Phlebotomists are medical technicians trained to take blood samples and perform basic laboratory tasks. They attend a six-month to one-year program and receive periodic refresher courses. They are trained in venipuncture and finger pricks and must have good bedside skills. They are a crucial member of a medical team and receive competitive pay.
A phlebotomist is a medical technician trained specifically to take blood samples from patients and to perform basic laboratory tasks, including setting up samples for analysis and entering lab results into a computer system. While many medical professionals practice phlebotomy in addition to other skills, especially in small offices, many major medical centers and blood donation organizations maintain a staff of phlebotomists to handle blood samples and collection. In most nations, a phlebotomist receives competitive pay and is a valuable member of the medical team.
Training to become a phlebotomist varies depending on the country in which you are pursuing your certification. Generally, a phlebotomist attends a six-month to one-year program to learn the art and takes periodic refresher courses of about six hours each year to keep skills up-to-date and learn about progress in phlebotomy. Additionally, many phlebotomists maintain memberships in professional organizations.
The training a phlebotomist undergoes includes basic cardiopulmonary resuscitation, bedside skills, legal and ethical issues surrounding blood handling, and blood drawing skills. The two techniques that all phlebotomists are trained in are venipuncture and finger pricks. Finger swabs are used to collect small blood samples and are very easy to do. Venipuncture is the procedure most people visualize when they think of drawing blood, and it involves inserting a needle into a vein to collect blood. Venipuncture requires more skill to be done correctly and painlessly. In some cases, a phlebotomist will also receive training in how to draw arterial blood, an additional skill that is useful in some situations.
Bedside skills are very important to a phlebotomist, because he is often the only member of a laboratory that patients interact with. Phlebotomists who work for blood banks, for example, serve as the public face of their organization and want to encourage donors to come back by offering friendly service, gentle care, and painless donor experiences. A phlebotomist for a commercial lab also tries to keep patients calm and happy so they continue to bring their business to that lab.
While at work, a phlebotomist takes blood samples, keeps the lab organized, and enters the lab results into a computer. A well-trained phlebotomist can take a blood sample from any type of patient with minimal pain, using techniques learned in school and combining them with work experience. As a medical support staff, a phlebotomist is a crucial member of a medical team, and in most nations, they receive a salary that reflects this. In the United States, for example, a phlebotomist can expect to earn an average of US$18,700 per year.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
