Phlebotomists are healthcare assistants who collect blood from patients for examinations in laboratories, for diagnostic testing and monitoring. They are people who are trained to draw blood from the patient for clinical or medical testing, transfusions, donations or research. They collect blood by performing venepunctures. Phlebotomists are usually expected to work around 37.5 hours a week and they can earn from £14,294 to £17,425 a year.
They are responsible for taking blood without harming the patient and would also need to ensure that the blood is taken correctly, so that it is left untouched during collection, so that the test results wouldn’t turn out to be unobtainable and wrong. Some patients may be nervous, particularly children who have never experienced the process before, so they must be able to get along with a wide variety of people since their patients would be from different age groups and background. As a phlebotomy, before the blood sample is taken, they would need to explain the procedure to the patient and if patients are nervous or distressed, they should be able to put empathy and put the patients at ease, to calm them and distract them from the procedure. Phlebotomists would need to have the ability to work calmly with no pressure as the patient is at risk. Also, whilst starting to take blood from the patient, they would need to insert a hypodermic needle into the vein and draw off the blood into a tube, then apply a dressing to the puncture made by the needle, and then label the blood sample. After this, they should deliver the sample to the correct laboratory within required timescales. Lastly, they would need to complete the patients’ records and enter the data on a computer. It is important that the test tubes are delivered safely to the lab, as the results of the tests are an important way for diagnosing illness.
In order to succeed in their job, phlebotomists are trained, on-the-job training which can take up to six months. As part of the training, they would learn the role of phlebotomy within the pathology department, the methods of blood collection, the aspects of blood taking and the requirements for different sample tubes and labelling protocols. Also, they will be trained to learn the anatomical and physiological consideration in choosing appropriate sites for venepuncture and the health and safety aspects of phlebotomy. A Phlebotomist works in different places, mostly at the hospital. However, they also work in Blood bank, Government Facilities, Clinics, Laboratories, Military Institutions, Mobile Blood Collection Units, Physicians’ Offices, Prisons, Schools and Testing Centres. They work with nurse phlebotomy specialists, doctors and specialist phlebotomy technicians. In order to become a phlebotomist you will need to complete a certificate or associate’s degree program. However, some employers may look for GCSEs in subjects such as English, Maths, and Science.