Blood line port?

[Rerun]

The following has happened to me about 3 times.  Tonight one of the "better" Tech's did it.  I don't know what to do.

Twice a month the clinic takes blood work for labs.  They take it at the beginning of dialysis and then at the end they take some for a post potassium.  OK.... the Tech grabs my blood line from under my blanket or where ever it is and jams the needle in it for blood.  Don't you think they should wipe off the port with Alcohol?  You are jamming a needle right into my blood stream.  Of course I'm on the third shift and they have put in a 12 hour day.  But, shit, that should be a basic instinct by now.  My God they change gloves 15 times an hour but just jam a needle in my blood line.  I don't want to complain because she is one of the better ones.  Scary Hua?

[Epoman]

The following has happened to me about 3 times.  Tonight one of the "better" Tech's did it.  I don't know what to do.

Twice a month the clinic takes blood work for labs.  They take it at the beginning of dialysis and then at the end they take some for a post potassium.  OK.... the Tech grabs my blood line from under my blanket or where ever it is and jams the needle in it for blood.  Don't you think they should wipe off the port with Alcohol?  You are jamming a needle right into my blood stream.  Of course I'm on the third shift and they have put in a 12 hour day.  But, shit, that should be a basic instinct by now.  My God they change gloves 15 times an hour but just jam a needle in my blood line.  I don't want to complain because she is one of the better ones.  Scary Hua?

YES! They are supposed to wipe with a alcohol swab before injecting the needle.    The LAZY sons-a-bitches, it's just being lazy PLAIN AND SIMPLE.

[Rerun]

Home dialysis is sounding better all the time.  At least if I die of "complications of dialysis" I'll have done it to myself and not relied on some lazy jerk Tech.   

[sandman]

Hopefully they at least swab your arm with alcohol before inserting the dialysis needles?

[angieskidney]

Hopefully they at least swab your arm with alcohol before inserting the dialysis needles?

Well they are talking about putting the needle into the line, which I have noticed as well that they are lazy with the alcohol swabs (not using it like they should).

They seem to be lazy about a few things that could lead to cross-contamination.

Like the other day, the nurse touched something with the gloves she just put on to hook up the dialysis lines to my catheter (gave my fistula a break).

[Hawkeye]

If your on third shift you should have fresh staff, at least they do here.  The third shift staff comes in at 1:00pm and works until close, unless they are double shifting because someone called in.  You are right though, they should be cleaning the port before inserting anything into it.