TINY TIPS WITH TIFF Episode 1: How To Do Labs in the NICU

In this first episode of TINY TIPS WITH TIFF we learn how to do labs on baby in the NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit). Labs was a huge struggle of mine when I started out as a new grad and I wanted to share with you some of my tips that I learned from my preceptors. Hopefully this was helpful and let me know what episode I should do next!
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[@TiffanyRNnicunursetiff]

Who’s excited for this series?! Give this video a thumbs up if you enjoyed it and stay tuned for next week’s episode!! 🤗

[@katiehenson9957]

Thank you! I am excited for this series! 🙌

[@kathleenkingsley8957]

Coming from an OB nurse that previously was a phlebotomist…Inverted the tubes once cap on to mix the anticoagulants, especially in the purple and green top tubes. The clots often occur because it takes too long for the blood to be place into the tubes and then properly mixed.

[@NurseRyan]

Thanks for the tips! This will be super helpful for everyone doing online labs/clinicals at school (labs as in lab classes haha) 😀

[@TiffanyRNnicunursetiff]

Yay hopefully it’s helpful! 🤗

[@sreemoyeeray]

Hi.. I love watching your videos and have learned so much! I am a new grad Nicu nurse and would love it if you could do a video on basic line building, Picc line changes, and IV administration specific to Nicu. Thank you so much !!!

[@francesli3454]

the positioning tip is so so helpful! i've never thought of that nor been taught about that. def a tip that i will share with my peers!

[@brandiehunter6589]

I’ve been in the NICU for 10 months and this video is still so helpful for me! This is awesome!

[@TiffanyRNnicunursetiff]

Great! Glad it was helpful 😊

[@carol86523]

Omggg thank you so much for the visual and great explanation!!! I’m still in college but I’d really like to work at the NICU in the future and this will stick with me!

[@alexandriafuzzard748]

Thank you! I’m super excited about this series! 💙💙💙

[@TiffanyRNnicunursetiff]

Yay I’m glad!! 😁

[@azzariaalure]

Yay I know I’m not close to being a nurse but I love watching this because I want to become a NICU nurse

[@anatomyofatrauma]

Thanks Tiff! I’m excited for the next video!

[@TiffanyRNnicunursetiff]

🙌🏼

[@salmasyaa]

very helpful for me, thankuu!! 🥰

[@davidjensena]

Cool video, great tips. I like how you grip the heel. The lavender tube ought to be collected first, so as not to throw off the platelet count, though. Thanks for sharing!

[@lpsstar44]

SO helpful!!!

[@TiffanyRNnicunursetiff]

☺️🙌🏼

[@sarafernandez7785]

This was great! I've been a float pct tech for awhile so the hope is to get into the ED/NICU. I worry since my clinical in NICU was cancelled (bc of covid) if I'll ever be able to truly get to the experience it. Tried shadowing in the NICU at my hospital, but they're very protective of who goes in(for good reason of course).

[@TiffanyRNnicunursetiff]

Aw I’m sorry to hear that but yea nicu is very protective of those coming in to protect our babies from covid but hopefully you get the chance in the future! 😊

[@almatovar7637]

Thank you for the tips I'm a PCT in L&D /postpartum so I have to do pkus and labs on baby's this is very helpful I'm going to be trying this out .I've been struggling a little bit on my technique. Can you do a video on blood cultures or having to do labs intravenous

[@shawol159]

Thank you for this video! Would you also be able to demonstrate NG/OG tube insertion in your next videos?

[@TiffanyRNnicunursetiff]

Hint* next week’s video 😉 stay tuned!

[@spencerswift8629]

This video was so perfect!! Thank you so much! A question: how long does the actual blood collection process (the foot squeezing part) usually take?

[@TiffanyRNnicunursetiff]

It honestly just depends on how well your babies bleed 😅

[@IBMark]

nice :) thanks

[@TiffanyRNnicunursetiff]

No problem 😁

[@millisagable1318]

Could u do a video on the different video that there are for blood. Just a idea.

[@RobinSparkles727]

Do you shake the cbc tube? I was taught we have to shake it several times to keep it from clotting.

[@kheemooyerz]

I think shaking the tube especially the green tube will cause hemolysis on your sample. Also I find what really works is maneuvering the leg downwards while milking the heel, it facilitates more bloodflow by gravity. Also swaddling the baby and using sucrose works wonder in keeping the baby calm while doing bloodwork. Just couple of tips that really worked for me. ;)

[@TiffanyRNnicunursetiff]

Good tips! Usually I don’t have any issues with the green tube and hemolysis and typically it’s ok for those samples to clot and should not affect the sample reading. The purple tubes are the ones we really watch out for. But every hospital can be different and the types of tubes used for certain labs

[@C3yl0]

The more nursing videos I watch the more I get torn in choosing between the NP or MD route. I love to do things with my hands but I also want to have autonomy. 😕

[@TiffanyRNnicunursetiff]

I would personally go for NP route if that’s what you are torn between. NPs have a lot of autonomy and are still able to keep a lot of bedside skills

[@samharley8731]

Labs are not taken from the vein?

[@TiffanyRNnicunursetiff]

Depends on what lab and how much blood you need 💉

[@jell4775]

You forgot to wipe the first blood then squeeze

[@SS-mt4zm]

I am righty and that holding is so akward 🫤