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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To complain about the nurse?

50 replies

Teapotsandtablecloths · 31/07/2021 20:21

I'm in two minds as to whether its an unfortunate accident or something i should complain about.

I went for a blood test on Thursday. The nurse doing the blood test was complaining her gloves were too thick and she couldn't feel a vein properly so she was going to try. She stuck the needle into my elbow ditch and began poking around back and forth. Cue her hitting a nerve. A horrendously sharp pain shot from my elbow down through my arm and hand. My hand seized up and my arm too. I shouted out in pain. The nurse pulled the needle out and said she "must of hit a nerve as they can't see them" 🤔 no shit. But anyway. Fast forward to today, my arm is still in agony, my hand keeps seizing and twitching. I'm taking paracetamol, ibruofen and resting it but it just isn't easing. I plan to go the GP on my day off on Wednesday if it hasn't improved.

Would you draw it up as an innocent mistake, or would you complain?

(i have anxiety and hate raising complaints or confrontation so I'm sorry if this seems pathetic and a stupid q)

OP posts:
Original poster
Teapotsandtablecloths · 31/07/2021 20:24

So as not to drip feed. The nurse who hit the nerve was unable to get blood after 3 attempts. She asked a different nurse to try who got it immediately.

OP posts:
sherlockhomeless · 31/07/2021 20:36

Complain about what? She hit a nerve as you can't see them.. then when she couldn't do the blood test she got someone else to have a go who managed it..
sorry your arm hurts but I don't see how she could have done anything better?

Vooga · 31/07/2021 20:39

@sherlockhomeless

Complain about what? She hit a nerve as you can't see them.. then when she couldn't do the blood test she got someone else to have a go who managed it.. sorry your arm hurts but I don't see how she could have done anything better?
I have had nurses struggle to find my veins lots of times but I've never had someone just jab it in and wiggle until they hit something. That's not a good method.
Original poster
Teapotsandtablecloths · 31/07/2021 20:39

@sherlockhomeless

Complain about what? She hit a nerve as you can't see them.. then when she couldn't do the blood test she got someone else to have a go who managed it.. sorry your arm hurts but I don't see how she could have done anything better?
My friend who works as a nurse felt i should complain as she may need some retraining. Thank you for your opinon though and will mark it down as 1 point to no complaint. Thank you 😊
OP posts:
Toddlerteaplease · 31/07/2021 20:40

It's just bad luck. Some veins are hard to find. I'm also a nurse and it's nothing to complain about.

GojuRyuLover · 31/07/2021 20:41

I would complain! This nurse sounds like she needs training and you could protect others from her if you complain

Original poster
Teapotsandtablecloths · 31/07/2021 20:41

@Toddlerteaplease

It's just bad luck. Some veins are hard to find. I'm also a nurse and it's nothing to complain about.
Do you mind me asking if it's standard practice to just stick it in and wiggle till you find something? Or if you felt you couldn't feel a vein, would you ask for a second opinion first?
OP posts:
Cocomade · 31/07/2021 20:42

I also had a nurse hit a nerve and I was tender for afew days but never entered my head to complain.

sherlockhomeless · 31/07/2021 20:44

@Vooga but sometimes you find a vein and go for it and it can jump away from the needle so a little movement of the butterfly needle to refind the vein is acceptable practice as it's usually less stressful and painful for the patient than retrying again.

I'm only going off my trusts guidelines for blood taking here though

gardeninggirl68 · 31/07/2021 20:45

it would not even enter my mind to complain!!

Duckyneedsaclean · 31/07/2021 20:45

She shouldn't stick it in and wiggle. It never works for one. Yes, it sounds like she needs more training/supervised practice.

Also never heard of anyone hitting a nerve! She was clearly at the complete wrong angle. (Am a phlebotomy trained nurse fwiw).

Original poster
Teapotsandtablecloths · 31/07/2021 20:46

@gardeninggirl68

it would not even enter my mind to complain!!
Ok, thank you for the opinion 😊.
OP posts:
sherlockhomeless · 31/07/2021 20:46

@Teapotsandtablecloths you feel for the vein, get prepped, feel again, prep the skin and go to insert the needle and it moves so yes you do sometimes have to wiggle the needle because you know it's there it's just moved to the side. It's usually less painful than getting a new needle and trying again

MissyB1 · 31/07/2021 20:47

No it’s bad luck. It happened to me too - bloody painful I agree. I had numbness along the nerve pathway (from my elbow to my thumb) for about 3 months. But I was a nurse at the time so I understood.

Original poster
Teapotsandtablecloths · 31/07/2021 20:47

@Duckyneedsaclean

She shouldn't stick it in and wiggle. It never works for one. Yes, it sounds like she needs more training/supervised practice.

Also never heard of anyone hitting a nerve! She was clearly at the complete wrong angle. (Am a phlebotomy trained nurse fwiw).

Thank you for responding. I have a few health conditions so I've had enough blood tests to last a lifetime and this has never happened before. Hence my struggle as to what to do. I appreciate the opinion. Thank you.
OP posts:
Rosebel · 31/07/2021 20:47

I've had loads of blood tests (every 3 or 4 weeks) and can honestly say they have never just jabbed at my arm until they hit something.
I've had a few occasions where they struggle to find a vein but if that's the case they remove the needle and try again.
I'd complain. That's a shocking way to try and get blood.

KarmaStar · 31/07/2021 20:48

Do not complain!!!
Just think what the NHS staff have done for us.
I'm sure she identified the issue and asked for advice from colleagues for another similar situation.
why does everyone have to complain?

Original poster
Teapotsandtablecloths · 31/07/2021 20:49

@KarmaStar

Do not complain!!! Just think what the NHS staff have done for us. I'm sure she identified the issue and asked for advice from colleagues for another similar situation. why does everyone have to complain?
I 100% support the NHS and have multiple family members who work for the NHS. That doesn't mean they are above reproach? thank you for your opinon though 😊
OP posts:
Lou573 · 31/07/2021 20:51

It once took 4 attempts to insert a cannula in my hand and I passed out and vomited, it was really quite brutal.I was so bruised I had swelling the size of a tennis ball. They had to get a consultant to do it. Never thought to complain, it’s just one of those things.

stressbucket1 · 31/07/2021 20:52

Usually it's a phlebotomist that takes bloods not nurses. They don't have the same level of training as a nurse would at all. I don't think she should have attempted without being able to see or feel a vein though. I think if your arm is still sore it's fine to complain. It all adds to experience and maybe it will avoid someone else having the same issue.

Disneycharacter · 31/07/2021 20:52

As someone who takes blood and never hit a nerve this is very poor technique or very inexperienced. You don't dig around for veins. I'd complain. She needs more training

SnottyLottie · 31/07/2021 20:53

I’m notoriously hard to draw blood from (very thin and deep set veins) but I’ve never had anyone just stick it in anywhere and wiggle it about.

They would usually call for a more experienced blood nurse, get me to do a few things (drink some water, clench my fist, examine other areas) and they usually get it with a butterfly.

SnottyLottie · 31/07/2021 20:54

I wouldn’t necessarily complain but I know that is because I’m difficult to get blood from. Not everyone can be an easy patient. Poor you though, I hope your arms starts to feel better soon.

Disneycharacter · 31/07/2021 20:55

Also veins are on the surface, nerves are deep down No need for this

480Widdio · 31/07/2021 20:55

Probably wasn’t a Nurse doing it.You asked for opinions,but you don’t like it when people tell you not to complain!! What was your point in asking?