Susan, a medical assistant, is having trouble finding a venipuncture site on the left arm of her patient, Gabel. Susan has thoroughly assessed and palpated the antecubital veins, including the bigger median cubital vein, but still has not had success. Gabel does not want Susan to draw blood from her right arm.

• What techniques are available to Susan to make the veins on Gabel’s left arm more prominent?

• What would you say to Gabel to help calm her for the procedure?