I was doing inpatient phlebotomy at the time and went up to the cardiac step down unit. Basically, just people on heart monitors under observation at this point.
I went into this elderly ladies room to draw her blood and saw her naked standing in the middle of the room throwing feces against the wall of her room. I’m guessing she was suffering from dementia. However, that was actually the only time in my career of drawing patient’s blood that I actually refused to do a blood draw.
I went to find the nurse and told her she could write me up if she wants because I’m not doing it! She just shook her head and said, “I understand. I’ll call the lab when the patient calms down.
Submitted by:
Dan Rosen
Phlebotomist
Illinois, USA
