In the Philippines, one of the jobs of a medical technologist is to perform phlebotomy. It is an art that involves drawing of blood from the patient for laboratory examination and other procedures. In other countries, like the US and the UK, nurses are the ones who commonly perform such task.
CAN A HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATE OR COLLEGE STUDENT PERFORM PHLEBOTOMY
- However, you do not have to be a nurse, a radiology technician, or a medical technologist to become a phlebotomist. As long as you have graduated from high school or finished college, you can take a vocational course to learn the art of phlebotomy.
- As mentioned earlier, phlebotomy is an art. Because of that, you need to master it through experience. This means that you have to perform it a hundred of times before you can be an expert in it. In the Philippines and other countries, medical technologists or laboratory scientists are experts in this field because they draw blood from several patients each day.
HOW TO BECOME A PHLEBOTOMIST
If you are not a graduate of nursing, medical technology or other medical courses, you may need to undergo training for six to twelve months to learn the art. A refresher course is also needed to keep your skills current. This will also help you know more about phlebotomy.
SALARY AND RESPONSIBILITIES
- If you become a phlebotomist, you can earn an average of $18,700. Although it is not that high, you will be considered as an essential member of a medical team. To improve your salary, you need to improve your skills by undergoing training.
- Keep in mind that doctors and nurses were trained as a phlebotomist before they can practice their profession.
- Becoming a phlebotomist is an ideal way for you to try whether or not a medical profession is the right one for you. You can find phlebotomy jobs in various hospitals, clinics and health offices.
TIPS IN COLLECTING BLOOD
KNOW WHAT SIZE TO USE
In phlebotomy, it is essential to use the right size tube that goes with a particular needle. For instance, if you are using a 10-ml tube, you need smaller gauge needle to avoid blowing out the vein.
AVOID FISHING
It is a term used by the phlebotomy department in finding the vein in order to draw blood. You must avoid it as it could be very painful for patients while the needle is moving the patient’s body.
REPLACE THE NEEDLE
If you miss the vein, you must try again by withdrawing the needle and replacing with a new one. Re-sticking with the same needle can lead to infection.
BE CALM
Withdrawing blood can be painful and cause patients to be agitated. It is, therefore, your responsibility to make them calm by approaching them in a self-assured attitude. Do not rush just to show them that you are good at it. You must always take your time before drawing blood to avoid missing and damaging the vein and spending more time in this procedure.
PHLEBOTOMY CAREERS
Clinics and hospitals are hiring phlebotomists. Careers in phlebotomy are usually considered as the first step in getting a job in radiology, nursing and other medical areas.
MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY AND ITS SIGNIFICANT ROLE IN HEALTHCARE
- Medical technologist is a healthcare professional who performs laboratory examination, experiments and analyses of body fluids such blood, urine, sputum, stool, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), peritoneal fluid, pericardial fluid, synovial and other specimens in order to aid the physician in the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of disease.
- Medical doctors almost always rely on laboratory results before making a diagnosis. Unfortunately, some are oblivious of the relevance of a medical technologist in patient's health care.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Janey Danes started her career as a part-time article writer, editor and proofreader in 2008. She specializes in topics related to health, travel, technology, family, and spiritual life. Janey is a licensed medical technologist and she holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Information Technology.
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