How to persuade a child to take a blood test

barbiedoll

My son (15) had to have blood tests recently. When he found out, the first thing that he said was "No way, I'm not having my blood taken"

I immediately told him that he was, whether he liked it or not. (Probably won't be getting any "Parent of the Year" awards but whatever..) He asked me if it hurt and how many bottles would be taken. I'm a phlebotomist myself so I told him that, yes, it would probably hurt a little and that he would need up to 5 bottles taken out. I then told him that each bottle takes less than a teaspoon of blood and that as he appeared to have very good veins, there shouldn't be any problems.

He went with his dad, he "manned up" and he was full of himself when I got home, saying how he had 6 bottles taken and that it "bloody hurt" but he even managed to watch the blood coming out, although he couldn't look when the needle was going in.

(Apparently, when he asked his dad how much it hurt, his dad told him "It hurts more than stubbing your toe but less than a kick in the b*****ks") :rotfl:

Person_one

victory wrote: »

Venous blood is from the arm?

Venous blood is from veins, as opposed to arterial blood which comes from arteries.

The blood from the finger !!!!! tests is capillary blood.

victory

Person_one wrote: »

Venous blood is from veins, as opposed to arterial blood which comes from arteries.

The blood from the finger !!!!! tests is capillary blood.

Oh my, I know nothing:D

victory

barbiedoll wrote: »

My son (15) had to have blood tests recently. When he found out, the first thing that he said was "No way, I'm not having my blood taken"

I immediately told him that he was, whether he liked it or not. (Probably won't be getting any "Parent of the Year" awards but whatever..) He asked me if it hurt and how many bottles would be taken. I'm a phlebotomist myself so I told him that, yes, it would probably hurt a little and that he would need up to 5 bottles taken out. I then told him that each bottle takes less than a teaspoon of blood and that as he appeared to have very good veins, there shouldn't be any problems.

He went with his dad, he "manned up" and he was full of himself when I got home, saying how he had 6 bottles taken and that it "bloody hurt" but he even managed to watch the blood coming out, although he couldn't look when the needle was going in.

(Apparently, when he asked his dad how much it hurt, his dad told him "It hurts more than stubbing your toe but less than a kick in the b*****ks") :rotfl:

It really isn't about the pain:D and it's not a case of 'whether you like it or not; as that is not working....

itsanne

barbiedoll wrote: »

I immediately told him that he was, whether he liked it or not. :rotfl:

As Victory's son has already refused, whoever is taking his blood will be very careful to make sure that he is actually consenting. As a phlebotomist you'll be aware of the legal implications of not doing so. To force it is classed as assault.

mountainofdebt

tbh if he's not telling why he won't have the test then you might as well save your breath to cool your porridge.

Mind you how times have changed - I know at 13 if my mum & medical staff felt that I should have a blood test then I had it and there was no discussion

Tixy

Just a thought - could he be worried about something else altogether? Maybe he has had a drink or smoked some cigs with friends in the last few days and is worried he'll be found out if he has a blood test? A kid's mind might work like that if they hear of athletes being tested for drugs by blood tests.

It could be totally wide of the mark of course not knowing your child but if there was a chance of that maybe in a week or so he'd be happy to have the test?

Nick_C

How ridiculous that finger !!!!! gets censored.

balletshoes

mountainofdebt wrote: »

tbh if he's not telling why he won't have the test then you might as well save your breath to cool your porridge.

Mind you how times have changed - I know at 13 if my mum & medical staff felt that I should have a blood test then I had it and there was no discussion

i agree - on both counts. he's not for telling you why he doesn't want to have blood taken, and until he does, you're wasting your breath trying to get him to do it.

I can't imagine your scenario with my DD and I victory, but you never know, she might surprise me. If she was poorly enough to be going to the doctor, I'm pretty sure at age 13 she'd accept that if the doctor said a routine blood test was in order, she'd have it done.

Kaz2904

The reason a 13 year old is able to give or decline to give consent is something called "Gillick competence". If the health professional has explained the procedure and the need and is satisfied that the person understands the reasons for the tests etc then they are capable of declining to consent.

Victory; I don't think you can persuade him to do it. He needs to come to the decision to have it by himself. The only thing that you as his parents can do is to support him and do your best to answer any of his questions.

My DD broke her arm last year and when she got to the hospital they needed to cannulate her. The Dr offered her some cream to make it numb and I said to her "Just get it done so you can get the morphine, that's what you really need and the cream takes ages and doesn't work that well.". DD then asked me if it would hurt and I said it would be like a bee sting but would be far quicker getting her pain relief. She weighed it up and decided to have it done.
About half an hour later I then had to bribe her £5 to have more entonox (against my better judgement). DD trusted my answer because I'm a nurse and I don't lie to her if things will hurt. But I won't tolerate her mucking around either and will tell her to man up if she's being stupid.

I don't think your son is needing to be told to man up or needs to be forced into the blood test or anything. He may or may not come round but if they don't really know what they are looking for, I can empathise with him for not wanting the test.