What is a Phlebotomist?
A phlebotomist is someone who is well trained in the skill of taking or drawing blood from living people or animals in a clinical environment. By using venipuncture, which is the process of making an incision in the vein to draw blood, phlebotomy personnel can collect blood samples for the purposes of research, testing, donations, or transfusions.
A phlebotomist works under the supervision of a medical laboratory scientist. Some countries, states or provinces require the certification or licensing of all their phlebotomy personnel before they can enter the workforce. They are an essential part of a successfully-run lab facility, and are some of the first people that patients will see when entering a clinical lab for testing.
What does a Phlebotomist do?
The phlebotomist tests and analyzes the blood samples they have collected using sophisticated laboratory equipment. Phlebotomists must also have excellent attention to detail. Making sure that each test sample is labeled correctly is extremely vital if the right test is to be performed on the patient’s blood. This becomes even more crucial if the patient is being tested for a life-threatening disease or virus.
The hazardous nature of dealing with blood means all phlebotomy personnel must strictly and constantly adhere to all laboratory safety procedures as mandated by the company and OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration). They must see to it that the lab area designated for phlebotomy is well cleaned and sanitized after each patient leaves to prevent the spread of diseases.
Phlebotomists draw blood from arteries and veins in order to get samples. An often understated part of a phlebotomist's job is their duty to make the blood drawing experience as pleasant as possible, from making the needle incision relatively pain free, to calming down people who are afraid of needles. Without this skill anyone practicing phlebotomy would have a difficult, if not impossible time trying to do their job with any proficiency.
Phlebotomists must have excellent dexterity, while staying calm and working effectively under pressure. They may encounter thirty or more patients in a day, each with different reasons for having their blood drawn. If the phlebotomist is not focused on what they are doing while staying calm amidst the possible irritability of some patients, not only can the wrong test be done on a patient’s blood due to wrong labelling, but the test samples may also get cross-contaminated due to lack of concentration. Cross-contamination occurs when two or more blood samples interact unintentionally with each other.
Phlebotomists must not only be good communicators, but also good listeners. Being able to listen and adjust to the needs and desires of the patient could be the difference between a stress-free patient visit and a stressful one. All phlebotomists today must be able to work with computers and other high-tech lab equipment.
What is the workplace of a Phlebotomist like?
Phlebotomists generally work in a clinical setting in a variety of places. Blood banks, physicians offices, home health agencies, hospitals, clinics, research institutes, commercial laboratories, pharmaceutical firms and public health facilities are the places one would typically find work as a phlebotomist. Public health facilities are usually very busy and understaffed, making that environment very stressful to work in. Work times can vary, especially in hospitals and 24 hour clinics, however in most other facilities a phlebotomist can expect work hours to be between 7am to 7pm during weekdays and varying hours on weekends.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to become a Phlebotomist?
The process of becoming a phlebotomist can take a year or less to complete, depending on the specific education program and whether the state requires licensure.
Should I become a Phlebotomist?
Anyone wanting to become a phlebotomist should consider these required skills and traits:
Comfortable working with needles and blood While it is acceptable for patients to have blood and needle phobias, it is of course not acceptable for phlebotomists!
Dexterity and coordination Excellent hand-eye coordination and precision are imperative in this job of inserting a needle into a vein and handling sensitive equipment.
Eye for detail Not only do phlebotomists need to be able to draw blood, they must draw the right amount of blood, label the sample correctly, and enter accurate information into the database. If any of these responsibilities are not properly carried out, potentially dire results can occur.
Communication and compassion The best phlebotomists are understanding of patients who are scared of the blood drawing procedure. They take pride in their compassion and capacity to allay patients’ anxiety and fear.
Physical stamina Phlebotomists are often on their feet for long hours.
Discipline Due to the nature of the work, the phlebotomist’s workplace must always be meticulously organized and perfectly clean.
Comfortable using technology Phlebotomists use complex machinery to test blood.
If you can see yourself working as a phlebotomist, here are more reasons to enter the field:
• Flexible learning paths; training programs that suit different schedules • Fast training programs relative to those for other healthcare roles • Affordable training programs • Secure job market • Respectable pay for an entry-level position • Opportunities to work with a wide variety of medical staff; to gain exposure to a wide variety of healthcare professions; and to perhaps be inspired to pursue a career in another healthcare sector • You may just help save a life in a medical emergency
What are Phlebotomists like?
Based on our pool of users, Phlebotomists tend to be predominately investigative people. This should come as no surprise, considering that drawing blood via a procedure known as venipuncture is precise work that demands careful and systematic investigation.
Steps to becoming a Phlebotomist
Prospective phlebotomists need to graduate from high school with a respectable GPA; complete an accredited phlebotomy training program; fulfill any local licensing requirements; and ideally, become certified in the profession.
Phlebotomists are also known as:
Registered Phlebotomist
Certified Phlebotomist