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Phlebotomists Occupation Detailed Description

Phlebotomists career

General Job Description and Education/Training Levels for Phlebotomists

The main tasks and work activities of Phlebotomists are to collect biological specimens from patients, dispose of biomedical waste in accordance with standards, explain technical medical information to patients, prepare medical instruments or equipment for use. In general, for the Phlebotomists, service Orientation, social Perceptiveness, speaking, active Listening and other 9 skills are required.
Phlebotomists Job Description
EducationMost occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
Related ExperiencePrevious work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.
Job TrainingEmployees in these occupations usually need one or two years of training involving both on-the-job experience and informal training with experienced workers. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.
ExampleThese occupations usually involve using communication and organizational skills to coordinate, supervise, manage, or train others to accomplish goals. Examples include hydroelectric production managers, travel guides, electricians, agricultural technicians, barbers, court reporters, and medical assistants.
The following chart shows the education/training levels for Phlebotomists jobs. 31.82% of Phlebotomists have High School Diploma (or the equivalent) and 45.45% of Phlebotomists have Post-Secondary Certificate.
Less than a High School Diploma
0.00%
High School Diploma (or the equivalent)
31.82%
Post-Secondary Certificate
45.45%
Some College Courses
13.64%
Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree)
4.55%
Bachelor's Degree and Above
4.54%

Tasks and Work Activities of Phlebotomists

  • Collect fluid or tissue samples, using appropriate collection procedures.
  • Dispose of blood or other biohazard fluids or tissue, in accordance with applicable laws, standards, or policies.
  • Dispose of contaminated sharps, in accordance with applicable laws, standards, and policies.
  • Document route of specimens from collection to laboratory analysis and diagnosis.
  • Draw blood from arteries, using arterial collection techniques.
  • Draw blood from capillaries by dermal puncture, such as heel or finger stick methods.
  • Draw blood from veins by vacuum tube, syringe, or butterfly venipuncture methods.
  • Explain fluid or tissue collection procedures to patients.
  • Match laboratory requisition forms to specimen tubes.
  • Organize or clean blood-drawing trays, ensuring that all instruments are sterile and all needles, syringes, or related items are of first-time use.
  • Administer subcutaneous or intramuscular injects, in accordance with licensing restrictions.
  • Calibrate or maintain machines, such as those used for plasma collection.
  • Collect specimens at specific time intervals for tests, such as those assessing therapeutic drug levels.
  • Conduct hemoglobin tests to ensure donor iron levels are normal.
  • Conduct standards tests, such as blood alcohol, blood culture, oral glucose tolerance, glucose screening, blood smears, or peak and trough drug levels tests.
  • Determine donor suitability, according to interview results, vital signs, and medical history.
  • Enter patient, specimen, insurance, or billing information into computer.
  • Monitor blood or plasma donors during and after procedures to ensure health, safety, and comfort.
  • Perform saline flushes or dispense anticoagulant drugs, such as Heparin, through intravenous (IV) lines, in accordance with licensing restrictions and under the direction of a medical doctor.
  • Process blood or other fluid samples for further analysis by other medical professionals.
  • Assisting and Caring for OthersProviding personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.
  • Getting InformationObserving, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
  • Interacting With ComputersUsing computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
  • Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or SubordinatesProviding information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
  • Updating and Using Relevant KnowledgeKeeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
  • Processing InformationCompiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
  • Making Decisions and Solving ProblemsAnalyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
  • Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with StandardsUsing relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
  • Documenting/Recording InformationEntering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
  • Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing WorkDeveloping specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
  • Collect biological specimens from patients.
  • Dispose of biomedical waste in accordance with standards.
  • Explain technical medical information to patients.
  • Prepare medical instruments or equipment for use.
  • Clean medical equipment.
  • Give medications or immunizations.
  • Maintain medical equipment or instruments.
  • Conduct diagnostic tests to determine patient health.
  • Maintain medical records.
  • Monitor patients to detect health problems.
  • Feed patients.
  • Teach medical procedures to healthcare personnel.
  • Transport biological or other medical materials.

Skills and Abilities for Phlebotomists

  • Service OrientationActively looking for ways to help people.
  • Social PerceptivenessBeing aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
  • SpeakingTalking to others to convey information effectively.
  • Active ListeningGiving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
  • Critical ThinkingUsing logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
  • CoordinationAdjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
  • MonitoringMonitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
  • WritingCommunicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
  • Reading ComprehensionUnderstanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
  • InstructingTeaching others how to do something.
  • Active LearningUnderstanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
  • Time ManagementManaging one's own time and the time of others.
  • Near VisionThe ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
  • Arm-Hand SteadinessThe ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.
  • Problem SensitivityThe ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
  • Oral ExpressionThe ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
  • Written ComprehensionThe ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
  • Oral ComprehensionThe ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
  • Speech ClarityThe ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
  • Deductive ReasoningThe ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
  • Information OrderingThe ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
  • Speech RecognitionThe ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
  • Finger DexterityThe ability to make precisely coordinated movements of the fingers of one or both hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble very small objects.
  • Flexibility of ClosureThe ability to identify or detect a known pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) that is hidden in other distracting material.
  • Category FlexibilityThe ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.
  • Inductive ReasoningThe ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
  • Written ExpressionThe ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
  • Perceptual SpeedThe ability to quickly and accurately compare similarities and differences among sets of letters, numbers, objects, pictures, or patterns. The things to be compared may be presented at the same time or one after the other. This ability also includes comparing a presented object with a remembered object.
  • Manual DexterityThe ability to quickly move your hand, your hand together with your arm, or your two hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.
  • Selective AttentionThe ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted.
  • Non vacuum blood collection tubes or containerse.g. Aliquot tubes
  • Bar code reader equipmente.g. Barcode scanners
  • Spill kitse.g. Biohazard spill kits
  • Blood collection syringese.g. Blood collection syringes
  • Non vacuum blood collection tubes or containerse.g. Blood culture bottles
  • Shaking incubatorse.g. Blood culture incubators
  • Blood collection syringese.g. Blood drawing syringes
  • Arterial blood gas monitors or accessoriese.g. Blood gas kits
  • Glucose monitors or meterse.g. Blood glucose monitoring equipment
  • Lancetse.g. Blood lancets
  • Blood bank refrigeratorse.g. Blood specimen refrigerators
  • Capillary or hematocrit tubese.g. Capillary tubes
  • Tissue culture coated plates or dishes or insertse.g. Culture plates
  • Clock timerse.g. Digital timers
  • Volumetric pipettese.g. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) pipettes
  • Intravenous tubing with catheter administration kitse.g. Intravenous IV administration equipment
  • Benchtop centrifugese.g. Laboratory centrifuges
  • Notebook computerse.g. Laptop computers
  • Laser fax machinee.g. Laser facsimile machines
  • Medical staff isolation or surgical maskse.g. Medical face masks
  • Customer and Personal ServiceKnowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
  • English LanguageKnowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
  • ClericalKnowledge of administrative and clerical procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office procedures and terminology.
  • Education and TrainingKnowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
  • PsychologyKnowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.
  • Computers and ElectronicsKnowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
  • Medicine and DentistryKnowledge of the information and techniques needed to diagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities. This includes symptoms, treatment alternatives, drug properties and interactions, and preventive health-care measures.