Tell me about your experience and abilities in collecting lab samples, such as blood, tissue, and and other specimens. Elaborate on the entire end-to-end process of collection.
In many clinical situations, nurses are responsible for collecting lab samples to send away for testing, such as blood, tissue, and other types of specimesns. The interviewer is asking this question to assess the candidate's ability and experience in collecting various types of lab samples and their knowledge of documenting samples. In order to effectively answer this question, the candidate should talk about their experience in collecting lab samples and documenting such collections. A stronger answer to this question would include an example of when the candidate streamlined a process for collection or documentation.
"Since I work at a family medicine practice, I have experience collecting many types of lab samples, including blood, urine, fecal, skin, and other types of samples. Any time I collect a sample from a patient, I always confirm their name and date of birth to ensure I am matching the sample back to the appropriate patient, then after the sample is collected, I document it in our laboratory log, so there is a record of it going out to the lab. It is just important that the lab sample is documented appropriately, so we can track and monitor the sample, and ensure the patient gets the results."
"I do not have much experience with phlebotomy, so my current experience with collecting lab samples is limited to collecting tissue samples and other types of samples such as fecal and urine samples. However, each time I take a sample that is going to the lab for additional testing, I ensure that it is appropriately documented in our laboratory log, to ensure we can audit and ensure that the patient got their results. I hope to take additional training soon so I can become more comfortable with blood draws and I can begin collecting blood samples on site as well, so the patient does not have to make an extra stop at the lab to have these tests completed."
"I am an experienced nurse, so I have experience collecting all types of lab samples at the patient's bedside, and I have even been involved in improving such practices over the years. Even after everything went electronic at my hospital a few years ago, when we would collect specimens at the patient's bedside, we would have to manually enter the information into the EHR, and there would often be documentation errors from the accidental transposition of numbers. When multiple documentation errors occurred on my unit one month, I spearheaded a project where the nurses could scan the patient's ID band and the lab specimen bar code and everything would go into the system automatically. This automated system was piloted on my unit and eventually rolled out to the entire hospital, saving everyone time and reducing documentation and medical errors."
"I have experience collecting many types of specimens at the point-of-care of the patient, which is very helpful, as it prevents the patients from having to make an additional stop at the lab. At this point in my career, I have the most experience in collecting blood and specimens of anyone on my unit, and if there is ever a complicated blood draw or tissue sample to collect, I am called in to take care of it. I also am the point person to conduct monthly documentation audits and training for new staff because of my advanced experience."
"Collecting lab specimens is a strong nursing skill of mine that I have had a lot of experience with throughout my career. Most commonly I collect blood, urine, and stool specimens. I always begin by reviewing my order in the EHR and then gathering all the supplies I need for each specific collection. I then perform hand hygiene and don the appropriate PPE before collecting. Immediately after collecting I label and bag all of my specimens while I am still in the room with the patient and I document my collection in the EHR. Then when I leave the room, I simply need to send the lab specimen to the lab. I have developed a very efficient way of collecting specimens that also prevents any errors, and I am often asked to show any new nurses or nursing students my process for collection."
Community answers are written by other candidates practicing this set. Reading how others frame the same question is one of the fastest ways to sharpen your own.
Anonymous Answer
As a nursing student, I collected different types of samples including, urine, blood, and nasal swabs. I would first start by obtaining the correct collecting item. I would obtain the patient's label, and in the patient's room, I would confirm his or her full name and date of birth. I would then collect my sample, put it in the receptacle, confirm again the patient's full name and date of birth and place the label on the sample and send the sample to the lab.
Rachelle's Feedback
It seems you are very careful and organized in your work, which the interviewer should be happy to hear. You may want to end your response with a qualifying statement regarding your preparedness/readiness to complete these tasks in your next opportunity.
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