Healthcare is a significant and interconnected unit of medical care that is driven by various professionals, such as doctors, nurses, phlebotomists, clinical lab assistants, and hospital administration. All of these professionals contribute to their responsibilities and drive the healthcare industry. They make healthcare accessible and possible for everyone.
One of the necessary elements of healthcare is phlebotomists. These are the professionals who are responsible for drawing and managing blood samples in medical care. Without them and their precision-based work, our healthcare system would cease to function normally. So, this blog will feature the role of a phlebotomist and how one can pursue a career in this field.
Who is a Phlebotomist?
A phlebotomist is a professional who is responsible for drawing blood from patients. They take patients’ blood, manage the blood samples in the laboratory for tests and procedures. A phlebotomist can draw blood from children, teenagers, and young adults. Taking blood, storing it in the lab, and overseeing the supply process are all managed by phlebotomists.
They take blood samples from patients for medical tests and for blood donation.
Phlebotomists, also known as lab technicians, have to take blood samples from patients in the following ways:
- Venipuncture- taking blood from the veins
- Heel pricks- taking blood from infants and babies.
- Finger pricks- doing tests for blood sugar or to determine the blood type of the patient.
They can also perform blood transfusions on patients under the direction of a physician or a surgeon. Thus, managing all the blood draw-related tasks of patients is the responsibility of phlebotomists
Responsibilities of a Phlebotomist or Lab Technician in the Healthcare System
A phlebotomist profession might seem like a job with limited responsibilities, but it plays a crucial role in advancing medical procedures. They work with physicians and nurses and ensure that all blood samples are taken on time and the other medical staff get the reports of the patients to start the medical process for the patient:
Identifying Blood Draw Patients
Firstly, the phlebotomist introduces themselves and verifies the patient’s identitiy by asking relevant identification questions.This step is crucial to draw blood from the right patient. Thus, the lab technician asks the patient’s name and date of birth and cross-checks these details from the blood draw request form or doctor’s reports to ensure an accurate blood drawing process.
Preparing People for Blood Draws
Before drawing blood from the patient, the lab technician prepares the patient for the process. They ask the patients to lie down on the bed or to sit in a comfortable position (depending on the test type). In case of specific tests, the phlebotomist asks the patient about their fasting period and their water intake, and then draws their blood.
Performing Blood Draws
During the blood draw process, the phlebotomists or lab technicians use specific medical equipment to draw blood from the patients. They make the patients relax and begin the process of taking blood for a sample or donation. The phlebotomists only use WHO guidelines for phlebotomy and ensure that the blood draw is safe and free of all clerical errors.
Taking Care of Equipment
It is a phlebotomist’s job to maintain medical equipment used for phlebotomy. The lab technician ensures that all medical equipment is sanitized and timely available for drawing blood from the patients.
Managing Blood Samples
The phlebotomist not only takes blood samples and blood donations, but they are also responsible for maintaining and taking care of these samples. There are no assistants who can help phlebotomists manage the blood samples. Additionally, a lab technician is a role that is related only to drawing blood from patients and managing the blood samples; they are not a clinical lab assistant to help manage the operations of laboratories. The lab technician has a different role and responsibilities. So, the phlebotomists have to label the blood samples accordingly, store them in the hospital’s lab, and manage these samples for use in medical tests or blood donations.
Helping People After Blood Draw
Some patients may experience adverse effects of blood draws and blood transfusions. This may include anxiety, headaches, weakness, and dizziness in patients. Therefore, it is a phlebotomist’s job to take care of patients and their health condition right after the blood draw. They also advise patients to drink plenty of water and have a healthy diet right after the blood draw to restore energy in the body.
Managing Blood Supply Processes
The phlebotomists are responsible for managing the blood samples in the laboratory. They label and store the blood samples in the laboratory, and also manage their supply to the other laboratories for testing. They ensure that the sample is received by the laboratory and blood banks so that the blood samples can be used for their specific purpose.
What Can I Expect From a Phlebotomist During a Blood Draw Session?
A phlebotomist has to perform blood draws on patients, which is often requested by a physician. In some cases, people also donate their blood and undergo phlebotomy. Before giving a blood sample or even donating, a patient needs to be aware of the entire phlebotomy process. So, during the blood draw process, a patient can expect the following things:
- The phlebotomist first introduces themselves to the patients and confirms their identity for the accurate blood draw process.
- In the next step, the phlebotomist will put on surgical gloves. Then they will wrap a tourniquet (a stretchy tube) around the upper arm. It helps slow down the blood and facilitates an easy blood draw procedure.
- Phlebotomists analyze the area of the arm where they have to draw the blood. They disinfect the area with an alcohol swab and identify the vein to be used for the blood draw.
- Then the phlebotomist will insert the needle into the chosen vein and attach a vial (a small sealed container to store blood samples) to the needle to help draw the blood.
- After completing the blood draw, the lab technician will release the tourniquet and remove the needle from the skin.
- Right after removing the needle, the phlebotomist will dispose of the needle and immediately apply a cotton ball with pressure to the affected area to stop bleeding.
- In the last step, the phlebotomist will apply a bandage to the affected area. The blood draw process is completed with this last step, and the patient is allowed to leave.
Where Do Phlebotomists Work?
A phlebotomist’s job is limited to blood draws and managing the samples. So, it is generally considered that phlebotomists only work in clinics and hospitals. But there are other medical settings as well where lab technicians play a crucial role and help run the system of medical care without any hindrances. Thus, the following are some of the medical settings where phlebotomists are needed:
- Hospitals
- Clinical laboratories
- Clinics
- Community health centers
- Nursing homes and other assisted living facilities
- Blood banks and blood drives
A phlebotomist is a job that is available for both full-time and part-time roles. People who are only interested in taking the role of a lab technician as a part-time worker can earn extra income easily. They can work as locum tenens in hospitals or other medical settings. As a locum tenens phlebotomist, candidates can leverage more benefits other than just their salary.
Suggested Read: What is the profit margin for locum tenens?
Average Salary of a Phlebotomist
A phlebotomist is an important part of our healthcare system. Their simple role of blood draw and managing blood samples serves as the basis of providing accurate information about the blood samples of patients, which helps the other health-related procedures move forward. In hospitals and other medical settings, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that phlebotomists earn around $43,660 annually.
How to Pursue a Career As a Phlebotomist?
To become a phlebotomist, the career path is relatively easier than other medical professions, such as a registered nurse or dental assistant. Candidates can begin their educational journey at any point in their lives and become eligible to work as a lab technician.
So, to pursue this career, one has to follow the steps below:
Get a High School Diploma
The first prerequisite is to have a high school diploma in hand to pursue any career. Candidates who have completed high school can easily enter a phlebotomy career. They just have to show a high school diploma or GED and follow the next steps for a job in phlebotomy.
Enroll in a Phlebotomist Program
In the second step, candidates have to enroll in a phlebotomist program. In this program, candidates learn about the blood drawing procedure and how to manage the blood samples accurately. It takes around one year to complete this program; however, some candidates can complete it in less than one year.
A phlebotomist program is available in medical schools, community colleges, and vocational institutions. Moreover, candidates don’t have to complete a bachelor’s degree to enroll in the phlebotomist program. They can start their phlebotomist program immediately after high school.
Earn the Phlebotomist Certification
The responsibilities of a phlebotomist may appear simple, as they only have to draw blood from the patients. Still, even for this task, they have to go through different training, and they should be qualified to draw blood from different types of punctures. Thus, a lab technician should have all the following certifications:
- Limited Phlebotomy Technician (LPT) – The phlebotomist can perform skin puncture blood collection.
- Certified Phlebotomy Technician I (CPT I) – This certification allows the phlebotomist to perform skin puncture and venipuncture blood collection.
- Certified Phlebotomy Technician II (CPT II) – The phlebotomist with this certification can perform skin puncture, venipuncture, and arterial puncture for blood sample collection.
Pass Phlebotomy Certification Exam
After completing the phlebotomy program and certification, candidates have to pass the certification exam. This ensures that the lab technician is qualified to manage blood draw procedures and follow the safety protocols independently, and it seals their careers as professional phlebotomists. Thus, candidates need to pass the certification exam from the following national phlebotomy certification boards:
- National Healthcareer Association (NHA)
- American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP)
- National Phlebotomy Association (NPA)
Additionally, some states of the USA also require phlebotomists to obtain a state license. In that case, the candidate has to complete a phlebotomist license from the state as well.
Final Thoughts
A phlebotomist is responsible for blood draws and managing blood samples, and this role plays a crucial role in the healthcare system. Additionally, before and after the blood drawing process, it is a phlebotomist’s responsibility to handle the patient. They also ensure that the blood draw process is safely executed and the blood samples are timely supplied and received at the laboratory for testing. Candidates can work both full-time and part-time in this position.
Are you looking for a phlebotomist role in the USA? Consider contacting Intuitive Health Services, which provides health staffing services, to find phlebotomist roles in your location and learn more about opportunities in this career.
