Tips on Becoming a Hospital Phlebotomist

In a hospital environment, there are many different people that are required in order to ensure that patients are able to receive prompt medical care. Each person that works in a hospital has a specific duty, which helps bring aid to those in need. For a phlebotomist, their job helps to ensure that the doctors and nurses that work in the hospital are able to devote their attention to their duty. A hospital phlebotomist plays a very important role in proper medical care, which is essential in any hospital. Here is some general information to help familiarize you with the purpose, duties and responsibilities of a hospital phlebotomist.

What is a Hospital Phlebotomist?

A hospital phlebotomist is a person that is responsible for collecting blood from patients. This includes being able to perform venipuncture, the process by which blood is extracted from a patient's veins. A phlebotomist collects the blood sample so that the doctors and nurses are able to devote their attention to other duties.

Job Duties

There are many responsibilities of a phlebotomist that are very important in proper patient care. A hospital phlebotomist must be able to make their patient feel comfortable, since the process of extracting blood can be uncomfortable for many people. In addition to this, a phlebotomist must be able to know the best way to deal with children, who are often frightened of having blood drawn. If a person has a medical condition, or is extremely obese, a phlebotomist must be able to know of different areas from which blood can be drawn.

Aside from the actual blood drawing process, a hospital phlebotomist is also responsible for making sure that each blood sample is labeled and documented properly. Since many blood samples are submitted to a laboratory for testing, proper labeling of the samples is essential. This helps to ensure that the patient is able to receive accurate results from their tests.

Quality control is also very important, since it's essential that they don't allow a sample to become contaminated. They must make sure that all of their equipment has been sanitized, and that they are able to draw blood from the patient in a sterile environment. Since contamination of the blood sample could result in inaccurate laboratory test results, the job of a phlebotomist is absolutely essential.

Certification for Hospital Phlebotomists

To become a hospital phlebotomist, the requirements may vary. Some hospitals require all of their phlebotomists to complete a set number of "on the job" training hours before they are allowed to become officially employed by the hospital. Though passing a phlebotomy certification exam isn't a national requirement (except in certain states), many hospitals like to see phlebotomist certification in potential hospital phlebotomists. It's also recommended that an aspiring hospital phlebotomist complete a training program, which helps them to develop the skills that they need to do their job correctly. If you plan to become a phlebotomist at a specific hospital, be sure to become familiar with their requirements beforehand.

Adam Davies is the creator of AMT Phlebotomy Certification, one of the only sites online currently devoted to getting certified in the field of phlebotomy. The site will teach you all you need to know about this field, including how to pass your phlebotomy certification exam, and much more.

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