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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Why did nurse ask me this before blood test

47 replies

Justmehmehmeh · 13/06/2024 13:55

Was having my blood taken the other morning for a long list of things. The nurse asked me if I’d been on any antibiotics/medication in the last 5 days-fair enough, But she then asked if it hurts when I wee and if I bleed regularly and how often I bleed (as in periods)
Never been asked these things before
Is it weird?

OP posts:
Mummyofthewildones · 13/06/2024 16:52

I would imagine she did a dipstick test on your urine and found some white blood cells (which can be an indicator of UTI) and maybe some red blood cells which can happen when you're bleeding, or can be microscopic- not necessarily anything to be concerned about but important to include that information when sending urine sample off to the lab.

Alittlefrustrated · 13/06/2024 16:55

rainbowsparkle28 · 13/06/2024 15:16

Given this the questions seem appropriate and related to the blood tests, I don't know why you would be bothered by them?...🤨

This, totally appropriate questions

saraclara · 13/06/2024 16:59

Alittlefrustrated · 13/06/2024 16:55

This, totally appropriate questions

Only appropriate if she's part of the diagnostic team. Not if she's a phlebotomist being nosy.

Justmehmehmeh · 13/06/2024 17:10

@Mummyofthewildones I did my urine test after the bloods and gave my sample pot to her and left

I’m not sure why I didn’t ask, I just answered the questions then she started to take the blood

OP posts:
Justmehmehmeh · 13/06/2024 17:12

I suppose I’m worried because of all
the scans the Dr is sending me for and I was getting worried about cancer or heart problems. She seemed really focused on me being tired all the time but sort of dismissed me when I asked if that could be down to the kidney stones or possibly peri (I’m 46)

OP posts:
Catza · 13/06/2024 17:21

saraclara · 13/06/2024 16:59

Only appropriate if she's part of the diagnostic team. Not if she's a phlebotomist being nosy.

What if she is part of the diagnostic team?
Doctors are not the only people who are part of the MDT. In fact, many clinics operate on the interdisciplinary team model.
People are obsessed with doctors being the only people who can possibly diagnose and treat anything. In fact, doctors have a pretty narrow specialty. It was eye-opening when I started my first hospital job. We always made decision as a team with nurses, doctors, pharmacists, SaLT, physio and occupational therapists agreeing treatment and, yes, sometimes a diagnosis together. And the worse doctors were the ones who didn't utilise the expertise of their team and only relied on their own opinions.
It is also a nurse's job to fill in the forms accompanying blood and urine samples. Unless you have intimate knowledge of what information is required on the form, I don't think you can confidently state whether or not the nurse was nosy.

JennieTheZebra · 13/06/2024 17:21

I’m a nurse. Was she the practice nurse at your GP clinic or a phlebotomist at the hospital? If this is at the GP surgery then she is very much part of the “diagnostic team” and will discuss the answers that you gave her plus results of urine dips and things like that with your doctor. It’s different if this was at the hospital as they have no proper access to your notes.

Salacia · 13/06/2024 17:30

She was probably just trying to do a good job by writing as much clinical information on the form to guide interpretation by the lab (who may be able to suggest additional tests etc). As somebody who works in a lab based medical specialty the more information we have the better in terms of streamlining the diagnostic process and putting results in context. There’s nothing more unhelpful than a sample just labelled as whatever it is (e.g. urine where the only clinical information is ‘urine’). For example, if she’d dipped your urine after you left and it looked like an infection etc then she could write on the form if you had/hadn’t had symptoms which may then guide what microbiology tests are requested etc etc.

Honestly feels like you can’t win in healthcare at the moment.

Theunamedcat · 13/06/2024 18:53

The only questions I'm usually asked are "date of birth first and last name" so I understand why your asking

Justmehmehmeh · 13/06/2024 19:15

@Theunamedcat I know 🤷🏻‍♀️

OP posts:
TonTonMacoute · 13/06/2024 19:17

Did she make a note of your replies?

If they are testing for lots of things the more info they have the better I guess.

Justmehmehmeh · 13/06/2024 19:20

@TonTonMacoute She seemed to jot it down

OP posts:
Frangipanyoul8r · 13/06/2024 19:57

Are you on medication for paranoia?

Justmehmehmeh · 13/06/2024 20:50

@Frangipanyoul8r What?

OP posts:
guineverehadgreeneyes · 13/06/2024 22:02

She seemed really focused on me being tired all the time but sort of dismissed me when I asked if that could be down to the kidney stones or possibly peri (I’m 46)

I would not have raised these questions with a practice nurse or phlebotomist.

Justmehmehmeh · 13/06/2024 23:12

@guineverehadgreeneyes No, sorry that was with my Dr, not the nurse, I didn’t discuss anything with the nurse, just answered the questions and had my blood taken.

OP posts:
guineverehadgreeneyes · 14/06/2024 08:41

Justmehmehmeh · 13/06/2024 23:12

@guineverehadgreeneyes No, sorry that was with my Dr, not the nurse, I didn’t discuss anything with the nurse, just answered the questions and had my blood taken.

Ah, OK.

Theunamedcat · 14/06/2024 08:58

Frangipanyoul8r · 13/06/2024 19:57

Are you on medication for paranoia?

Can you not ask a simple question on mumsnet these days without being accused of mental health issues? I've had almost thirty years of regular blood tests and never been asked these questions by the person taking my blood I personally would find it strange you might not but "shocker alert" not everyones lived experience is the same

iolaus · 14/06/2024 09:09

Depending on whether the blood test was for hormonal related they need to know where you are in your cycle to see if the results are normal or not

guineverehadgreeneyes · 14/06/2024 09:27

We are registered with a small village GP practice which is part of a group of five sister practices. It used to be the policy of our NHS trust that GP blood draws were carried out at the phlebotomy department of our nearest hospital, around 6 miles away - so we had to travel there and there was often a three week wait for an appointment.

Then the policy for this Trust area changed and blood draws were done at GP surgeries by practice nurses or phlebotomists.

Then the policy changed again and our surgery stopped doing blood draws other than for the very elderly and those who can't travel and if blood tests are ordered by our GPs, we now have to travel to one of the four sister practices to have these done. Since we live just one minute from the surgery this is very annoying. Hugely inconvenient also for those with no transport.

In none of these venues can I recall a nurse or phlebotomist asking any clinical questions, other than confirming name and date of birth. If a starving cholesterol test was being done at the hospital, they would ask you to confirm that you had not eaten since the night before.

Our GPs complete the request form for blood tests electronically and these are accessed by whichever practice we have booked the blood draw appointment with. The request forms include brief notes on the patient's presenting symptoms, any long-term or current diagnoses plus the names of any medications the patient is taking that might potentially affect blood test results. These notes can be seen if you ask for a print out or PDF of your test results.

The practice nurses or phlebotomists have never asked questions and added responses to the form that goes down to the hospital labs other than name and DOB.

If you have a practice where the practice nurse or nurse practitioner is permitted to order blood tests and do the draw, herself, then yes, they would likely ask you some questions in order to complete the form if the GP has not completed the blood test referral form,

guineverehadgreeneyes · 14/06/2024 10:21

Frangipanyoul8r · 13/06/2024 19:57

Are you on medication for paranoia?

No need for nastiness.

EBearhug · 14/06/2024 10:41

I've been asked about periods by the nurse in my surgery, but they were taking bloods to check my iron because of heavy periods. If kidney stones or similar are a possible suspect then it makes sense to ask about pain with urination.

When I've had blood taken at the hospital phlebotomy department (which was because the nurse at my surgery was on leave), they just checked the form, filled the relevant test tubes and told me when results were likely to be back with my GP.

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