Phlebotomy is a medical profession that is growing more and more popular. You can get a phlebotomy certification and become part of the medical community. If you are interested to develop such a career within the medical environment, it is important to understand what is the job scope you can expect.
- The main duty of a phlebotomist is venipuncture. more specifically, this means draw a blood sample from a patient. In order to do so, a needle is inserted into a vein and then the blood is extracted in order to perform tests or for donation purposes.
- Equipment preparation. Before starting the actual work, a phlebotomist needs to ensure that all the instruments he or she works with are sterile and in proper condition to be used. You may think about needles only, but there are a number of supplies that are used during the process: bandages, gauze, collection devices and so on.
- Blood or Tissue Samples Collection. As mentioned, a phlebotomist needs to manage the blood or tissue samples collection process. This involves finding a suitable vein (usually the median cubital one) and drawing the blood in a smooth and precise way.
- In some hospitals, the phlebotomist is also expected to perform urine collection and tests such as EKG, i.e. electrocardiography, when needed.
- Patient Management. As many people fear needles or the whole procedure, a phlebotomist needs to know how to calm down and reassure such patients. During the blood draw the patient needs to stay still and the phlebotomist needs to monitor the patient also to make sure he or she doesn’t faint.
- Blood Samples Labeling. Phlebotomists also have a big responsibility in labeling blood samples correctly. A failure to do so can lead to incorrect lab results and the need for the whole blood drawing operation to be performed again. If the error is not discovered it can lead to wrong diagnostics, which can have serious consequences.
- Sending The Samples to Laboratories. A phlebotomist is expected to be very thorough and organized in sending the samples labeled and documented properly to the laboratory. This ensures that the process runs smoothly, as many labs process large amounts of blood samples per day.
To note, via the nature of their daily activity, phlebotomists are exposed to blood borne disease, so it is of critical importance to manage the whole process in the right way, for both their own safety and for the one of the people who might be accidentally exposed to the collected samples.
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