r/BeAmazed • u/New_Libran • Jun 10 '25

Skill / Talent Chinese nurses use this technique called "flying needle" to draw blood

Blink and miss it!

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u/MarionberryPlus8474 Jun 10 '25

Many years ago I used to get allergy shots. There was a nurse who would put the needle in almost like you would throw a dart, and then shift grip to use the plunger. It was strange and alarming when I first saw it but I had to admit it was the most painless shot at‘d had in a long time. That’s completely different than trying to hit a vessel to draw blood, though.

18

u/blind_lemon410 Jun 11 '25

Student nurse here. We are actually taught to use the dart style technique when giving most non-IV injections.

1

u/lvl3SewerRat Jun 11 '25

But don't you have to be in a vein to draw blood? If I just threw this into my butt, would it magically find a vein?

2

u/blind_lemon410 Jun 11 '25

Yes you need to be in a vein to draw blood, unless you are doing an arterial draw (from an artery).

1

u/lvl3SewerRat Jun 11 '25

So is this video just AI or...?

1

u/blind_lemon410 Jun 11 '25

I don’t know. I don’t know enough about drawing blood or I.V.s to confirm or refute this post.

2

u/TheArcaneAuthor Jun 11 '25

Some meds you administer into muscle or fat under the skin, and you don't actually want to hit a vein. 

1

u/blind_lemon410 Jun 11 '25

True! When we’re injecting into muscle, after sticking in the needle we aspirate (pull upwards on the plunger) in order to make sure that there isn’t any blood to make sure we’re not in a vein or artery.

2

u/coolcaterpillar77 Jun 12 '25

This is no longer considered best practice (RN here)

1

u/blind_lemon410 Jun 12 '25

Interesting.

2

u/ChaosBrigadier Jun 12 '25

An injection (like vaccines) can be in muscle (usually). An IV or blood draw needs the needle to be in the vein.

1

u/flyspagmonster Jun 16 '25

IM and Sub Q injection are very different than a blood draw. You don't need suction for an injection, and apart from needing to be in a vein, the suction is one of the bigger issues here. Too much suction and you collapse the vein and end up (likely) having a hemolyzed sample-at worst you don't get any/enough blood and have to start over.