What are some issues you can think of that may hinder drawing blood in a geriatric patient?

"There are several issues that may hinder geriatric blood draws. If a patient is disoriented, they may feel afraid or threatened and become combative. This poses a threat not only to the patient but to the clinician, as well. Also, dehydration, especially in the elderly, can be a problem. Most geriatric patients have lost a bit of their adipose tissue, which makes the skin looser. A phlebotomist has to pull the skin taut to help veins become more visible. If a patient has loose skin and is dehydrated, this makes the draw even more difficult."

Changes in geriatric patients may create some instances of difficulty with obtaining a blood sample. The interviewer wants to know that you can identify some factors that may influence the ease of performing venipuncture and what could be done to prevent a problem.

"One of the biggest problems I have run into has been an issue of loose skin and the difficulty that sometimes arises when trying to pull the skin taut enough to locate a vein."