Good morning!
Is anyone completing a fingersticks on patients less than 1 year of age? Our current lab policy requires all patients less than 1 year of age to have a heelstick for capillary blood specimens (microtainers and POCT), which is according to their lab accreditation requirements. Elsevier (citing WHO Guidelines), which is what we follow for nursing procedures, states that it is acceptable to perform capillary draws on patients greater than 6 months old.
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McKenzy McMullen, BSN, RN, NPD-BC, CEN, CPEN, TCRN
Nursing Professional Development Practitioner
Parkview Health
Fort Wayne, IN
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