The method or process one needs to follow while extracting blood from a patient’s body for further analysis in the laboratory is called as phlebotomy and the person executing this task is referred to as a phlebotomist.
Thanks to the advancement in healthcare sector and medical field, the quality of healthcare extended to the ever increasing population in this world has improved drastically and this requires the need for professional people in each and every aspect of health care services. Of late, the process of extracting blood from the patient’s body for analysis was treated as a part of the routine duties of a registered nurse, and more so, as one of the many multi-tasks that a healthcare professional does as part of his or her normal duties.
The growing advancement in medical field and the importance of dealing with blood samples has necessitated professional training and approach to phlebotomy job and the need for certification to become a phlebotomist. Even nurses should undergo examination and special training in phlebotomy before extracting blood from a patient’s body.
Many states and countries have recognized the importance of phlebotomy and have made it mandatory to acquire phlebotomy certification to work as a phlebotomist. The need for a qualified phlebotomist is felt not only in hospitals, but even in blood banks, mobile blood collection centers, laboratories and diagnostic centers.
A number of phlebotomy schools conduct training sessions and conduct examinations at periodic levels to assess the expertise of a trainee and award certification as a phlebotomist. The exam usually comprises of two parts – one is theoretical one and the other is practical one.
In theoretical part, a student will be asked questions, either in objective type or narrative type, to explain the process of extracting blood, the equipments that are used in phlebotomy, the precautions that need to be taken, the consequences of wrong execution, legal issues in phlebotomy, anatomy, and such other things. In practical training, one might be asked to demonstrate their capability in extracting the blood from a patient, the precautions that were taken in doing the activity and the safety measures followed in the process.
A student taking up the phlebotomy exam needs to be thorough in his understanding the basic concepts of blood, human anatomy, procedures, medical terms, abbreviations, and all such related terms and definitions. He or she might be asked to narrate the procedure to be followed for extracting blood from a person who has very weak veins and is too old to locate the veins. Some challenging questions will be posed to test the expertise and understanding of the student with regard to the process and the importance of phlebotomy or blood extraction in patient care.
The following steps in preparation for the phlebotomy exam might be of immense use:
1. Selecting the ideal books and reading materials to prepare for the examination, and keeping yourself abreast with the procedures involved in the extraction of blood samples
2. Taking up some practice tests to ensure that the concept is clearly understood
3. Memorizing key concepts, definitions, abbreviations and other medical terms that are used in the treatment of patients by the doctors, registered nurses and other members in the hospital or healthcare centers, and
4. Attending some conferences or training sessions that concentrates on the latest developments in phlebotomy.
These will help in preparing well for the phlebotomy examination and get phlebotomy certification from the appropriate authorities.