Quote Originally Posted by lo123 View Post
Definitely not law... when I was in the hospital last year, I had one nurse try 4 times before calling in someone else. My mom was stuck 9 times recently...

Most phlebotomists/nurses I've had will either try 3 times or 2 and have someone else try the third. Was at my GP's office yesterday and she has a new phlebotomist--yay! the old one refused to even try last time I was there. Said she wouldn't try and that I had to go to the hospital (30 minutes away) to get blood work done.
My rule for IVs is three tries--if I don't get it in by the third stick, it's time to get someone else. I think that's pretty standard--not law, but a generally accepted guideline to avoid making our patients feel too much like human pincushions.