I went to draw a guy back when I was a phlebotomist. Both his arms were under the sheet. He told me they were amputated. I freaked and told the RN I can't draw him and why. She then took me back to his room, patient was laughing his ass off... Yeah, he has full… Continue reading No Arms
Category: LOL Moments
Piece of Ass
First week in my histology training rotation, I got an unlabeled surgical specimen and stopped the RN before she got 5 feet away. Name was on it, but not what the specimen was. She said it was just a piece of ass. So I wrote that in the log book, thinking it was a wart… Continue reading Piece of Ass
5-Minute ESR
"Hello, can i have the results in five minutes?" The doctor asked. "Yeah sure", I answered while going through his lab requests. "Oh noo I can't," I apologized. "But you have requested for an ESR." "Yeah, and what's wrong with that???" He replied. It takes an hour. (While looking at my Westergren tube) "What? How?"… Continue reading 5-Minute ESR
Results Back Yet?
Some of the tests we send our reference lab has a really long turnaround...like 6 weeks. Doctor: Have you had the results yet? Me: When did you send the sample to us? Doctor: This morning. Me: Sorry, it's a six week turnaround. Next day another sample for the same patient and the same tests arrived.… Continue reading Results Back Yet?
Glowing Green Salsa
I have worked in a clinical lab for 30+ years . I am a histotech in name only, because I chose to work in a physicians office as a lab assistant. I have many cringe-worthy stories, however, this one comes to mind frequently. The town I’m from is relatively small, and right in the middle… Continue reading Glowing Green Salsa
Poop Express Mail
I had a patient a few years ago ask if they could mail their hemoccult screen in because they live over an hour away. I told them that would be fine. So about a week later I get called to admissions to pick up a letter for the lab. Turns out it was an ENTIRE… Continue reading Poop Express Mail
Bathroom Talk
An elderly gentleman came in the lab for a routine urinalysis. I greeted him and gave him a cup. "The bathroom's over there", I told him. Few minutes later, the patient came out of the bathroom. "Thanks." he said while returning the empty container. "But there was a toilet in there, so I didn't need… Continue reading Bathroom Talk
Thanks for the Pee, Mom
I work at a small town laboratory where we also do drug screen collections for Occupational Health. One day, we had a guy in his late 40's who came in for his pre-employment drug screen. To rule out specimen adulteration, one of the things we do is to check urine temperature. Unfortunately for this guy,… Continue reading Thanks for the Pee, Mom
Turn Out The Lights
I was asked to go into a clinic patients room and draw him in there as he were having a procedure done next. I walked in and the guys pants were around his ankles. Seeing this I backed up and said “I’m sorry “and as I turned around to leave , I was trying to… Continue reading Turn Out The Lights
Close Call
I was in the middle of drawing blood on a patient, when suddenly I felt the urge to fart. Normally, I stand with my legs a little bit apart when drawing a patient. So, in order to prevent the humiliating release of that unwanted internal air, I had to change the angle of my legs… Continue reading Close Call