Which of the following is a recommended venipuncture practice?

• A. Leave the gauze and tape off after 15 minutes
• B. Use a butterfly needle when drawing patients that have small or fragile veins or when drawing from the hand
• C. Place the tourniquet after selecting the tube
• D. Do not disinfect the site

Answer: (B)

The main idea is choosing the needle type based on the vein condition. A butterfly needle is recommended when veins are small, fragile, or when drawing from the hand because its design gives you better control and gentler access. The winged setup is easier to stabilize and insert into delicate veins, reduces vein trauma and bruising, and often makes difficult or painful draws more successful. This is why it’s the best choice in those scenarios.

Leaving gauze and tape on for 15 minutes isn’t standard practice because you should apply pressure until bleeding stops and then cover the site with a bandage. The tourniquet should be applied before locating and puncturing the vein to help dilate it, not after selecting the tubes. And disinfecting the site with an antiseptic is essential to reduce infection risk, so not disinfecting isn’t appropriate.