A nurse knows that which syringe is used for ABG sampling?

NORCET 6 mains-2024

Medical & Surgical Nursing

Easy

Appeared in: NORCET 6 mains-2024

Explanation

Arterial Blood Gas (ABG) analysis requires a sample of arterial blood that remains liquid and does not clot.
Heparin is an anticoagulant that prevents the formation of blood clots.
Specialized ABG syringes are pre-coated with a small amount of heparin (usually lithium or sodium heparin) to ensure the sample's integrity for accurate testing.
Using a heparinised syringe is the standard and required practice for ABG collection to get valid results.

Option B: A Tuberculin syringe is a small-volume (1 mL) syringe calibrated for precise, small-dose injections. It does not contain an anticoagulant and is unsuitable for blood collection.
Option C: An Asepto syringe is a bulb-type syringe used for irrigation (e.g., washing wounds) or suctioning fluids (e.g., clearing the nasopharynx of a newborn). It is not designed for sterile blood collection via arterial puncture.
Option D: This option is incorrect because only the heparinised syringe is appropriate for ABG sampling. The other syringes have completely different clinical applications.

Visual 1: Image - A side-by-side comparison of a pre-heparinised ABG syringe, a Tuberculin syringe, and an Asepto (bulb) syringe, highlighting their different tips, barrels, and mechanisms.
Visual 2: Diagram - The steps of performing an Allen's test before radial artery puncture, showing how to assess for adequate collateral circulation from the ulnar artery.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: Knowing Equipment for Arterial Blood Gas (ABG) Sampling helps nurses interpret findings accurately and avoid errors in routine assessment, medication administration, and patient teaching.
Using the correct equipment (a heparinised syringe) is critical for sample integrity in ABG analysis. A clotted sample will be rejected by the laboratory, leading to delays in diagnosis and requiring a painful repeat procedure for the patient.
Nurses must immediately expel any air bubbles from the syringe after collection. Air contamination will falsely increase the PaO₂ and decrease the PaCO₂, leading to incorrect interpretation and potentially inappropriate treatment.
What if? - If a non-heparinised syringe were used, the arterial blood would clot almost immediately. This would make the sample unusable for gas analysis and could potentially clog and damage the expensive ABG analyzer machine.

How to Approach the Question

Identify the core procedure in the question: 'ABG sampling'.
Recall the key requirements for this specific sample. Arterial blood is being drawn, which has a high tendency to clot.
Consider the function of an anticoagulant. To prevent clotting, an anticoagulant is necessary.
Evaluate the options based on this requirement. A 'heparinised syringe' contains heparin, which is a well-known anticoagulant.
Eliminate the other options based on their specific functions: a Tuberculin syringe is for small-dose injections, and an Asepto syringe is for irrigation or suctioning.
Conclude that the heparinised syringe is the only logical and correct choice for this procedure.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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