Sally Ann is a medical assistant at the local clinic. She has been employed by the clinic for 3 years. She
attends annual trainings and participates in required continuing education units yearly as required by her
certification. Sally Ann has been partying hard all week because she is turning 21 years old. On the Monday
after arriving at work, she sees on the schedule she will be working in the lab. She puts her personal items
away and goes directly to the lab where Ms. Austin has been waiting to have her blood drawn. Sally Ann
places the tourniquet on the patient to palpate for the vein. She feels a good basilic and median vein. She
picks the basilic. Ms. Austin tells Sally Ann she prefers the other arm, which usually is great for blood draws.
Sally Ann tells Ms. Austin the vein she found is fine and proceeds. Sally Ann turns around to get an alcohol
swab to wipe the area but doesn't find one. She tells Ms. Austin she will be right back because the lab wasn't
stocked up. When Sally Ann returns 3 mins later, Ms. Austin has passed out and her arm is puffy.
3. Answer the follow questions about the scenario:
a. List all the errors made by Sally Ann.
b. Why is the patient's arm puffy?
c. What should Sally Ann do to help the patient?
d. What repercussions (if any) should Sally Ann face based on your identification of errors in
question a?