Phlebotomy technicians are typically the last people most patients want to see when they visit a hospital or are admitted into one. These people have quite a tough job because a lot of people do not like to have their blood taken, therefore, they are usually very nervous about the whole procedure. However, until the time that science finds a way of analyzing blood without the need to remove it from the patient’s body, it is an essential procedure. To make the whole process a bit easier and less uncomfortable for the nervous patient, there are some few things that can be done.
Before starting with the procedure, the phlebotomy technician should seat the patient in a comfortable chair. The patient will then be asked to verify some personal information. Typically, the phlebotomist will ask them to verify their date of birth, their name, their place of residence, and may sometimes ask for the name of the doctor who requested the blood work, etc.
It is the patient’s duty to answer all the questions truthfully as the phlebotomy technician is just trying to make them feel at home the best way possible. Apart from this, a phlebotomist asks these types of questions so as to ensure that they have the correct paperwork and labels for the specimen or blood vials. Actually, it is all about the patient’s protection… they are not asking question to be nosey!
Apart from the personal information, the technician may want to know which arm you would prefer the blood to be drawn from. If one arm will be difficult to draw blood from and you are aware of it, then this is the right time to speak up. After the question session is over, the technician will then apply a tourniquet and search for the vein to draw blood from. This will normally be done by touching and palpating the area in question with one or two fingers until a vein is felt.
You cannot always see the vein in question; in fact, the veins you normally see are not always good for the blood drawing procedure. When the phlebotomy technician is doing his or her thing, it is advisable not to make a fist or pump up your hand; rather you should relax your arm. Basically, let the technician instruct you on what to do, as this will make things easier for both of you.
Once the phlebotomist has found the right vein, he or she will clean the place to insert the needle. From here, you should let the technician choose the needle that is best for what is required. And this, they will do skillfully as it is a part of their work or what they generally do all day long.
One of their main tasks is to find the most appropriate veins or capillary beds they can gain access to and subsequently draw blood from. They always know what is best for the patients, although sometimes they bend to what is being insisted upon by the patients. However, this is not always what is best for them, thus patients should leave everything to the care of the expert and relax during the procedure, which should be completed very quickly if there is little interference.
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