A phlebotomist is someone who is qualified in the health industry, practicing next to other medical related professionals such as doctors and assistants after they have advanced through a certified phlebotomy training course. They have a number of different tasks to fulfil in their day to day work, and generally perform these tasks in medical settings such as hospitals (both private and public) and other health centers. Phlebotomists may also be referred to as Phlebotomy Technologists or Phlebotomy Technicians, as they fall into the same category of worker as other medical assistants in the workplace. The field of phlebotomy is vast, with hundreds of thousands of phlebotomists throughout the world.
The Tasks A Phlebotomist Performs
As mentioned before, phlebotomists have a number of different tasks to perform; their main task is to take samples of blood from people and to either analyse this sample or perform a blood transfusion. Venipuncture is the term given to the process of blood withdrawl. Other roles of a phlebotomist include the clear labelling and safe storage of the blood that has been drawn. This is an equally important part of the job, as if it isn’t done correctly, a patient’s results could be very misleading. They also have a number of smaller responsibilities on top of venipuncture and labeling and storage.
Risky And Safety As A Phlebotomist
As with most medical-related professions, phlebotomists are exposed to a numer of different illnesses that have the potential to be transferred, and so extreme safety and precaution must be observed at all times. To prevent
themselves from contracting any illnesses from patients and to maintain proper hygiene, phlebotomists must wear gloves, masks and other coverings of the body. Similarly, they must also ensure that all equipment that they use is completely sterile and disposed of in the correct manner. These safety and hygiene standards are taught to phlebotomists in their certification classes. There are a number of different organisations where an individual can go to achieve phlebotomy certification located throughout America. With that said, in a number of states certification is not actually required in order to professionally practice as a phlebotomist.
Phlebotomists don’t just deal with people of 1 age group; they deal with virtually everyone, whether you are still a kid or in the later stages of life. No matter what your age, it is natural to feel some nervousness when you’re faced with the prospect of having your blood drawn. Therefore, it is the responsibility of the phlebotomist to help ease the nerve of the patient and help them stay calm throughout the course of the venipuncture procedure. For this reason, people who have good communication skills and who are easy to get along with end up making good phlebotomists.
A Day In The Life
Phlebotomy can take it’s toll on you, both physically and mentally. Therefore, a phlebotomist will generally work a standard work week, although this may be split up into shifts of varying durations. As I said, it can be a difficult job mentally, and this is because you have to deal with a lot of different people which can certainly present a challenge. Also, it’s not a job for the faint of heart; ideally, phlebotomists shouldn’t fear blood. Renumeration wise, the average phlebotomist salary isn’t overly high; however, with that said it is a stable career with good growth opportunities for the future.
To become a phlebotomist, there are a number of steps which must be followed. High school graduation is a must, so if that is incomplete I recommend changing that. Secondly, it is advisable to undertake some form of phlebotomy training program, as they will teach you the basics of both drawing blood and being in the medical pathway as well as teaching you vital interpersonal skills. These training classes can be taken at most locations worldwide. Thirdly, if you so feel that way, it may be a good idea to obtain your official phlebotomy certification, just to give you a bit of extra credibility and knowledge going into your phlebotomy job.