Why we should let nurses choose the blood collection consumables they work with

Nurses and other blood collection staff have varying levels of experience and expertise when it comes to blood collection. Some may have years of experience and may have their favourite products that work best for them with certain devices, while others may be new to the profession and have no preferred devices. Allowing them the choice to use the consumables they are most comfortable with can improve their confidence and efficiency when collecting blood. To enable nurses to make the right decisions for their patients, there must be an adequate portfolio of products to choose from. As a provider of innovative system solutions, Greiner Bio-One is responsible for making options available as well as educating blood collection staff about the constantly evolving world of medical devices.  

Involving the frontline workers in decision-making when it comes to the choice of blood collection consumables can be advantageous from several perspectives. On the one hand, blood collection staff feel appreciated if their feedback is asked for, whilst on the other, by asking those who are closest to the patients, effective decisions can be made on the right product choice. Blood collection staff are confronted daily with the unique conditions of individual patients, meaning vein accessibility and venous blood flow as well as testing requirements in general. By using this knowledge and experience to select consumables within a facility, chances of a smooth and safe blood draw are increased. It could be helpful to form groups of “super-users” within a facility, whose experience can be drawn upon to advise on decision-making.

Patient satisfaction is a critical aspect of healthcare. A higher level of patient satisfaction may have a positive effect on their outcome, as they are more likely to comply with treatment, and blood collection can have a significant impact on this. If patients experience discomfort, anxiety or even pain throughout the process, it may result in dissatisfaction. If the quality of the sample is affected by using an unsuitable product choice or combination of products and the sample is therefore rejected by the laboratory, a redraw might be necessary. Apart from discomfort caused to the patient due to a repeated venepuncture, this is time-consuming, possibly causing a delay in diagnosis and treatment, which can ultimately have a negative impact on patient satisfaction. Enabling nurses and other blood collection staff to choose appropriate consumables to work with can help avoid these situations and improve patient satisfaction.

Patient and healthcare professional safety is of utmost importance in any healthcare setting. Choosing the most suitable consumables for the circumstances minimizes the likelihood of complications. For example, the smaller delicate veins of paediatric patients mean choosing a finer needle and a safety blood collection set for a controlled, low puncture angle. Having only one product available that is inappropriate for the complete range of patients can compromise patient and user safety. Allowing blood collection staff to select the consumables they work with and feel comfortable with can also contribute to reducing the risk of needlestick injuries.

Needlestick injuries can lead to significant direct and indirect healthcare costs. The risk of having an injury increases when blood collection staff may not have the most suitable devices for the patient’s condition and have to work with other devices.

Needlestick injuries are not the only contributor to increased healthcare costs. The collection of blood samples that do not meet the quality requirements of the laboratory can result in the need for a redraw – including the associated costs for staff, new consumables, and repeated laboratory analysis. Moreover, it delays the diagnosis by the physician and any subsequent treatment.

A less efficient blood collection process due to a lack of appropriate equipment can also lead to longer waiting times and reduced patient throughput, which in turn affects healthcare costs.