What Do Phlebotomists Do (including Their Typical Day At Work)

Job Description

Phlebotomists draw blood for tests, transfusions, donations, or research. May explain the procedure to patients and assist in the recovery of patients with adverse reactions. They also dispose of contaminated sharps, in accordance with applicable laws, standards, and policies.

Other tasks include:

• Organize or clean blood-drawing trays, ensuring that all instruments are sterile and all needles, syringes, or related items are of first-time use.
• Draw blood from veins by vacuum tube, syringe, or butterfly venipuncture methods.
• Match laboratory requisition forms to specimen tubes.
• Perform saline flushes or dispense anticoagulant drugs, such as Heparin, through intravenous (IV) lines, in accordance with licensing restrictions and under the direction of a medical doctor.
• Dispose of blood or other biohazard fluids or tissue, in accordance with applicable laws, standards, or policies.
• Conduct standards tests, such as blood alcohol, blood culture, oral glucose tolerance, glucose screening, blood smears, or peak and trough drug levels tests.

We asked Phlebotomists how satisfied they are with their job. Here is what they said.

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72% of them said they were satisfied with their job and 78% said they find that their job makes the world a better place or helps to make someone else’s life better.

Typical Day At Work

On a daily basis, Phlebotomists dispose of contaminated sharps, in accordance with applicable laws, standards, and policies. They draw blood from veins by vacuum tube, syringe, or butterfly venipuncture methods.

A typical day for a Phlebotomist will also include:

• Dispose of blood or other biohazard fluids or tissue, in accordance with applicable laws, standards, or policies.
• Process blood or other fluid samples for further analysis by other medical professionals.
• Calibrate or maintain machines, such as those used for plasma collection.
• Organize or clean blood-drawing trays, ensuring that all instruments are sterile and all needles, syringes, or related items are of first-time use.
• Match laboratory requisition forms to specimen tubes.

We asked some Phlebotomists a few questions to find out what else does their work day look like. Here is what we found.

	Do you have telephone conversations everyday in this job?	85% said yes
	How important is it to work in a team in this job?	55% said very important
	Do you have group discussions everyday in this job?	85% said yes
	Do you talk or work with customers everyday in this job?	62% said yes
	Do you have to deal with angry customers everyday in this job?	40% said yes
	Do you have to make decisions everyday in this job?	75% said yes

Other responsibilities

Besides their typical day, Phlebotomists also administer subcutaneous or intramuscular injects, in accordance with licensing restrictions. They may also draw blood from arteries, using arterial collection techniques.

On a weekly to monthly basis, Phlebotomists Explain fluid or tissue collection procedures to patients. They might also Provide sample analysis results to physicians to assist diagnosis.

In addition, they Perform saline flushes or dispense anticoagulant drugs, such as Heparin, through intravenous (IV) lines, in accordance with licensing restrictions and under the direction of a medical doctor.

Although specific duties may vary, many of them Document route of specimens from collection to laboratory analysis and diagnosis.

To some Phlebotomists, it is also their responsibility to Conduct standards tests, such as blood alcohol, blood culture, oral glucose tolerance, glucose screening, blood smears, or peak and trough drug levels tests.

Working life

Standard 40 hour work week

Regular schedule like a 9 to 5

In a typical work week as a Phlebotomist, you can expect to work 40 hour work week.

Is this right for me

People who are suitable for this job tends to like following set procedures and routines. They like working with data and details more than with ideas..

They also like work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They like working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery.

You can read more about these career personality types here.

Explore other careers

http://www.bls.gov/OOH/healthcare/phlebotomists.htm

http://www.americanmedtech.org/

https://www.ncctinc.com/

http://www.nhanow.com/