Scrubs are the shirts and trousers or gowns worn by nurses, surgeons, and other operating room personnel when "scrubbing in" for surgery. They are designed to be simple with minimal places for dirt to hide, easy to launder, and cheap to replace if damaged or stained irreparably. The wearing of scrubs has been extended outside of surgery in many hospitals. Originally issued as replacement clothing if street clothing was contaminated, scrubs are now worn by any hospital personnel in any clean environment. The spread of Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) has increased the use of scrubs, but can give wearers a false sense of security that they are 'clean' when in fact are as easily contaminated as any other clothing.[1] They have also been mandated in some American prisons as a prison uniform. The television show Scrubs is named for the medical garments worn by hospital personnel. n contrast to the uniforms long required of nurses, surgeons did not wear any kind of specialized garments until well into the 20th century. Surgical procedures were conducted in an operating theater. The surgeon wore his street clothes, with perhaps a butcher's apron to protect his clothing from blood stains, and he operated bare-handed with non-sterile instruments and supplies. (Gut and silk sutures were sold as open strands with reusable, hand-threaded needles; packing gauze was made of sweepings from the floors of cotton mills.) In contrast to today's concept of surgery as a profession that emphasizes cleanliness and conscientiousness, up to the early 20th century the mark of a busy and successful surgeon was the profusion of blood and fluids on his clothes.[citation needed] The importance of dress as a badge of one's class in society was so important and the processes behind the transmission of infection were the subject of controversy within the profession.
With the "Spanish flu" pandemic of 1918 and the growing medical interest in Lister's antiseptic theory, some surgeons began wearing cotton gauze masks in surgery—-however, this was not to protect the patient from intra-operative infection, but to protect the surgeon from the patient's diseases. Around the same time, operating theatre staff began wearing heavy rubber gloves to protect their hands from the solutions used to clean the room and equipment, a practice surgeons grudgingly adopted.
By the 1940s, advances in surgical antisepsis (now called aseptic technique) and the science of wound infection led to the adoption of antiseptic drapes and gowns for operating room ("OR") use. Instruments, supplies and dressings were routinely sterilized by exposure to either high-pressure steam or ethylene oxide gas.
Originally, operating room attire was white to emphasize cleanliness. However, the combination of bright operating lights and an all-white environment led to eyestrain for the surgeon and staff. By the 1950s and 1960s, most hospitals had abandoned white operating room apparel in favor of various shades of green, which provided a high-contrast environment, reduced eye fatigue, and made bright red blood splashes less conspicuous.Medical Scrubs Collection
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1Find out all you can about what duties and responsibilities you would have as a nurse-midwife. It is always wise to be informed before you decide to embark on choosing a career. From prenatal care to post delivery care, a nurse-midwife is a key person in bringing babies into the world and the new parents will rely heavily on your professional opinions and guidance.
Step 2You need to be properly qualified. You must first be a registered nurse before you can become a nurse-midwife. If you are not already a RN, then you will need to go to nursing school for a Bachelor's degree, graduate and pass the NCLEX-RN, the national licensure examination, to become a registered nurse. If you want to become a nurse-midwife in some states, you will be required to get a Master's degree.
Step 3As a nurse-midwife, you will need to know about specific concerns such as anatomy, neonatology, breastfeeding, embryology, biochemistry, gynecology and obstetrics pathophysiology and more.
Step 4You have to pass a certification examination to be a nurse-midwife. Certification will enable you to practice in all 50 states and these national exams are offered four time annually throughout the country.
Step 5Once you are certified, decide what your preference is regarding the kind of setting you want to work in. As a certified nurse midwife, you can work in a variety of places, such as birth centers, hospitals and private practice. In some cases, you can even do home births. It all depends on where you feel more comfortable.Medical Scrubs Collection
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Many people who are considering nursing, and especially older people who are considering switching to a nursing career from their present job, are concerned about the costs of obtaining a nursing degree. Some think they can’t afford to go to nursing school. But almost always, if you’ve got the aptitude and desire and skills to become a nurse, there’s a way for you to pay for your nursing education. These days there are more and more sources of financial aid for nursing students, driven in part by the growing realization across the country of just how huge the ramifications of the ever worsening nurse shortage will be. Cities, states, businesses, colleges, and other organizations are starting to see that one of their biggest priorities for the short and long term future is to see to it that as many people as possible enter the nursing profession, or there will be dire consequences. This means that the bad news-the worsening nursing shortage-is very good news for anyone who needs help paying for their nursing education. So don’t despair. There’s financial help available, and there’s more financial aid being directed toward nursing education every year.
Before we consider financial aid, let’s look at some steps that you can personally take to reduce the cost of a nursing degree. Everyone, from high school seniors to people changing careers, can shave off a huge portion of the cost of a nursing education by attending a public college or university rather than a private one. Do this, and you’ll be tens of thousands of dollars ahead right up front. While the costs of attending college are going up across the board in this country, the difference between the cost of attending a public college and attending a private one is huge, and getting bigger all the time. And it’s very hard to justify the extra expense of attending a private college in order to earn a nursing degree. Nursing isn’t like pre-med or pre-law, where you’re hoping to attend an elite law or medical school, and graduating from a first class undergraduate institution can improve your chances greatly. No, for most students, the BSN or AA in nursing is an end in itself, and you don’t have to worry about your school not being “prestigious” enough. So if you’re concerned about paying for nursing school, you should certainly strongly consider attending a public institution, as it will be much cheaper. In addition, you should consider one that’s near your home. Not only will you not have travel expenses, but if you’re able to live with a spouse or your parents you’ll probably be able to save on room and board. This can cut thousands of more dollars off the cost of a multi year college education. Another way to help pay for your nursing degree is to work while you’re going to school. You can work part time and go to school full time, or work part time and go to school part time, or work full time and go to school part time. Millions of people do these very things while earning college degrees every year. If you’re switching careers, you can possibly keep your present job while you go to school to make the transition into the nursing profession. Of course, there are individual circumstances which may prevent someone from attending a low cost public institution, and/or living at home, or working while attending school, but for many students, these three options are quite viable, and can mean the difference between graduating with all your bills paid, and graduating with student loan debt.
But let’s say you’re living at home, working part time, and attending a public institution, but you still need money to pay for nursing college. Or you can’t work, or live at home. In these cases, you’ll want to look into the many and varied sources of abundant financial aid for nursing education. The first thing you need know about financial aid is the main form you’ll be filling out to apply for it-the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA. You’ll want to fill out and turn in your FAFSA as soon as possible if you’re looking at going to school. You can file your FAFSA in early January, and the sooner you do the better, as financial aid is not unlimited. To fill it out, you’ll need a few hours, your latest tax returns, some financial records, and a calculator. If you’re under 23 and living with your parents, you’ll need their tax returns and financial info. Do not put this off! When it comes to most forms of financial aid, it’s first come, first served, so you need to get your FAFSA in early. You’ll also want to check with the college you’re planning on attending, as they may have one or more separate forms they’ll require you to fill out for financial aid. Your FAFSA will be used by the federal government to determine your eligibility for being awarded a Pell Grant, and how much your award will be. Pell Grants are the best kind of financial aid-they’re based on financial need, not grades. And they’re grants, not loans, so they never have to be paid back. Award amounts range from $200 to over $4000. But funding for Pell Grants is a set amount, and the funds can run out from year to year, which is why it’s imperative for you to get your FAFSA in early.
Another form of financial aid that nursing students should pursue is scholarships. Scholarships are just as desirable as grants, because they don’t need to be repaid. Unlike grants, however, most scholarships aren’t based on financial need (although some take it into account), and usually have some sort of qualification requirements. Also, unlike most grants, the vast majority of scholarships come from colleges, businesses, non profit groups, religious groups, and other private agencies. The best kind, of course, is a full four year scholarship that covers tuition, books, and room and board. These are tough to qualify for, but if you think you’ve got what it takes, go for it. It never hurts to try. But don’t get the wrong idea-there are tons of scholarships available for nursing students, from all kinds of sources, and in amounts ranging from small to large. You’ll first want to contact the financial aid office of the college where you intend to earn your nursing degree. The folks there are in touch with all sorts of organizations which want to help aspiring nurses, and they get paid to stay on top of these things. They’ll likely have information on sources of scholarships that you’re not aware of. Local hospitals sometimes offer scholarships for nursing majors, and the competition for these will be a lot intense than for a national or statewide scholarship. Also, many of the nursing organizations and resources mentioned on our website will have information about the availability of scholarships for nursing school. Some will even provide scholarships themselves. There are scholarships for minority nursing students, older nursing students, nursing students who plan to practice in a particular locale or specialty, nursing students coming right out of high school, etc. The internet also offers a great way to find scholarships. There are many websites which you can use to do a scholarship search, and some of them are quite thorough. And don’t limit yourself to nursing scholarships only. There are billions and billions of dollars in scholarship money every year for college students in general, and you could qualify for one of these no matter what you’re studying. Almost every major corporation funds scholarships for their employees or the children of their employees. Others have scholarship competitions open to anyone in the country. Religious and other non profit groups also provide lots of scholarship money to nursing students, or anyone attending college who qualifies. You’ll want to get as much scholarship money as you can, since it doesn’t have to be paid back. And don’t ignore scholarships for small amounts of a few hundred dollars. Every little bit helps, and they can add up to a significant amount.
The third source of financial aid for nursing school is student loans. The biggest source of student loans, by far, is the federal government. No other entity comes close. Federal student loans come in two kinds-direct, and guaranteed. The vast majority are guaranteed, not direct. Direct federal student loans for nursing school are just what they sound like-the government writes a check directly from the US Treasury either to you or your school for your educational expenses. Indirect federal student loans come from third parties, but the government gives them quite an incentive to make you the loan by promising to pay them back in case you default. You may have heard of Sallie Mae-that’s the largest source of federally guaranteed student loans in the country. They’ve helped millions and millions of people attend college by making billions of dollars in student loans every year. If you need a federal student loan, don’t be shy about applying. You generally don’t need a credit history, and because they’re guaranteed by the government, even bad credit isn’t a problem (unless you’ve defaulted on a previous student loan). It’s best to not borrow unless you need to, and then only as much as you need, since you’ll be required to pay back the loans with interest after you graduate, but if you need financial aid, student loans are a wonderful tool. With the excellent incomes that nurses enjoy, paying student loans back shouldn’t be too much of a strain if you use discretion about borrowing.
There are several different kinds of federal student loans, but most of them fall into two categories-Perkins and Stafford loans. Nursing students, like any other major, are welcome to apply for either one. To apply for either, you’ll need to have filed your FAFSA. Perkins loans are based on exceptional financial need, and funds are very limited. If approved for a Perkins loan, you may borrow up to $4000 per school year, and up to $20,000 total. Unfortunately, being approved for a certain amount under the Perkins program doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll receive that much, due to the limited amount of funds in the program. Again, this is why we keep stressing how vitally important it is that you file your FAFSA just as soon as possible after the first of the year. You’d hate to have the government agree that you have exceptional financial need, and approve you for a certain amount of money from the Perkins loan, only to be told that all the money has already been distributed. So get that FAFAS in early. One nice feature of the Perkins loan program is that the loans are subsidized, which means that as long as you’re enrolled in school for at least half time status, the government pays the interest on the loan, which means you’ll make no payment until after you graduate. Not having to make student loan payments while in nursing school is a great advantage, as it lets you concentrate on your studies and not worry about your finances. The Stafford loan program works a bit differently. For one thing, they’re not based on exceptional financial need, so far more people qualify for a Stafford loan. There’s also much more money available under this program than under the Perkins loan. You may borrow up to $46,000 to finance your nursing school education over the course of your study, if you’re a financially independent student. You may borrow up to $6265 your first year, $7500 your second year, and up to $10,500 for your third and fourth years. A portion of this could be in subsidized loans, but not all of it. If you’re a financially dependent student, you may borrow up to $23,000 over the life of your undergraduate career, with the yearly limits being roughly half of those for independent students. Between the Perkins and Stafford loan programs, along with grants and scholarships, most people who want to go to nursing school are able to afford it. If you still need help, or if your parents simply want to help you pay for nursing school, there’s also the PLUS program. PLUS is funded by the federal government, and makes loans to parents of students attending college. One major difference between PLUS loans and the others is that the parents must have good credit to qualify for the loan.
Another option you may want to consider in order to pay for nursing school is a loan forgiveness program, or a loan repayment program. These programs are becoming more and more common, due to the growing nursing shortage. State, counties, and cities in some areas are desperate for qualified nurses. There are many areas of the country which are not just short of nurses, but critically short. To entice nurses to come to these areas and work, these government agencies are offering to pay back or forgive student loan debt. Details vary, but generally one year of student loan debt is forgiven or paid back for each year the nurse agrees to serve in the area. This is a very generous offer, and taking advantage of it can give you a head start on financial freedom after nursing school, by eliminating student loan payments, which can sometimes wind up being bigger than people had planned on. In addition, you get the satisfaction of knowing you’re doing good, and helping people who badly need and greatly appreciate your services.
The three major educational paths to registered nursing are a bachelor’s degree, an associate degree, and a diploma from an approved nursing program. Nurses most commonly enter the occupation by completing an associate degree or bachelor’s degree program. Individuals then must complete a national licensing examination in order to obtain a nursing license. Further training or education can qualify nurses to work in specialty areas, and may help improve advancement opportunities.
Education and training. There are three major educational paths to registered nursing—a bachelor’s of science degree in nursing (BSN), an associate degree in nursing (ADN), and a diploma. BSN programs, offered by colleges and universities, take about 4 years to complete. In 2006, 709 nursing programs offered degrees at the bachelor’s level. ADN programs, offered by community and junior colleges, take about 2 to 3 years to complete. About 850 RN programs granted associate degrees. Diploma programs, administered in hospitals, last about 3 years. Only about 70 programs offered diplomas. Generally, licensed graduates of any of the three types of educational programs qualify for entry-level positions.
Many RNs with an ADN or diploma later enter bachelor’s programs to prepare for a broader scope of nursing practice. Often, they can find an entry-level position and then take advantage of tuition reimbursement benefits to work toward a BSN by completing an RN-to-BSN program. In 2006, there were 629 RN-to-BSN programs in the United States. Accelerated master’s degree in nursing (MSN) programs also are available by combining 1 year of an accelerated BSN program with 2 years of graduate study. In 2006, there were 149 RN-to-MSN programs.
Accelerated BSN programs also are available for individuals who have a bachelor’s or higher degree in another field and who are interested in moving into nursing. In 2006, 197 of these programs were available. Accelerated BSN programs last 12 to 18 months and provide the fastest route to a BSN for individuals who already hold a degree. MSN programs also are available for individuals who hold a bachelor’s or higher degree in another field.
Individuals considering nursing should carefully weigh the advantages and disadvantages of enrolling in a BSN or MSN program because, if they do, their advancement opportunities usually are broader. In fact, some career paths are open only to nurses with a bachelor’s or master’s degree. A bachelor’s degree often is necessary for administrative positions and is a prerequisite for admission to graduate nursing programs in research, consulting, and teaching, and all four advanced practice nursing specialties—clinical nurse specialists, nurse anesthetists, nurse-midwives, and nurse practitioners. Individuals who complete a bachelor’s receive more training in areas such as communication, leadership, and critical thinking, all of which are becoming more important as nursing care becomes more complex. Additionally, bachelor’s degree programs offer more clinical experience in nonhospital settings. Education beyond a bachelor’s degree can also help students looking to enter certain fields or increase advancement opportunities. In 2006, 448 nursing schools offered master’s degrees, 108 offered doctoral degrees, and 58 offered accelerated BSN-to-doctoral programs.
All four advanced practice nursing specialties require at least a master’s degree. Most programs include about 2 years of full-time study and require a BSN degree for entry; some programs require at least 1 to 2 years of clinical experience as an RN for admission. In 2006, there were 342 master’s and post-master’s programs offered for nurse practitioners, 230 master’s and post-master’s programs for clinical nurse specialists, 106 programs for nurse anesthetists, and 39 programs for nurse-midwives.
All nursing education programs include classroom instruction and supervised clinical experience in hospitals and other health care facilities. Students take courses in anatomy, physiology, microbiology, chemistry, nutrition, psychology and other behavioral sciences, and nursing. Coursework also includes the liberal arts for ADN and BSN students.
Supervised clinical experience is provided in hospital departments such as pediatrics, psychiatry, maternity, and surgery. A growing number of programs include clinical experience in nursing care facilities, public health departments, home health agencies, and ambulatory clinics. Medical Scrubs Collection
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Nursing Scrubs…………………..a blend of aesthetic and utility
Nursing scrubs or medical scrubs originated as a white cotton wrap, worn by surgeons and nurses. It might sound unbelievable, but until the end of 19th century, surgeons performed surgeries in the open and to avoid the blood stain they just wore an apron around. Not surprisingly, there were post surgery infections.From there it changed to a pale green color, a color that was good for the eyes and also hid the blood stains.With times nursing scrubs has changed a lot. Now we can find nursing scrubs in as many colors and design that we can think of. They are now designed for people’s comfort and style. Nursing scrub is not all about utility today. A lot of things are taken into consideration while design a nursing scrub. It has to allow the wearer enough space, while look beautiful at the same time. It has to create a perfect blend of function and fashion. The nursing scrub is also designed keeping in view the wearer’s taste in fashion and her want for quality in her scrub, and most importantly the fitting. Whether petite or plus size a designer has to take these things into account. The importance of scrub lies in maintaining hygiene and cleanliness, and for this scrubs are made of material with qualities that absorbs the sweat and the smell of the place. Keeps the wearer refreshed. Medical uniforms are worn in an environment which is clean and free of germs, hence the term ‘scrub’. From a long dress with an apron , the scrub has come a long way to include, drawstring pants, trousers, shirts and hip, flips and trendy shirts, that looks good and yet professional. Scrubs are to be worn within the hospital premise only, but some people don’t mind it outside as well. The scrubs is cleaned and disinfected in the hospital facility.While choosing a scrub whether a fashionable one or the standard white one, great care should be given. Some institutions and work place require you to stick to certain dress codes, like some private doctors and dentist want their staff to go for the same colors; you should follow the mandated requirement. However if you are free to choose then there are a lot variety available in the market, that offers latest trends and fashions, with colors that are both conservative and new, printed and even bright patterns.The designer brands of scrub market are Cherokee, Landau, Urbane scrubs, Dickies and a few more. They keep on bringing out their latest designs and hence keep the scrubs trendy. For the fans of the character Izzy there is The Katherine Heigl collection, to choose from. Others favorites in the list include the nursing scrubs with motosport themes, the nursing scrubs with fun and color, hip flip scrub with top and flexible panel. Today, medical profession has become trendy, and the wearer conscious of his clothes and his looks. Doctors and nurses, has begun to wear their personality at work, which is good in a way, given the advancement in medical science, we wouldn’t want to them to stay behind. Medical Scrubs Collection offers a full selection of medical scrubs at discounted prices so if you are looking for cheap medicals scrubs they are the place to go. From Cherokee scrubs to Dickies Scrubs to Grey's Anatomy Scrubs they are your scrub store.
Nursing Scrubs I remember the days when I was a kid, I was often sick. Hence I had to visit the hospital a number of times with my Mum. Sometimes …despite being sick, I would act fine, so that I could avoid going to hospital. As a kid I thought that place looked creepy. I wondered how the Doctor, the nurse and the people who worked there could actually work in such a gloomy place. No matter how hard Mum explained, I never liked going there, even if it was for a while. Now I take my daughter to a hospital when she is sick. But, I find her a lot happy when she is there. And this tells me the change that has come in the atmosphere that once I feared. Those places seem to have got complete change. The Doctors and the nurses look a lot pleasing now. The other staff members also look happy and satisfied. The patients too look relaxed. I wonder what change is this. The one thing that catches my eyes is the scrubs they were. I had found ‘that’ dress of my nurse very boring. Nursing scrubs are better and beautiful today. They are comfortable and seems like were made rightly for the wearer. No longer is the white or the green, the only color, pink, blue red , orange, plum, sage, salsa and whole lot of new colors, as I can see has come to be replace the nurse’s dress. The vibrant colors make me feel relieved. The quality too looks good; the design looks nice on who ever wears it, The shoes too are no longer white. I see a lot beautiful and comfortable shoes. The medical uniforms look a lot exciting ………………. I guess, the luxury of comfort and flexibility, add to it, the satisfaction of one’s taste in designs and styles, is what makes this place full of liveliness. I am told that they get their scrubs from famous medical clothing lines, like the Dickies, Landau, Cherokee, Baby Phat Scrub, Urbane S, and a few others. They tell me that they are comfortable and happy in it. And I can only wish my nurses too had worn these.
Today nurses need not wear ‘that’ dull and boring dress that was either in white or in pale green, they have a lot of choices, to look beautiful and relaxed. No one would have thought that dressing in this field would have been so exciting.
Clothing lines like the Dickies, Urbane S, Landau, Cherokee and others, come out with new and innovative designs, they get to choose from a collection of wide variety of combinations. They get offered with style and prints for every season. They choose as they desire.
Scrubs are the shirts and trousers or gowns worn by nurses, surgeons, and other operating room personnel when "scrubbing in" for surgery. They are designed to be simple with minimal places for dirt to hide, easy to launder, and cheap to replace if damaged or stained irreparably. The wearing of scrubs has been extended outside of surgery in many hospitals. Originally issued as replacement clothing if street clothing was contaminated, scrubs are now worn by any hospital personnel in any clean environment. The spread of Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) has increased the necessity and usage of scrubs. They have also been mandated in some American prisons as a prison uniform. The television show Scrubs is named for the medical garments worn by hospital personnel.
Medical uniforms, particularly for nurses, used to be subject to very rigid standards. It’s difficult to forget the fitted white dresses and white hats of nurses in past years. More recently, however, most nurses and doctors tend to wear scrubs. Scrubs are a pair of cotton or cotton/polyester pants with a drawstring, accompanied by a short sleeved, v-neck top of the same material.
Occasionally medical uniforms still include the white coat indicating one is a doctor, or nurse practitioner (NP). In teaching hospitals, length of the coat may indicate whether one is speaking to a licensed doctor, nurse practitioner, or intern. Usually a longer coat means one is more highly trained, though this may vary in different hospitals.
Often, white coats make up the medical uniforms worn by various trained professionals like radiologists or sonographers. The white coat is meant to protect ordinary street clothes that are most often worn by those not having all day, close contact with patients.
In general, if a doctor, NP or intern is not wearing scrubs, they do not wear medical uniforms but do adhere to a dress code. Ordinarily, those not wearing scrubs will wear what might be termed business casual: slacks, button down shirt, and a tie. Female workers may wear a blouse and slacks or skirt, or a dress.
Hospitals may make specific recommendations for medical uniforms, but generally the most important part of medical uniforms is not the clothing one wears but one’s badge, indicating a person is an employee of the hospital. Not wearing a badge is considered a serious offense, since in the past those impersonating hospital personnel have stolen medication, hurt patients, and on very rare occasions have attempted to take babies. If one is hospitalized and sees an employee not wearing a badge, one should request to see it before allowing any medical procedures.
Scrubs became the popular choice in medical uniforms because most doctors and nurses work exceptionally long hours, and should have access to comfortable clothing. Surgeons and surgical nurses always wear scrubs when in operating rooms. They also may need to quickly change if they are exposed to blood, or other bodily fluids. Early scrubs tended to be either green or light blue. Nurses often wore a more feminine color like peach or pink.
Mix by gentle inversion. Blue- and red-top tubes are inverted four times after collection, and the others are inverted eight times.
While collection tubes contain substances to optimize laboratory testing, blood is still living tissue. A blood sample represents the patient's active metabolism at time of collection, essentially different from a culture swab designed to collect foreign organisms.
Guidelines for stability of blood samples
Blood samples ultimately degrade. Blood cells consume glucose, build up waste products, and die. White cells phagocytize foreign particles and bacterial skin contaminants. Anticoagulants, being salts, can cause osmotic changes within cells, modifying their shape. Conditions too hot or too cold can rupture cells or destroy plasma proteins. Exposure to air contaminates a sample with atmospheric carbon dioxide, making it more acidic.
Improper handling and storage can accelerate natural changes, but in time, all blood samples become useless for testing purposes.
Stability guidelines are written for the most-common sample types, but these will vary depending on what tests are needed. Separating the cells from the liquid portion of the sample helps. An inexpensive centrifuge can be used. If tubes contain a gel separator, once spun, the serum or plasma is effectively preserved and viable much longer. Keeping samples in an insulated cooler also helps.
Your referral laboratory can give you precise guidelines. The quicker samples are delivered, the better, and it's best to plan around the least-viable sample. A freshly collected sample is best, but that isn't an option for a home health nurse on the road. A sample needs to be analyzed before changes have occurred that affect results.
Rule of thumb: Keep tubes capped, and deliver to the laboratory within two hours.
While not strictly a preanalytical variable, patient condition can affect the interpretation of test results. Glucose and lipid testing, for example, require the patient fast eight to 12 hours. But many values change throughout the day, and laboratory reference ranges reflect optimal or specific conditions. Cortisol and hemoglobin are two of many tests showing diurnal van. Greys Anatomy Scrubs and Cherokee Scrubs are