Yesterday at work we had an episode (one of many) that has brought me to consider limits. What the heck are they there for?! Everyone always says things like "shoot for the stars" and "don't let anyone tell you that you can't do something". Well, I am here to tell you that these light-hearted, seemingly encouraging turns of phrase are bogus. Limits have a purpose, and a very important one at that. Allow me to explain.
When you have a needle in your hand that you have every intention of putting into someone else, you had just better know your limits. For anyone who doesn't know getting blood out of a person is not always as easy as it looks. For the record, the populations that we tend to pick on at my workplace are nearly exclusively old people and diabetics. Neither of which are typically considered easy sticks.
There is a girl at work, who seems to view every patient as a challenge. Not in the "I'm really gonna have to earn my keep at this job" sense. Rather, the "I bet you didn't think I could get that vein...oh well, I did" sense. She has a competitive attitude about everything including drawing blood. This is an instance when knowing your limits is a really good thing. There are people who come in to work who are what we call "confidence boosters". They have monstrous veins that you couldn't miss with you eyes closed. Anyone can get them. There are also people who come in who you take a good close look at and you get the pros. You get the people who have been doing this for YEARS and miss maybe once a month, if that. Then there are the maybes. They are the tricky middle ground. You think maybe you might be able to get blood out of them. But the real question is can you do it without traumatizing them? Can you get it the first time? If not, can you be darn sure before you get out another needle, or else get someone else to do it? If you try again, can you abide by the classic "two-poke rule" and not poke them a 3rd, 4th, or 8th time? These are questions of limits. These are questions that I don't think this girl I work with has ever asked herself.
This is exactly why limits are so important. They are not often a question of "can I?", but "should I?" Often they are there not only to protect other people (especially if you are welding small sharp objects), but yourself and your very own sanity! Knowing your limits is knowing that you could do one more project, but you shouldn't for the sake of a good nights sleep. It's knowing that maybe you could make dinner, but maybe you should get take-out because if you have to spend one more minute in the kitchen you might scream. It's knowing that you could pretend you know what you are doing, but maybe you shouldn't for someone else's sake. There is no shame in admitting what you shouldn't do. There's not even shame in admits what you can't do. It only means you are aware of what you are able to do, and that you at least have the potential to grow. By knowing what you lack, you know exactly where to start growing.
So people, shoot for the stars if you must, but if you can't make it on the first poke. Get someone who can.
5 comments:
Thank you! I totally 100% agree. As a medical assistant/poker of veins, I have had to deal with this. I hate those competitive types! Seriously I just wanna punch em!
Second as a tough one to get poked, thank you. I had to have my blood draw every week if not, two or three times for a year and half. I know my veins. I know which ones you are going to get. I know which person is going to get it even before they poke me. It's there way they treat the needle. It's learned and has to do with compassion, I think.
I went to the ER once in Arlington. I got poked 7 different times by 4 different people, before they went and got someone from NICU.
I'm sure you are great! Thanks for the post! I heart you!
Amen! When Miles first went to the ER for his diabetes, his veins were all glassy right. Plus they're just really little to begin with. It took four people like nine times to get his IV line in. And the first two guys were diggers. Nothing feels quite so nice as having someone dig for a vein. It was horrid to say the least.
um...thank you. I for one am grateful for those who set limits, especially when they are using my body to "shoot for the stars"
Well put, Katie. I finally just started telling those who draw my blood that my veins are small and they'll need to use a butterfly. The really good ones can hit the vein the first time with a regular needle, but the inexperienced ones take my advice and get a butterfly.
It has saved me a lot of pain.
So the message is shoot for the stars as long as it someone else doesn't have to pay the price? I guess that is a good plan. Mike and Nate had a teacher who used to say do your best given your ability, time, opportunity. Maybe this is a case of different definitions of what is "your best" - for some it is getting the vein - for others it is compassion for the victim (oops - make that for the patient :) Since I want my super power to be kindness - I guess I'm voting with you.
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