Lesson: What is Phlebotomy? (Scope and Tasks of being a Phlebotomist) I. Video Phlebotomy Technician <iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.

com/embed/GoNQnWl0Nsw" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> II. Summary

Phlebotomy is the act of drawing blood from a patient through the use of medical needles. The blood extracted through the needle is then studied by a physician in order to determine the patient's health condition. The blood may also be used in other patients in the form of a blood transfusion. It can be performed in a laboratory, hospital or even a medical clinic. The procedure is somewhat similar to blood donation wherein a healthcare professional inserts a needle into a vein and draws approximately 500 ml or 17 fluid oz of blood. The procedure takes less than 30 minutes to complete and does not require any advance preparation like fasting. A phlebotomist is a medical professional who draws blood from patients for these specific purposes. Phlebotomists are specialized clinical support workers/assistant healthcare scientists who collect blood from patients for examination in laboratories, the results of which provide valuable information to diagnosing illness. Phlebotomists have responsibility to take blood without harming the patient or disturbing the nursing care they are receiving at the time. Phlebotomists apply techniques and standard precautions to properly handle biohazards. They also need to ensure the blood is taken correctly, as if specimens are harmed during collection, test results may be unobtainable or worthless. Phlebotomists must enforce quality control in conducting procedures while ensuring the patient's confidence. They must be accurate, work well under pressure and communicate effectively.

Scope: Setting up of blood collection equipment and supplies on tray, neonatal heelsticks, pediatric, adolescent, adult and geriatric fingersticks, and venipunctures Facilitates the collection and transportation of laboratory specimens, and is often the patients only contact with the medical laboratory. Assure quality and patient safety, mandates strict professional behavior and standards of practice for Phlebotomists. Safety precautions must be taken to prevent the transmission of infectious diseases. Drawing blood from patients or donors in hospitals, blood banks, clinics, doctor offices, laboratories or similar facility for medical purposes Assembles equipment (such as needles, blood collection devices, gauze, tourniquet, cotton, and alcohol) Verifies or records identity of patient or donor Converses with patients to allay fear of procedure Applies tourniquet to arm, locates vein, swabs area with disinfectant, and inserts needle into vein to draw blood into collection tube. (May also prick finger instead of inserting needle.) Correctly labels the collection container with pertinent patient information for identification, and subsequently must complete and file companion paperwork to trace the route of the sample from collection through lab work through final analysis and diagnosis Stores blood container for processing and proper disposal of the fluids May conduct interview, take vital signs and test blood samples to screen donors at a blood bank Be able to analyze information and make appropriate recommendations

Tasks:

III. References

1. Phlebotomy (http://library.med.utah.edu/WebPath/TUTORIAL/PHLEB/PHLEB.html) IV. Quiz 1. The act of drawing blood from a patient through the use of medical needles. a. Phlebotomy b. Phlebovenotomy c. Phlebotomist

d. Phlebovenotomist Answer: b. Phlebotomy Rationale: Phlebotomy is the act of drawing blood from a patient through the use of medical needles. 2. A medical professional who draws blood from patients for these specific purposes. a. b. c. d. Phlebotomy Phlebovenotomy Phlebotomist Phlebovenotomist

Answer: c. Phlebotomist Rationale: A phlebotomist is a medical professional who draws blood from patients for these specific purposes. 3. True or False. Phlebotomist must be accurate, cant work well under pressure and communicate effectively. a. True b. False Answer: b. False Rationale: Phlebotomist must be accurate, can work well under pressure and communicate effectively. 4. The scope of a phlebotomist includes: a. Facilitates the collection and transportation of laboratory specimens. b. Safety precautions must not be taken to prevent the transmission of infectious diseases. c. Take vital signs. d. Doesnt follow strict professional behavior and standards of practice for Phlebotomists. Answer: a. Facilitates the collection and transportation of laboratory specimens. Rationale: A phlebotomist facilitates the collection and transportation of laboratory specimens, takes safety precautions to prevent the transmission of infectious diseases and should follow strict professional behavior and standards of practice for Phlebotomists. 5. The following are the tasks of a phlebotomist EXCEPT a. Assembles equipment (such as needles, blood collection devices, gauze, tourniquet, cotton, and alcohol). b. Verifies or records identity of patient or donor. c. Converses with patients to allay fear of procedure.

d. Cant conduct an interview but can take vital signs and test blood samples to screen donors at a blood bank. Answer: d. Cant conduct an interview but can take vital signs and test blood samples to screen donors at a blood bank. Rationale: A phlebotomist may conduct interview, take vital signs and test blood samples to screen donors at a blood bank. 6. True or False. Applies tourniquet to arm, locates vein, swabs area with water, and inserts needle into vein to draw blood into collection tube. a. True b. False Answer: b. False Rationale: Applies tourniquet to arm, locates vein, swabs area with disinfectant, and inserts needle into vein to draw blood into collection tube. 7. The following are the equipments a phlebotomist uses EXCEPT a. b. c. d. Needles Gauze Tourniquet Thermometer

Answer: d. Thermometer Rationale: Phlebotomists assembles equipments that they will use such as needles, blood collection devices, gauze, tourniquet, cotton, and alcohol. Thermometer is not included. 8. Approximately how many ml of blood does a phlebotomist extract from the patient? a. b. c. d. 200 ml 400 ml 500 ml 300 ml

Answer: c. 500 ml Rationale: Phlebotomy can be performed in a laboratory, hospital or even a medical clinic. The procedure is somewhat similar to blood donation wherein a healthcare professional inserts a needle into a vein and draws approximately 500 ml or 17 fluid oz of blood. 9. True or False. A Phlebotomist may prick a finger to draw blood into the collection tube instead of inserting needle. a. True b. False Answer: a. True

Rationale: A phlebotomist applies tourniquet to arm, locates vein, swabs area with disinfectant, and inserts needle into vein to draw blood into collection tube. They may also prick finger instead of inserting needle. 10. Phlebotomy takes how many minutes to complete? a. b. c. d. Less than 30 minutes Less than 40 minutes Less than 50 minutes Less than 60 minutes

Answer: a. less than 30 minutes Rationale: Phlebotomy takes less than 30 minutes to complete and does not require any advance preparation like fasting.