Phlebotomy technicians work with hospitals, standalone laboratories, and blood banks where their main responsibility is to collect, label, and transport blood specimens according to specified instructions provided by physicians.
Another aspect of working as a phlebotomy technician is to ensure that patients are provided with information on how their samples will be collected and to ensure a calm environment so that they do not fidget while the process is being executed.
Phlebotomy Technician Duties and Responsibilities
• Greet patients and verify their identity and tags
• Comprehend doctors’ orders to determine the type of puncture to be performed in accordance with the type of test to be done
• Decipher the most appropriate method to take blood samples, depending on the type of patient in question
• Clean the area from where the sample has to be taken using spirit swabs
• Select type of syringe/needle to be used for each procedure
• Explain procedures to patients and walk them through the blood drawing process and testing
• Take blood samples and ensure that they are properly labeled and stored in appropriate areas
• Add stains to blood samples as required by the physician and prepare them for specific tests
• Transport blood samples to the laboratory so that they can be tested to determine diseases
• Practice infection control processes to ensure that blood samples are not contaminated
• Handle patient information data entry duties by ensuring that accurate information is punched in and updated
• Punch in results derived from blood tests into the patient information system
• Clean and sterilize equipment used in storing samples and dispose of used syringes and vials
• Sanitize workplace on a regular basis and ensure that any contaminated equipment is properly sterilized or destructed according to facility policy
Phlebotomy Technician Position Requirements
While a high school diploma is usually considered sufficient to work as a phlebotomy technician, they are required to complete a four to the eight-month training program and earn a certification. It is important for phlebotomy technicians to possess strong attention to detail as the mechanics of their work eventually lead to patient diagnosis.
They also need to be particularly good in data entry work and possess exceptional communication and tactical skills and good hand-eye coordination.
If this is your line of work, you will need to be able to handle specimen collection and storage duties appropriately and ensure that the integrity of collected specimens is maintained, so that they can be properly tested for diseases.