watched him as he sat down and everyone was watching every step he took. One woman was walking by and she simply gushed.."Oh it is such an honor to shake your hand!" and moved on. Another woman was sitting behind him and kept looking over her shoulder at him and finally she said, "Oh Elder Nelson-it is such a privilege to hear you speak and to meet you!" Then there was the guy that was trying to play it cool. They were sitting next to each other and they were both reading the newspaper -one was reading the Trib and Elder Nelson was reading the Deseret News. The guy finished his paper and said, "Elder Nelson, i'd offer you my paper but it isn't any good today". Seriously...leave the guy alone! He's getting his blood drawn. Allow him a little privacy and peace and quiet. How would you like it if you were sitting in a doctor's office and every single person in the waiting room was watching you and more than half of them came up to you and started talking to you like they knew you. Leave the poor man alone!