u/futuretrunks97

I’m a relatively new phlebotomist working in a busy outpatient hospital lab, and I’ve been feeling really proud of my progress lately. I’m often alone from 12:30–5 and regularly draw 40+ patients a day. Recently I personally drew 54 of our lab’s 74 patients.
Today my supervisor told me she’d heard I’ve been having “a lot of misses” and needing help. I was surprised because that really doesn’t match my experience. At most I might need help with 1–2 patients in a day, and plenty of days I need none.
Apparently the feedback came from a phlebotomist who has helped me maybe four times total and has only watched me draw a couple times. She also told my supervisor I don’t tie my tourniquets tightly enough, which she’s never said to me directly.
My supervisor wants me to spend a week at another lab getting more dedicated drawing experience. I’m open to it, but honestly I feel a little hurt and demoralized. I’m already drawing all day across a huge range of patients and felt like I was getting pretty good at this.
Now I’m worried that every time I appropriately call for help after two misses, it’ll just reinforce this image that I’m struggling. Anyone else dealt with something like this as a newer phlebotomist?

When I was in school they taught us that GTT patients could have sips of water only. At the hospital I’m at I’ve heard mixed messages about whether they’re allowed water or not. What’s the policy where y’all work?

Been working my first job doing inpatient. Learned this morning that a tube I drew yesterday somehow made its way into the document disposal and never got sent to the lab. My supervisor wants to meet with me later. I’m feeling embarrassed and bad for the patient who needs to come back now 😞

I had a patient today who said to me "Just so you know, it usually takes at least 3 attempts for them to get blood". I was surprised as this guy was on the younger end of middle aged, jacked, and had massive superficial veins.

On my first stick I felt the needle go right into the large vein I chose. Not a drop in the tube. Tried adjusting but there was nothing. I was honestly shocked. I ended up getting blood in his other arm using a much smaller vein and a 23g butterfly.

Anyone run into this kind of thing before? What do you think is going on anatomically that this is a common thing for him? It's definitely not that the veins roll, as they were really well anchored.

Had a randori round last night that’s still sticking with me mentally today.

I’m a green belt, and I went with a brown belt who goes extremely hard in randori. Like full competition intensity: aggressive grip fighting, explosive throws, constant pressure, trying to dominate every exchange. He pretty thoroughly manhandled me and launched me hard several times.

What me wasn’t just getting thrown, but feeling like I couldn’t even establish my game at all. It honestly shook my confidence a bit, especially because I eventually want to reach brown belt level myself.

The other aspect is that I personally don’t really do judo with a competition mindset. I do it because I love the art, the technical/tactical side of it, and the physical activity/community aspect. So sometimes rounds with people who bring that super intense “win every exchange” energy leave me wondering how much I should be seeking that out.

At the same time, I can recognize there’s probably value in experiencing that kind of pressure and intensity sometimes.

So I’m curious how more experienced judoka think about this:
How important is it to regularly train with people who go that hard, versus mostly training with partners where there’s more actual exchange and room to develop your game?