Arterial blood gas question? do they stick you for it?

Yes: As the name implies, an arterial blood gas is when they check your gas levels (oxygen and carbon dioxide) from the blood in your arteries. Therefore, you must be stuck with a needle in your artery (usually the radial artery for an adult). The only time you wouldn't be stuck for it is if you already have a special IV line (arterial line) in place - but then you're most likely in the icu.