What Will Phlebotomy Training Teach Me?

Phlebotomy is more than just extracting blood specimen for examination or lab tests. There are other activities involved, all of which require proper training. So, whether you have been working in the healthcare sector or not, and you want to switch to phlebotomy, which is increasingly in demand, you should undergo proper training.

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What will you gain from it?

Aside from the obvious, you will be able to enhance your skills and knowledge that will prove beneficial in your career.

Know all about blood sampling procedure

In this training class, you will learn a lot of tips and tricks when drawing blood. As it happens, the way you extract blood specimen from adults requires a different approach than when you are dealing with newborns, children or elderly. It is vital that you know which tools and techniques to use and when. Infants less than 6 months, for example, don’t have a huge supply of blood, so blood collection must be done according to specific procedures, so as not to take too large a sample. You will also be required to know the order of draw. Which is understanding blood draw tubes and their uses.

The technique you use to draw blood also depends on a range of factors, such as the purpose of blood collection, duration and frequency of sampling and the level of training and experience of a phlebotomist. Patients with difficult veins, for instance, must be handled delicately, especially when a large volume of blood is required. Otherwise, the use of a lancet or microcapillary tube will do, depending on the testing that must be done.

Suffice to say that venipuncture or vein puncture is an art that you must master under different situations. Without proper instructions and the right knowledge, you could end up having a stint in phlebotomy, rather than a long-term career.

Gain in-depth understanding of blood and cell composition

The most important purpose of studying phlebotomy is to understand how the blood and cells are affected by disease and infection. This is where studying the blood and cell composition is essential. The blood has two main components: plasma and formed elements, which are composed of red and white blood cells, and the platelets. All these have a role to play in ensuring that the blood performs its expected functions that include:

Transportation of oxygen, nutrients, hormones, heat, etc.
Protection from inflammation
Regulation of pH by interacting with acids and bases, and water balance

Along with this is learning how to take universal precautions when handling blood and certain body fluids that may be infected with disease-producing blood-borne pathogens. Considering that they cannot be readily identified, proper training in laboratory procedures is highly recommended.

Learn all about laboratory safety

As previously mentioned, blood and some body fluids may carry disease and infection that, when handled incorrectly, could prove fatal. This is why it is imperative that an aspiring phlebotomist must know how to safely handle lab equipment and to clean up when spills happen. Doing so will help ensure that you and your co-workers are protected from physical harm and possible infections. It is through this course that you will learn isolation techniques to prevent the spread of disease from a patient to other patients or hospital personnel. These include strict isolation, enteric isolation, respiratory isolation, wound and skin isolation, and protective isolation.

Understand anatomy and physiology

Although the main focus of phlebotomy is blood, it is best that you know about the human body inside and out. After all, blood circulates pretty much everywhere inside the body. Under this training program, you will know all about the circulatory, respiratory, urinary, muscular, lymphatic and skeletal systems. Know that a patient only has a limited number of accessible veins, which are also used as entry points for medication and intravenous solutions. Understanding the human body and the veins used in venipuncture will help you work meticulously to preserve these vital areas.

In the case of a phlebotomy site, location will vary depending on the age of a patient. Blood is generally drawn from the heel of a foot, from infants less than 1 year old, and the heelstick procedure is used. Your knowledge in anatomy will surely come handy because you need to identify which sites for phlebotomy are considered acceptable, and how deep the puncture should go. The blood vessels of an infant are located between 0.35 and 1.6 mm below the skin, and the puncture must not go beyond this range.

Develop skills to provide CPR

CPR may seem far off where phlebotomy is concerned, and may not be offered by some training courses. Still, it would be a great idea to learn CPR as anything can happen while you’re working in a laboratory or a hospital. Your skills will surely come in handy during emergencies, especially when combined with first-aid training.

Administering CPR, however, can be tricky. It is only applicable to infants, children and adults, but not newborns. What you can do, will also depend on the training you have. Hands-only CPR is recommended if you are still starting on the learning process. You have to use a different procedure if you are trained and confident of your skills, and another if you had training but lack the confidence to carry out the tasks required.

There are plenty of courses that are included in a phlebotomy curriculum, all of which will help you excel in this field. So make sure to stock up on related knowledge and skills before and while you’re working as a phlebotomist.

Most training programs also provide certification at the end of a course, which will prove beneficial. Although certification is not a legal requirement in most states, a lot of employers and clinics prefer their phlebotomist to be certified. In the event that you are not given a certification at the end of training, you can apply for one at various organizations, including the American Certification Agency for Healthcare Professionals and the American Society of Clinical Pathologists. You will have to pass the exam to get certified.

Are you ready to start training?

Before you do, you should know how to choose the right school or training center. You can start by defining your priorities. If you can only study part-time, identify which course matters most to you and start from there. Find out which schools offer the program you want to enroll in and then narrow down your options.

Consider the location

Go for online phlebotomy courses if you don’t want to waste time traveling or commuting for long periods. But if you prefer to study in a classroom setting, you must choose a school where distance would not be an inconvenience.

Take into account the length of completion

Is a job vacancy waiting for you? You should choose a training that will allow you to enter the workforce as quickly as possible. Phlebotomy courses vary in lengths, ranging from one semester to a full year. Some are offered on flexible schedules, while others are not. It is vital to choose which schedule works best for you.

Check the accreditation

The training you undergo should meet the standards set by the clinics or hospitals you wish to work in. To ensure that it does, look for accredited training centers and get your certification from them. Doing so will not only help start your career, but also increase your chances to get into federal financial aid programs.