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Phlebotomy Technician

Phlebotomy technicians must like challenges and responsibility. They must work well under pressure, be accurate and communicate effectively. Phlebotomists because they work directly with patients, must also possess great interpersonal skills in order to explain procedures to patients and ease any fears that they may have. They must notice and relay any important information gained during interactions to doctors, nurses and laboratory professionals. Typically, phlebotomy technicians are responsible for the following:
  • Explaining procedures to patients
  • Drawing blood from patients and applying pressure or bandages after blood is drawn
  • Taking blood pressure, pulse and respiration readings
  • Updating patient records
  • Preparing stains and reagents
  • Cleaning and sterilizing equipment
  • Preparing blood, urine and fecal samples to the lab for testing
  • Patient evaluation
  • Venipuncture procedures
  • Performing basic point of care testing
  • Checking blood glucose levels
  • Reporting results to doctors and medical offices
*According to the U.S. Department of Labor, the number of jobs for Phlebotomy Technicians is expected to continue to grow by as much as 20% through 2018, due in part to a population that is enjoying a longer life expectancy and new and improved medical testing procedures. The positive outlook for Phlebotomy careers also benefits from a variety of medical settings that employs these specialized technicians.