As a cancer survivor whose been poked more times than I care to remember - the patient will always feel something. With that said though, the difference between a nursing student and a trained and experienced phlebotomist is night and day. One pokes 4-5 times missing the vein and digging around. The other is so gentle and precise you barely even feel it. Love me a good phlebotomist!
I actually had a nurse explain to me during a blood draw that the pain people usually feel is from the alcohol swab that they do before entering with the needle. She showed me by waiting a good bit after the swab (I assume to let it evaporate a lot) and then putting the needle in and to my surprise it was one of the only times I didn't feel pain.
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u/Heffe3737 Jun 10 '25
As a cancer survivor whose been poked more times than I care to remember - the patient will always feel something. With that said though, the difference between a nursing student and a trained and experienced phlebotomist is night and day. One pokes 4-5 times missing the vein and digging around. The other is so gentle and precise you barely even feel it. Love me a good phlebotomist!