Teaching Guidelines for the Nurse Caring for the Pediatric Thyroid Cancer Patient Receiving Radioactive Iodine Treatment (I-131)

Abstract

improvement, including holding the specimens on ice until the conclusion of the test, rapid "pull rate" while obtaining specimens, and forceful transfer of specimens to tubes. Once the focus for improvement was defined, education of the staff on proper specimen collection and handling techniques was done. Every specimen was scrutinized for hemolysis. We partnered with the experts in our lab to evaluate our performance. Feedback was received each week for six weeks. At the end of this time, it was determined that our new process dramatically reduced hemolysis. Although it is not possible to completely avoid hemolysis, we now see hemolysis on only rare occasions. Clinical Implications: The quality of specimens can be improved with education of staff in the practice of specimen collection and handling. Minimizing hemolysis can lead to more accurate and valid results, better use of health care dollars with fewer redraws and retesting for rejected specimens, better service for our patients by minimizing the need to redraw specimens, and providing valid specimens for accurate and reliable diagnosis of endocrine conditions.