Knowing exactly what you’re going to learn when you enroll in a phlebotomy training program or at least having a good idea, is important when you’re trying to decide whether or not a full out career in phlebotomy is right for you. All of the duties and responsibilities of a phlebotomist pertain in some way to the collection, storage, or documentation of blood samples or donations that are collected from patients/donors on a daily basis. If you plan on working in a hospital type setting then the following are good examples of what you can expect.
The first procedure you will become very familiar with is the ‘art’ of venipuncture. When you perform a venipuncture, you’re essentially using a small sharp needle to puncture the vein of a patient in order to extract blood. The blood that is collected using this method is then sent to a laboratory where it is analyzed and tested for different characteristics and possible aliments.In order to collect blood from a patient or donor, the phlebotomist has to first identify a clear vein which can safely be punctured, ideally on the first attempt. The best and most common vein that’s used for this procedure can be found on the interior of a person’s elbow-joint.
The reason this vein is so commonly used is because of it’s closeness to the skin’s surface and the lack of sensitivity in the general area. This is known as the cubital vein, medium- if it is not accessible, there are other sites that can be used.
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