The healthcare industry demands professional approach from the health care providers, such as doctors, registered nurses, certified nursing assistants and such other professionals, engaged in the provision of effective and efficient health care and managed patient care services of the patients, in particular, and the people, in general, who need attention.
Gone were the days when a general idea and practical knowledge in nursing profession would be sufficient to render the services of a registered nurse or even a certified nursing assistant. Undergoing professional training and certification in specialized area of work is a must for the people engaged in health care sector.
One such specialized area of activity, which, in most cases, is considered a part of the duties of a certified nursing assistant, is phlebotomy and the person engaged in phlebotomy is called as a phlebotomist.
Before knowing more about the certification process in phlebotomy and the required qualifications and training, let us understand the term phlebotomy.
Phlebotomy is nothing but a process of extracting blood from a patient’s body for further diagnosis and analysis at the laboratory. Extracting blood and transporting it to the laboratory for analysis might appear to be a simple job done by a nursing assistant. But, it is not a simple job as it is being perceived. Blood can be extracted through any of the three processes – venipuncture, arterial puncture and capillary puncture. What type of processes should be used depends upon the patient and the instruction of the doctor. Any slackness or lack of knowledge or professionalism in drawing blood might lead to unwanted consequences.
A phlebotomist should have undergone training on the theoretical aspects of drawing blood such as blood types, characteristics of blood and such other things, collection materials required in the extraction process, ways and means of extracting blood that include the methods, and follow up with the laboratory with analysis for further diagnosis.
Finding the right vein to draw blood in venipuncture or the arteries for arterial puncture cannot be done without proper training and practical experience.
In order to become a certified phlebotomist, a person should join a hospital as a trainee and undergo practical on-the-job training as well as theoretical classes in connection with the blood, the systems of drawing blood, the precautions that should be followed, the records that need to be maintained and such other things. In addition to the nitty –gritty things about the process, a person should have and display good qualities such as compassion, kindness, good and clean appearance and a smiling face as he or she will invariably be the only contact between the patient and the laboratory.
Having undergone the training – both theoretical classes and on-the-job practical training, a person will be required to take the certification examination for having acquired the skill and expertise required in drawing blood sample from a patient’s body, adopting the required safety standards and following professional approach.
After completing the certification program and successfully coming out with flying colors, one would be awarded the title of a certified phlebotomist. A certified phlebotomist can find challenging jobs in hospitals, emergency care units, blood banks, community services and public health services.