Running head: VENEPUNCTURE REFLECTION 1

Venepuncture Reflection

Student’s Name

Institution of Affiliation

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 VENEPUNCTURE REFLECTION 2

Introduction

The focal point of the discussion will be on personal reflection from my learning

experience of administering a Venepuncture, with Gibbs’s (1988) reflective model as a guide. I

aim to illustrate how as student nurse, practice anxiety can be dealt with. The Gibbs reflection

theory is an appropriate complement since it proposes six stages; description, feelings,

evaluation, analysis of the incident, conclusion. I apply the theory through the process of

reflection to guide my comprehension on what I could have done differently to achieve best

practice.

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Description

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I was offered an opportunity to practice the administration of a venepuncture on a

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dummy in alb procedure. The lecturer presented the essential tools and gave me the opportunity
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to ask any questions before commencements. When I felt prepared, I commenced the procedure.

I began by putting the tourniquet on the dummy arm about 3-4’ above the site of the
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venepuncture. After I identified the vein, I then proceeded to clean the venepuncture site with the
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use of alcohol through a circular motion. I allowed the area to dry then assembled the needle and

vacuum tube holder and then removed the cap from the needle. I held the arm securely then put
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the needle into the vein. I pressed the cylinder onto the needle and blood surgeed into the tube. I

removed the tourniquet and placed a dry gauge over the venepuncture site, as I slowly removed
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the needle. I disposed the contaminants into a sharp container. After the administration of the
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venepuncture, I recorded the intervention in the reflective journal.

Feelings
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Being a novice, the first attempt at administering such a procedure elicited feelings

anxiety. I felt I was not competent enough to undertake the task. As I began the procedure, I kept

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 VENEPUNCTURE REFLECTION 3

wandering of all things could potentially go wrong, and I how awful I would feel if I injured a

patient. I felt nervous and hoped to delay the procedure; I hoped that the anxiety would decrease.

I also felt intimidated by the presence of the lecturer and my colleagues. Somehow I felt that they

were all more experienced than I was and they would be critical if I made a mistake. I reassured

myself by recalling how the procedure had been demonstrated to us earlier. I gained composure

and commenced the process. I also acknowledged that I was working on a dummy and could not

cause real injury in case of a mistake. On completion, I received positive compliments from the

lecturer and my colleagues; my confidence increased. I was impressed in myself for having

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successfully completed the process without any major hiccups. My self-assurance had been

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improved to the height that I felt ready to perform the procedure on a real patient.

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Evaluation
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My anxiety in the course of the procedure was normal, especially considering that I was

simply a student nurse. There was a need for me to learn the venepuncture process. The
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anxiousness could have been explained through the use of the Johari’s Window (Davies, n.d.).
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According to Johari’s window, before the administration of the venepuncture, I was within the

“unknown area”. In this phase, my colleagues, as well as I, were oblivious of my fears and
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concerns. Because I was aware of the anxiety that I harbored, I was able to conquer it through

self-reassurance. By the end of the procedure, my feelings were known to me. In addition, I
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received constructive feedback from lecturer and my colleagues, which gave me pointers on
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what I did right. As a result, I was able to address my feelings, areas of weakness, strengths and

commence the development of the skill to administer the procedure.

Analysis

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 VENEPUNCTURE REFLECTION 4

Fujii, (2015) notes that venepuncture is one of the most frequent insidious procedures

carried out by health practitioners. Venepuncture ought to be carried out with care. There is a

need to obverse precaution at times to ensure the health of the patient is protected. Such is the

reason why I had to ensure that I observed all safety precautions before, during and after the

procedure. During vein identification, I identified a superficial vein. Superficial veins are often

chosen for venepuncture (Shaw, 2017). The veins are recommended since they are supported by

the connective and muscle tissue, which are visible in addition to easy to palpate. The use of the

Tourniquet was essential since it encouraged venous distention. There was need to ensure that the

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Tourniquet was tight to prevent venous return (Shaw, 2017). Moreover, I held the needle at an

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angle to ensure I pushed it quickly into the muscle. Shaw, (2017) notes that holding the needle at

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an angle ensures speedy muscle penetration. I inserted the needle and left approximately ½
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exposed. Fujii, (2015) indicates that this makes removing it easy. After the insertion of the

needle, I allowed it to remain for about 10 seconds. Leaving it sit for approximately 10 seconds
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will enable the blood to flow into the collection tube. Afterward, I removed the needle and
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applied pressure (Shaw, 2017). Additionally, hygiene was also essential during the procedure; I

had to wear gloves, clean the puncture site, and discard the contaminates after use. Hygiene is
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the most essential action for the reduction of cross-infection. Komar, Kovacic-Mauer, Gardner &

Popik, (2017) highlights that the majority of health practitioners often fail to decontaminate their
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hands as they ought to. As a nurse, one ought to identify and cut back on the risk to clients and
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patients.

In reflection, I acknowledge that I was nervous during the procedure. The association
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between the lecturer and the students is an avenue to minimize practice anxiety. Self-reassurance

is also essential to reduce anxiety. Such was my experience while conducting the procedure.

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 VENEPUNCTURE REFLECTION 5

Furthermore, critically reflecting as well as understanding my feelings on the administration of

the venepuncture makes me evaluate what I would have done differently in the future. This will

be a means of enhancing my technique while also providing care to the patient. I am now aware

of my competence since my lecturer commended on my confidence and quality of technique. I

believe that for any procedure to go successfully, it is vital for the student to maintain the

composure and focus on successfully completing the task.

Action Plan

Making use of the Gibbs reflection model has enabled me to critically analyze the event,

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which made it possible for me to explore personal feelings. Through reflection, stumbled upon

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an issue that many nursing students go through. Looking back, my challenge with the procedure

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was overcoming personal anxiety. As a student nurse, I acknowledge that anxiety is a normal
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phenomenon, however, I intend to put in place measures that will assist me in overcoming

anxiety while tackling another procedure in the future.

To overcome anxiety in the future, I intend to find a peer group as well as a mentor. The
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advantage of talking to my peers is that they would be going through the same thing. Talking out

the feelings within me will potentially reduce the feelings of anxiety in undertaking any
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procedure. Another aspect would be finding a mentor that will be able to validate that what I am

feeling is normal. A mentor will also be instrumental in providing me with tips on how to handle
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anxiety in the course of my nursing career. Another technique that will come in handy in dealing
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with stress is keeping a diary. Writing has continuously been found helpful in the alleviation of

anxiety and stress. It will be an avenue for me to pour out my feelings and frustrations. In the
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beginning, writing may upset me but I believe that it will help me calm down and get through the

difficult times.

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 VENEPUNCTURE REFLECTION 6

Furthermore, for the procedures that I feel I am not well conversant with, I intend to

carry out more online research. The online platform has more than sufficient information on

various procedures and how to administer them. I believe that gaining such information forehand

will be vital in increasing my sense of confidence as well as enhancing my ability to perform

various procedures without difficulties.

In the future, I intend to acknowledge that I am human and prone to mistakes. Mistakes

will be inevitable and I will embrace them rather than letting them overwhelm me. I will learn

from my errors and acknowledge that what I will be experiencing will be normal. In essence,

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reflection has the potential to highlight an individual’s shortcomings. Nonetheless, through

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taking the negative instances positively, one can be able to change themselves for the better. A

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venepuncture will definitely be one of most preferred procedures to perform.
rs e
ou urc
o
aC s
vi y re
ed d
ar stu
is
Th
sh

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https://www.coursehero.com/file/54165139/Venepuncture-Reflectiondocx/
 VENEPUNCTURE REFLECTION 7

References

Davies, S. Johari's window.

Fujii, C. (2015). Perspectives on effective educational practices regarding venepuncture. Journal Of

Nursing Education And Practice, 6(1). doi: 10.5430/jnep.v6n1p76

Komar, J., Kovacic-Mauer, V., Gardner, L., & Popik, M. (2017). Hand Hygiene to Prevent

Infections. Journal Of Perianesthesia Nursing, 32(4), e31-e32. doi:

10.1016/j.jopan.2017.06.103

Shaw, S. (2017). Locating difficult veins for venepuncture and cannulation. Nursing

m
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Standard, 31(25), 62-71. doi: 10.7748/ns.2017.e10778

co
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o.
rs e
ou urc
o
aC s
vi y re
ed d
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is
Th
sh

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