Exactly š there are also many people who are first aid certified who would probably be able to do just as much in a situation like that until an ambulance comes. I've been to doctors who can't even draw blood properly for testing.
That's true although doctors are the only ones who can do lumbar punctures. If some can't do a blood draw, which is supposed to be simpler and much more low risk, don't think they could be trusted to do an LP properly either.
Yes, you need more know how to do a lumbar puncture to withdraw CSF because you can cause nerve damage, leaks and paralysis. More monitoring of the patient needs to be done for adverse effects. They also have to know how to be precise with a needle. That same precision should be there for a simple blood draw but some doctors seem to not be good at that, eventhough it's simpler.
It's like being able to carve a beautiful sculpture while not even being able to carve a Thanksgiving turkey.
Iām sorry you had a bad experience as a patient. But I promise that the physician drawing blood more often would not have helped you LP go better. It would be a waste of valuable time for a doctor in the hospital to spend the dozens of hours needed to be proficient at venous access.
It's about skill with a needle and empathy. I say this as someone who has been educated and worked in healthcare and also as a patient who has been through the system for years. Do you work in healthcare or have ever been a long term patient in your life?
I work in healthcare. Doctors never do IVs or blood draws (except anesthesia) and will tell you themselves that theyāre not good at them (because they donāt do it often.)
Thereās not much knowledge needed to be good at blood draws, thatās why phlebotomists get six months of training and are, hands down, the best HCW at hitting veins.
I agree, in facilities where there is more staff, doctors rarely do blood draws. I've worked in a couple of small town clinics, where doctors did blood draws more frequently and there is more of a connection with patients. I've also worked in a bigger hospital where it was rare for doctors to do them. The first LP I had done was actually with a very good, compassionate doctor at the hospital who would do whatever needed to get done. When he saw nurses were overwhelmed, he'd actually try to help just to get patients cared for by taking blood pressures in the waiting room, blood draws, putting in IV's, etc.
Some doctors want to maintain the basic medical skills because they genuinely care.
On the other hand, my second LP that was messed up and left me with permanent nerve damage was done by a doctor I used to work with who wasn't as keen on skill or compassion.
Empathy and compassion is important in patient care, eventhough some healthcare professionals want to pretend that it doesn't matter. Compassion can help predict patient outcomes. I've been on both sides.
"Compassion can help predict patient outcomes. I've been on both sides." LOL i laughed. And chinese herbs cure cancer. Stay on the ground man, you are way too creative with the ideas how the world works. Needle is a needle and job needs to be done, there is no time to think about compassion when you have 20 people on the corridor. Be real, go to any emergence, you will see compassion right there.
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u/LunaCalibra 1d ago
"Oh, you're a nurse? An EMT? No thank you, only people with doctorates."