WHAT IS MEANT BY PHLEBOTOMY?

The word Phlebotomy deals with the art of drawing or collecting blood from the human body either for the purpose of laboratory testing or performing blood transfusions. Phlebotomist’s are the people who are responsible for performing phlebotomy. The job role of a phlebotomist may also include collecting various samples of urine along with checking for occult blood in each specimen.   

Phlebotomy is considered as being a vital health care profession found nearly in all hospitals and medical practices. What doctors strongly rely on are blood samples in order to diagnose a disease or in fact the health of an individual.  

There fore phlebotomist’s can be found nearly in all medical facilities such as hospitals, clinics, medical practices, laboratories, organizations for health care, military hospitals, blood banks and so on.

Mentioned below are some of the skills required by a phlebotomist to perform his daily job role.

1.   Being able to insert needles quickly and accurately with in the veins of patients.

2.   Dealing with care while drawing blood from the patient.

3.   Having the ability to keep up with the safety standards.

4.   Having the ability to deal with several different situations and emergencies.

5.   Having a good manor and behavior with patients.

Job Duties of a Phlebotomist:

A Phlebotomist is a part of the health care organization whose major role is to collect the blood for the patients in a timely and efficient manner. The major job duty of a phlebotomist is to collect the blood samples, keep records and do every thing in accordance with the CLIA procedures. Some of the major job responsibilities of phlebotomists are listed below.

1.     Collecting samples from patients.

2.     Collecting all the specimens and completing all paper work for the lab procedures.

3.     Maintaining quick and accurate records of patients.

4.     May require to test and maintain the lab equipment.

These Phlebotomists are required to have to close contact with the patients and co workers in testing and maintaining schedules. Depending upon the job responsibilities a phlebotomist night also be required to take information from patients, assist them in questions regarding payments and provide them a general help regarding the lab or office as necessary.  

Phlebotomist’s will always be requires to follow safety standards at all times. Phlebotomists at work will be required to wear gloves, goggles and even a facemask. This is because phlebotomists often have to touch needles, body fluids along with a lot of other sensitive material. Thus a phlebotomist must have proper training in order to handle the items in a correct way with out causing harm to any patient.    

What is Phlebotomy?

The term Phlebotomy is used to refer to a medical procedure which involves removing the blood from an individual with the use of needles. The other term used for phlebotomy is termed as venesection, which involves extraction of blood through an incision in to the vein. These procedures of phlebotomy are carried out either by a nurse or a phlebotomist. There can be up to several reasons and purposes for which phlebotomy can be carried out. These procedures of phlebotomy require samples of the patient’s blood to be taken for analysis and diagnostics of diseases. These procedures of phlebotomy are generally considered being a safe and risk free procedure.

Purpose of Phlebotomy:

The most common use of Phlebotomy is to test the blood collected from patients. Diagnostic and analysis is performed on the collected blood samples for the identification of diseases. These procedures of Phlebotomy can even be performed from transfusion of blood from one individual in to the other.

These procedures of Phlebotomy can be also be used for treating patients having several blood disorders. The procedures for phlebotomy utilized for this purpose is termed as therapeutic phlebotomy. Patient suffering from disease of Polcythemia Vera also require Phlebotomy. Polcythemia is a disease or a condition in which the red blood cells on the blood gets increased. Phlebotomy is also used for treating patients suffering from hepatitis B, C and hemochromatosis. 

Phlebotomy - A Safe Career:

One of the most attractive thing regarding Phlebotomy and all careers of health care profession is that they are not generally affected by the economic down turn, because of the fact that every one requires medical care. Generally high pays are associated with the job role of Phlebotomy, apart from this there is a lot room open for career progression.

You might be able to find a huge number of employment opportunities for Phlebotomist now days. If you are trained phlebotomist you might also be able to find several opportunities for work in laboratories, hospitals, clinics and medical research. As with the number of opportunities present in this field you will be able to find a huge number of people gaining interest in learning the ways of phlebotomy and becoming a phlebotomist. There are certain steps which required in becoming a phlebotomist out of which the first one is to get a certification or training in phlebotomy

History of Phlebotomy:

Whenever there are requirements of blood to be with drawn, you will be able to find phlebotomist. The major job role of a phlebotomist is being responsible in extracting blood samples and later sending the samples over to the laboratory for further analysis. This work may sound or seem to quiet easy, but in actual requires great skills in order to work as a phlebotomist. If you are interested in starting off your career as a phlebotomist, read this article shared below for more information.

The word phlebotomy is defines by Merriam Webster as a surgical opening or a puncture of the vein in order to withdraw blood from the body of humans. But most of us might wonder as to what all is phlebotomy? How this word did come in to existence? What is the history behind this? Since this word of Phlebotomy isn’t common to a simple layman, hence let us start off with defining this term Phlebotomy.

The existence of this word Phlebotomy comes from a Greek word phleb/o which means to vein and tom. In other word this term means to either cut or puncture. The suffix of y in Phlebotomy means the process of puncturing the veins. Phlebotomy is considered as being the ancient procedure and practice of blood letting. In the ancient times this procedure of blood letting involves withdrawal of blood in large amount that could vey well lead a person in to a disease or illness.

The modern techniques and ways used for phlebotomy which eliminates the need of all such kind of practices. New techniques and procedures for phlebotomy have are available which allow collection of blood from veins, capillaries and arteries of a human being. These blood samples collected can later be used for laboratory purpose in order to perform analysis or transfusion.                                         

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       

If your desire is to become a phlebotomist than you must be at least a high school graduate and must have a present diploma in phlebotomy. If you don’t have a diploma than you should have the equivalent education in order to become one. Having an academic training in a clinic is also considered vital in working as a phlebotomist so that you can gain experience with performing venipuncture procedures. 

Training and Certification available for Phlebotomy:

In order to become a certified phlebotomist, what’s required is to undergo a phlebotomy training program with lasts for a time period of minimum four months to maximum an year. What’s required in order get your self enrolled in such sort of training requires a high school diploma or equivalent. Any one can become a phlebotomist after the exam of a phlebotomist certification. You might be able to find several schools, training colleges and hospitals training phlebotomists. A phlebotomist can easily perform practices with in a medical center, nursing home or a hospital.   

One can soon start working as a phlebotomist whenever he or she gets over with the training. What matter’s the most apart from just promotion or monetary gains is that working in a medical field have its own pride. In today’s world there might be several options that might available but serving and helping the mankind directly has got something to do with which only a few people feel lucky to perform.

The job of working as a phlebotomist involves respect. The job responsibility of a phlebotomist is to work 40 hours a week in shifts just like all other doctors in case of emergencies. A phlebotomist must be well acquainted with all laws of testing, handling fluids and transportation. Apart from this a phlebotomist must have good communication skills in order to interact with hospital staff and other patients.

THE VENIPUNCTURE PROCEDURE:

The procedures for performing venipuncture is considered complex requiring both knowledge and skill. What’s required by a Phlebotomist in order to carry out procedures of venipuncture comfortably is by stabling a daily routine for him or her self. Mentioned below are some important tips that might stand to be helpful in order to carry out procedures of venipunture with success.

1.   Identifying the patient.

2.   Accessing the patient’s physical disposition such as diet, stress, exercise etc)

3.   Checking the requisition of the required tests.

4.   Selecting a suitable site for performing venipuncture.

5.   Collecting the sample obtained in an appropriate container.

6.   Recognizing the levels of complications associated with phlebotomy.

7.   Accessing the collected samples for either recollection or rejection.

8.   Labeling the collection tubes.

9.   Sending the specimens collected over to the laboratory for inspection and performing health tests.