Different medical conditions require blood testing to address various health problems. Most of the time this job is done by laboratory staff. They collect your blood to test and diagnose different health complications and ensure smooth treatment procedures. But you may not know which medical professional takes your blood for diagnosis and how. Here comes the role of phlebotomists. Because not all the laboratory staff can perform these tasks as efficiently as some experts in this field. So,if you are wondering what phlebotomy is and what does a phlebotomist actually do, you are at the right place. Let’s dig into the details for your better understanding.
What is Phlebotomy?
A phlebotomy refers to the medical procedure in which a needle is inserted to take blood from a vein as prescribed by the doctors for medical testing. This can also involve the removal of extra blood cells or excessive iron from the body. To your surprise, this procedure is also known as “Bloodletting.”
Usually, this blood is sent to laboratories for further testing procedures to diagnose a health problem. Besides this, phlebotomy also helps you in choosing the right treatment for certain types of health conditions. Mostly this method is used to treat conditions beyond your understanding. These include :
- Hemochromatosis
- Polycythemia vera
- Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
- Porphyria cutanea tarda
- Sickle cell disease
What is a Phlebotomist?
The phlebotomist is a medical professional who safely withdraws the blood using needles and prepares samples for further laboratory procedures. As a trained professional, you also collect blood for research purposes, transfusions and donations. Moreover, being an integral part of the healthcare system, you also provide support to patients who suffer from needle anxiety.
Along with this, you monitor health concerns by working closely with other medical professionals. Hence, a phlebotomist plays a crucial role in saving lives with the right diagnosis and helping other medical professionals.
Phlebotomists Vs Phlebotomist Technicians
You might be wondering if phlebotomists and phlebotomist technicians are the same or not. But you will be amazed to know that both are the same and terms are also often used interchangeably. No matter which term you choose, you are trained to withdraw blood samples from patients for various purposes. So, in both cases, your job is the same.
What does a Phlebotomist actually do?
Now you might have an idea about the role of phlebotomists but there are more responsibilities than you think. As a member of the healthcare team, you are assigned various other tasks to help provide patient-centred care to the people. Here are some main responsibilities of phlebotomists that you should know :
Blood Collection
As a medical professional, your primary job is to collect the blood from the veins of patients using the right procedure. These procedures might include venipuncture (blood from veins), finger pricks, heel pricks (for infants) or other blood withdrawal methods.
Moreover, your skills and proper use of equipment add more to phlebotomy professionalism in healthcare settings. Also, ensure the safety protocols during the procedure to avoid injuries and other mishaps. Not only this, but sample preparation for analysis is also your responsibility to help provide the best treatment.
Prepare and Handle Equipment
Do you know what the phlebotomists do before starting the procedure? It’s the preparation of equipment to avoid unnecessary hustle during application. So, put aside all the tools and chemicals that you will use to start the blood collection. Consider these steps to perform your phlebotomy procedure effectively after identifying the patients :
- Use sterile needles to withdraw blood.
- Clean the skin with an alcohol swab to remove harmful bacteria.
- Apply the tourniquet which is the flexible bandage.
- Locate the vein correctly.
- Utilise the correctly coloured tubes to ensure the right diagnosis.
- Dispose of the equipment after completing the blood collection procedure.
- Lastly, label the samples accurately to avoid mixing with other chemicals.
Ensure Patient Comfort
Most people become afraid when they encounter blood collection procedures. It’s mainly because they have needle anxiety. According to the British Heart Foundation, 1 in 10 people suffer from needle phobia in the UK. Here comes your role to offer comfort and support to such patients with skills that you learn during phlebotomy training. As a medical expert, ensure that the patient feels at ease when undergoing the procedure. In short, address their concerns in the best way and offer reassurance for a smooth and empathetic patient experience.
Verify the Patient’s Information
People who take blood from patients, work in various healthcare settings. Whether it’s hospitals, clinics, laboratories, or doctor’s offices, it’s your job to verify the patient’s information because incorrect information and labelling can lead to chaos. According to the NIH study, errors like patient identification and improper labelling result in certain complications. So, before starting the required procedure, verify the patient’s name and date of birth. Moreover, label the type of blood test on samples to avoid devastating results.
Send the Samples
Sample collection isn’t the end of your duty but it requires further testing to start the right treatment. So, as a phlebotomist technician, you are responsible for sending the sample for more analysis. Some samples may stay in tubes for a few hours or have to be kept on ice. Therefore, make the preps accordingly to safely send the collected blood for other procedures to laboratories or blood centres.
Maintain Records
Maintaining patient records is essential in almost all healthcare facilities. In addition to performing the main role, keeping the patient’s medical records also comes under your responsibilities. As a medical professional, track your patient’s data and medical history before and after the blood collection to help other professionals provide the best care. It would be incredible to also maintain the sample labelling and records to avoid potential health risks.
Where do Phlebotomists Work?
As a professional member of the medical industry, you can work in any care facility. Phlebotomy jobs are available in every healthcare setting. These include :
- Hospitals and Medical Facilities: In hospitals and medical facilities, you can work closely with physicians and other medical experts. Here your duty extends beyond blood collection to labelling and documentation of blood samples. You will play a crucial role in providing the diagnostic information and the right treatment.
- Blood Donation Centers: In blood centres, your job revolves around blood donating procedures and storage. You may either travel to different locations or establish mobile donation centres to facilitate blood donation procedures. Moreover, you assist and support the donors, register them, and collect and secure the storage of blood.
Besides this, you can also work in nursing homes, assisted living facilities and community healthcare settings.
How to Become a Phlebotomist?
Careers that involve helping others to improve their lives are the most rewarding ones. Not only do they provide job satisfaction but also leave a positive impact on society. The best thing? Phlebotomy is one of them. Just like all other fields, phlebotomists are in high demand from emergency wards to outpatients across the UK according to sources. If you also want to become a professional phlebotomist, you should complete the following steps.
Education
Complete your basic education with a high school diploma or its equivalent qualification and build a solid foundation to enter into a phlebotomy career.
Accredited Phlebotomy Programs
You can opt for various accredited programs that offer both knowledge, instructions and hands-on phlebotomy training. They equip you with blood collection techniques and safety precautions. But where do you find these programs? Different technical and vocational schools, special training institutes or online platforms are now offering the accredited phlebotomy programs.
Certifications
With knowledge and skills, certifications increase your credibility and provide proof of your professional excellence. So, upon successful completion of the course programs, get your phlebotomy certificate immediately. The certified courses ensure that you get the essential knowledge and expertise to step into the professional field of phlebotomy.
Skills for Professional Phlebotomists
You may know that expertise is required in almost every field. The same is the case in phlebotomy where you need to gain two essential skills to enter this healthcare industry. Wondering which two skills are important for phlebotomists? The answer is your technical proficiency and interpersonal skills. Let’s see what these are.
Technical Proficiency
As a medical expert, you require a high level of technical proficiency in your field. For your efficient and accurate performance, you should have:
- Excellent motor skills.
- Capabilities to manage difficult or emotional patients.
- Keen observation and attention to detail.
- Knowledge about diet and blood sugar levels.
- Expertise in sample handling and storage.
- Prioritise safety measures during the blood collection procedure.
Interpersonal Skills
As far as your interpersonal skills are concerned, you should have the ability to communicate with patients and health professionals effectively. Besides this, as a phlebotomist, you should possess:
- Empathy to comfort patients for a smooth practice.
- Ability to gain the trust of colleagues and patients in a positive environment.
- Tendency to contribute to collaborative work with other experts.
- Moreover, a passion for providing the best care to your clients.
Conclusion
In conclusion, just like all other health professionals, a phlebotomist’s job is sample collection, ensuring patient comfort, labelling and sample preparation for more analysis. You can also set on this path by completing the required education, certifications, and acquiring expertise from reputable resources.
