A complete list of the clinical skills is listed in the Student Skills and Activity Logbook. Students are encouraged to complete these skills throughout their surgical clerkship. The individual observing the skill should sign the logbook. Asking for help in these situations is a positive reflection on the student. The schedule for the clinical skills instruction session is distributed in hard copy.
Attendance is mandatory.
Specific Skills Arterial puncture for ABG Check patient's history and clotting studies, if any, for risk of bleeding. Most institutions have prepackaged arterial blood gas kits and additional heparin is not necessary. Locate the maximal pulsation of the radial pulse. Cleanse the puncture site. Insert needle of syringe at a 45 o - 90 o angle directly into the artery.