The Art Of Drawing ABGs: A Skill That Persists

I'm 54 years old and still do not wear glasses. Although, I do require reading glasses, unless i'm reading off one of my electronics gadgets. And, technically speaking, I cannot see the bevel at the tip of the syringe. Surely, reading glasses help. Unfortunately, I often forget to bring them to work. Nevertheless, I am still recognized as one of the best at drawing ABGs.

Until recently, I dealt with a constant hand tremor. It's not noticeable during my daily routines, but when I'm crouched before a stranger, holding a sharp needle under their watchful eyes, the tremors become apparent. Despite these challenges and my blurred vision, my skill at drawing ABGs remains top-notch.

My colleagues often request me for difficult draws. So here I am, squinting and shaking at times, but still drawing blood. Sometimes it's hard to tell if I'm shaking more than the patient. Yet, with over 30 years of experience as an RT and a bit of luck, I succeed nearly 97.4% of the time.

I'm not boasting. I'm not being arrogant. I'm just confident because it's something I excel at. Just like nurses confident in placing IVs who never hesitate to say, 'I'll get that IV,." I approach ABGs with the same determination.

Thankfully, a few months ago my asthma specialist recommended that I try Trelegy. He thought this inhaler, which works so well for others, might help me obtain better asthma control. Although, while my asthma control has stayed relatively the same, the benefit I have gained from this inhaler is no more tremors. So now, thanks to Trelegy, I get the benefit of a controller inhaler without the tremors. 

My main challenge with ABGs is my vision. Currently, it's not a major hindrance as I can still manage to see well enough to do my work. A unique aspect of drawing ABGs is that we rely more on the feel of the pulse than on vision. So despite not having perfect eyesight, I maintain good technique and continue to succeed in drawing ABGs.

However, it's probably time for me to start using the prescription glasses I already have, or even invest in a new pair. At my age, wearing glasses regularly is likely overdue. Alternatively, I might consider buying several pairs of inexpensive reading glasses from the dollar store and keeping some in my locker to help with my vision issues.

However, there are times when we encounter a patient with no palpable pulse. I recently had such an experience with a COPD patient. In such cases, I rely on feeling for the slight nudge of the wrist where the artery lies, a landmark familiar to us RTs. I was able to successfully draw blood almost immediately after piercing the skin. Upon hearing of my success, a co-worker jokingly remarked, 'How many times in a row now, about 200?