Clinical ProceduresQuestion 43 of 100
A patient scheduled for a blood draw had a left mastectomy with lymph node removal and has an IV running in the right forearm. What should the medical assistant do?
a.Draw from the left arm, since the mastectomy was years ago
b.Ask the provider for guidance, considering an alternative site such as a hand vein below the IV or a dorsal vein on the unaffected side
c.Draw directly from the IV line to save the patient a stick
d.Cancel the laboratory work permanently
Explanation
Blood should not be drawn from an arm on the side of lymph node dissection because of lymphedema and infection risk, and drawing above or at an IV site contaminates the specimen with infused fluid. The safest approach is to consult the provider and use an approved alternative site, such as a hand vein distal to the IV, per facility policy. Cancelling needed laboratory work is not the medical assistant's decision.
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