Phlebotomist Duties

Before becoming a phlebotomist, it’s essential that you understand all of the duties that are involved in this occupation. Phlebotomy certification may not be for everyone, though some people may be attracted to this job by the relatively short certification time. Phlebotomists are responsible for a number of important duties in a hospital, each of which ensure that they are able to efficiently and correctly collect blood samples of patients. Here is a guide to some of the general duties expected of most phlebotomists employed by a hospital.

Venipuncture

Technically speaking, venipuncture is a phlebotomist’s main duty. Venipuncture refers to the act of withdrawing or extracting a blood sample from a patient, usually using a needle. This needle is inserted into a vein, upon which blood is extracted from the vein. This blood may be used to perform tests, or may be a blood donation from the patient.

Collection of Blood Samples

To collect a blood sample from a patient, a phlebotomist needs to first find a suitable vein to puncture with the needle. In most cases, a phlebotomist will choose to use the median cubital vein. This vein is located on the inner side of the forearm, just inside the fold of the elbow. This vein lies fairly close to the surface of the skin, and is also located in an area where there are not a large amount of nerves present. During the collection of the blood sample, it’s best if the patient remains absolutely still. If the phlebotomist is unable to obtain a good sample from the median cubital vein, they may attempt to find another suitable vein from which to collect blood.

Patient Care

Having blood drawn is often an uncomfortable and painful procedure for many patients. In addition to this, some people may have a fear of needles, which may make a phlebotomist’s job more challenging. In order to ensure that they are able to collect a good sample, a phlebotomist needs to be reassuring, patient and ready to answer any questions regarding the procedure.

Labeling of Blood Samples

In order to ensure that each blood sample is properly documented, the phlebotomist must accurately label each sample. This is true regardless of if the blood is for a donation, or is going to be submitted for laboratory testing. Improper labeling of a blood sample may cause incorrect results in laboratory tests, or mean that the sample needs to be taken from the patient again. Though this may seem like a small part of a phlebotomist’s duties, it is also one of the most important.

Sending Samples to the Laboratory

Once the blood sample has been obtained, documented and properly labeled, it is often sent to the laboratory for testing. A phlebotomist is responsible for ensuring that the correct blood sample is sent to the laboratory to receive the correct tests required for their patient. Laboratories may sometimes process a large volume of blood samples in a single day, so it’s essential that a phlebotomist is thorough in the required paperwork to have their sample tested.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, May 19th, 2010 at 3:50 am and is filed under Phlebotomist, Phlebotomy Certification. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Responses are currently closed, but you can trackback from your own site.