Help with blood draws
Hey everyone! I'm currently a student and work at an ER Hospital. I have been recently working on blood draws from the Lateral Saphenous vein in dogs or the Medial Saphenous in cats. I feel as though my technique is great and even the LVT watching me says so too but I just cannot seem to get any blood. One I locate the vein, sterilize the area, etc. I press next to the vein with my non-dominant thumb to stabilize it, I have my bevel up, I usually press the needle right along the vein before entering. I do tend to enter pretty shallow since I know they are superficial veins and I get worried about puncturing. I pull back, but nothing. Even the LVT says that I am right there. I practice one-handed with a syringe all the time to make sure I am pulling back without pushing the needle forward. I know its hard for any of you to help since you haven't seen me in person, but any advice would be incredibly helpful.