An older patient came in the lab and handed me a crumpled grocery bag, indicating he wrapped something inside. I asked him what it was. He told me the doctor told him to drop it off in the lab after he collected the sample. When I opened it, I saw the popsicle stick (the one… Continue reading A Hurtful Misunderstanding
Category: LOL Moments
Pick A Tube
We all get them, unlabeled tubes. What do you do with them? Throw them away, right? I'm always one to have a great teaching moment with our friendly nurses that want pop down to grab them up and label them like it's no big deal. So, I have a drawer full of unlabeled tubes. When… Continue reading Pick A Tube
That Nasty Nurse
Nurses can be just as nasty. I was an overnight Phleb at my previous hospital. One night, I came down to the lab after my midnight draws so I could help out the tech since it was such a chaotic night. The phone rang and since the tech was super busy, I decided to answer.… Continue reading That Nasty Nurse
We Find Dead People
I was working nights in the lab and my phleb thought she heard a sound coming from the boiler room. I told her to go find out what's up and she said no way was she going to do it alone. So I stopped what I was doing and we trekked down the stairs and… Continue reading We Find Dead People
Take The Cobwebs Out of What??
I went to draw blood on a combative female patient. Although the patient was restrained, I still needed some help holding the patient while I draw the blood. Three (3) cops and 2 nurses helped me—that’s how combative the patient was. I kid you not, while I was drawing the patient, the patient asked me:… Continue reading Take The Cobwebs Out of What??
Keeping It Warm
I was assigned at the patient receiving section when a sweet old lady came up bringing with her a crackpot that is still warm to the touch. "What do you have for me today?", I asked. She replied, "Well, my doctor told me to bring in a stool specimen. I think it needed to be… Continue reading Keeping It Warm
She Killed The Light
Back in the day when I worked as a phlebotomist, I had the most interesting encounter with a demented patient at the nursing home. I introduced myself and told grandma that I need to draw a blood sample. The patient was telling me something about "killing". In my mind, who got murdered? When I got… Continue reading She Killed The Light
Something in the Ass
One day, I received orders for a bunch of bizarre tests and a request for a blood typing. I asked what's going on because I haven't heard of any wounded or any mortars that day. Nurse turns to me deadpan, someone stuck something in their A$$ and it ain't coming out... Submitted by:Vic Ubaldo
Specimen Collection By Mouth
A couple came in the lab asking questions about how to collect semen for semen analysis. Of course I had to explain to them the procedure. I have to admit, it was (and always is) awkward for me to explain the collection process to a couple. Out of nowhere, the wife asked me a question… Continue reading Specimen Collection By Mouth
Nose Only Mask
When the COVID19 pandemic started, the whole world put their heads together and came up with various ways to prevent the spread of this virus. The scientific community spearheaded the game, and along came the not-so-scientific community who came up with ridiculous ideas that seems to lack common sense. This is one of them. I… Continue reading Nose Only Mask