Venepuncture

Venepuncture is the process of inserting a needle into a patient’s vein to take a sample of blood for testing. When taking blood samples, it is important to ensure that the correct sampling tubes are used, and that the samples are labelled and processed correctly. There are different methods for obtaining blood samples for testing; […]

Administering Vaccinations

Vaccinations are given to provide immunity against certain infectious diseases. They produce their protective effect by inducing active immunity, providing immunological memory which enables the immune system to recognise and respond to any future exposure by a natural infection of the disease. Healthcare professionals administering immunisation vaccines must receive specific training in immunisation, and be […]

Urinalysis

Urinalysis is the process of testing a sample of urine for abnormal contents. Abnormalities in urine may be indicative of a number of pathologies and diseases. Urine can be evaluated by its physical appearance, for example the colour and clarity; and by biochemical analysis of its contents. Urine can be tested for abnormalities at the […]

Temperature Measurement

The measurement of body temperature is an observation that can provide important physiological information. Core body temperature is maintained between 36 and 37 point five degrees Celsius and is regulated by the hypothalamus in the brain. Any deviation from the normal range may indicate disease or infection, deterioration in condition, or reaction to treatment. There […]

Suturing: Procedure

The aim of suturing and good wound care is to minimise deformity and scarring and to prevent infection. There are some situations where closure by suturing is not appropriate. In these cases the patient should be referred to a surgeon from the appropriate specialty for further advice on management before closure is carried out. Once […]

Subcutaneous Injections

A subcutaneous injection is given into fat and loose connective tissue underlying the dermis. This route is used for administering small doses of non-irritating, water soluble substances. Subcutaneous tissue is not richly supplied with blood vessels, so medication is absorbed slowly. For this reason, it is the preferred route for administration of medications that require […]

Surgical Scrubbing Up

Hand washing is required when entering any clinical area and before commencing any procedure. For most procedures carried out in a ward environment, it is adequate to wash with soap and water or use alcohol gel. Procedures carried out in a theatre environment usually require the hands and forearm to be washed using an aseptic […]