If you are considering becoming a phlebotomist, you are looking to join an exciting, challenging, and meaningful team of healthcare professionals. However, not everyone is the right fit for a phlebotomy career. In fact, many people are downright scared of needles and will avoid them at all costs. Have you ever thought about if you have what it takes? Obviously there is training and practice that you will need to be a successful phlebotomist, but there are also a few traits that could help you on your way! We came up with just a short list of some we think are important for aspiring phlebotomists to have. Do you have what it takes?
1. Patience
Many people have a fear of needles and struggle greatly with getting injections or having their blood drawn. As a phlebotomist, you will encounter patients from a large variety of backgrounds and age groups. Because some of them may have had past negative experiences, be under a lot of emotional stress, or may be in a lot of pain, it is important to ensure clear communication both ways and not allow yourself to get frustrated with the patient.
Patience is also very important when performing phlebotomy on infants and children. Some children may be very opposed to the venipuncture procedure and their parent may also be struggling with anxiety as a result. A phlebotomist that is able to patiently interact with that child will do much for both the infant or child and the parent. Although you will likely have a very busy schedule, taking the few extra moments to be patient with your young patients will go far.
Similarly, phlebotomy on the elderly can present challenges that should be responded to with patience. Oftentimes, individuals in the elderly population may require some special attention because of the skin changes people experience as they age. These skin changes may present a bit of a challenge for a phlebotomist. Patience is important when performing venipuncture on more mature skin as its elasticity is decreased and veins may be more likely to roll.
2. Compassion
As we previously mentioned, many people have a fear of needles and may be in pain or struggling emotionally when they are getting blood drawn. It’s important to always be thoughtful of this and consider that the patient may struggle with the sight of needles or blood and may be required to get blood drawn regularly. Showing compassion and empathy towards your patient will be likely to greatly improve their experience and may even make them less nervous to get blood drawn in the future.
3. Steady Hands
Although this trait is a little different from the others, it is just about as important. Naturally, if you are responsible for handling blood and other bodily fluids and using needles to perform phlebotomy on patients all day, it is necessary to have good dexterity, coordination, and steady hands. Patients will be very appreciative if your steadiness allows you to puncture the vein correctly the first time. This steadiness also ensures that nerves aren’t damaged and that arteries aren’t struck by mistake.
4. Attention to Detail
As a phlebotomist, you are given responsibility for one of the first stages of determining the health of your patients. Phlebotomy is used as a diagnostic testing procedure and may pave the way for an early treatment plan for a patient. This puts a lot of responsibility on phlebotomists to make sure they correctly identify patients, practice appropriate venipuncture procedures, and correctly label patient blood samples. A mistake at any stage of the process may cause blood samples to be contaminated or a patient to even be misdiagnosed. Both of these scenarios could be terrible and are both very preventable if you are a phlebotomist that is attentive to detail.
Avoiding mistakes is extremely important in the healthcare field. There may be a scenario where two different patients have the same name. In this scenario, it’s necessary for the phlebotomist to identify each of the patients correctly to ensure that they receive the correct care. They must pay attention to details provided by both patients as they are gathering information from each. Along the same lines, as they are often exposed to bloodborne pathogens and various diseases, it’s important for a phlebotomist to be very cautious and aware when handling patient blood samples as well as when dealing with the patients themselves. They must also be sure to keep a sterile and organized work area to keep themselves and their patients safe.
5. People Skills
In any healthcare career, it is very important to possess strong people skills. As previously mentioned, as a phlebotomist, you will spend a lot of time interacting with patients and their family members. However, in this healthcare support role, you will also be communicating with nurses, doctors, medical assistants, and medical billing and coding professionals. In a fast paced medical setting, it is important to be able to greet people warmly, connect with your patients, and communicate clearly and thoroughly to patients as well as other healthcare workers.
6. Respect
As a phlebotomist, you will be working with a variety of different people from different walks of life. It’s important to remember that every person that you come into contact with deserves respect. An easy way to show respect to patients is by introducing yourself before the phlebotomy procedure and greeting your patient by name. Giving them step-by-step process of the venipuncture procedure is also a way to show respect. It’s important to always treat patients as individuals with fears and emotions. Showing respect to co-workers and physicians is also necessary in a healthcare support career.
Obviously, these aren’t the only important qualities that you must possess to be a phlebotomist. There are many other characteristics that are important and depend some on the environment in which you would like to work. If you are concerned that you lack one or more of these traits, there is always the chance that you can practice and improve in any of these areas.
Are you interested in a career in phlebotomy? Check out the Medical Assistant program at Ross Medical Education Center! In addition to phlebotomy training, you will receive instruction in a variety of other skills and areas of the office or healthcare facility.