What are some good traits of a phlebotomist? How do these traits relate to someone being successful in the field?
With the tremendous projected growth in the field of phlebotomy, this would be a good time to make a self-evaluation to discover if you have the right stuff to be a phlebotomist. In this article we will be looking at some of the personal skills for phlebotomy and how they can help one become a major success in this job.Traits of a Phlebotomist
What exactly is phlebotomy?
Phlebotomy, like working as a CNA, is often the first step in a successful career in healthcare. Consult online or local college career counselors and discover if you have what it takes to be a successful in this field.
Education and training
There are many educational opportunities for becoming a phlebotomist. Online classes, courses at local community colleges and technology centers teach the skills you need to work as a phlebotomist. Your training consists of both classroom exercises and practical hands-on clinical experience in a hospital or other healthcare setting. Your supervisors will help you practice what you learned in class and develop the traits of a phlebotomist needed for success.
Empathy and Communications Skills
Doctors, needles and hospitals frighten people. A good phlebotomist understands this and works hard to allay the patient’s discomfort. Helping them relax with a competent demeanor and engaging conversation gives them confidence in your ability and eases fear.
Empathy is an important trait of a phlebotomist because your patients range from small children to the elderly. A gentle touch and friendly smile can keep the process simple and pain free.
Detail Oriented
A successful phlebotomist stays organized and pays close attention to detail. Working in a busy hospital or clinic means seeing many patients and the blood samples you draw handled properly to avoid mishap. Drawing the sample is only the first part of the job. Blood samples must be carefully labeled, stored and analyzed in the lab. By making sure that every task is done properly and everything on the specific checklist is done, you will be making sure that the job is getting done correctly.
Other Traits Include:
Organization
Organization and observation are also traits of a phlebotomist. Your patient, his doctors and the hospital all depend on you to stay organized and pay attention to detail so that no mistakes happen. Good observation skills are also important when drawing blood. Many times a patient will have small veins or veins that roll; being observant beforehand keeps you from having to stick the patient more than once and prevents unnecessary pain or discomfort.
Manual Dexterity
Manual dexterity and the ability to keep your arm steady is a vital trait of a phlebotomist. Your objective is to take blood from the patient with as little discomfort as possible. Many times, you are going to work in stressful conditions and need to see many patients. This makes having a steady hand even more essential because you will have to work efficiently in order to handle the workload.
Critical Thinking
While majority of the time you will be following the procedures and regulations as established by your workplace or by the orders from the doctor, there may be times when you will need to make a quick and correct decision on your own. By having good critical thinking skills, you will be able to use logic and reason to come up with strong solutions to a number of problems. Plus, with experience you will be able to back up your decisions with strong empirical evidence on why you chose this path.
If you have what it takes, a career in phlebotomy is very rewarding and can be a gateway to even more opportunities. A caring empathic attitude, steady hand, good organizational skills and an eye for detail can put you on the road to a successful career. Talk to a college career counselor today to begin a rewarding career as a phlebotomist.