Ever since we are little, most of us hate the idea of needle pricks at the doctor’s office. We cringe, cry, hold our moms hand or even embarrassingly pass out. Although we are difficult patients during the collection of blood specimens, it is actually crucially important for a Phlebotomist to perform a proper collection of specimens. Phlebotomy can be the backbone of the laboratory and provide proper diagnosis for patients. Improper collection can lead to complications, including misdiagnosis. Misdiagnosis can mean life or death for patients. Phlebotomists have multiple duties and responsibilities starting with preparing the patient for collection procedures, collect routine skin puncture and venous specimens for testing, prepare specimens …show more content…
Based off standard precautions, I would already be wearing scrubs, a gown to protect my skin and clothes from contamination and have proper shoes on. Proper shoes entail that the toe and heel are enclosed and that the shoes are not mesh. This is vital due to the situation of a needle or tube dropping. The dirty needle could puncture the foot or the tube may break causing splatter and contaminate the foot and surrounding area. Furthermore, after identifying the patient I can follow the rest of the safety precautions by putting on a clean pair of gloves and begin my prep.
Being a Phlebotomist in a nursing home, I go to each patient’s bedside. My toolbox comes with me to each room. Inside my vampire toolbox contains a Biohazards container, a box of gloves, rolls of medical tape, gauze, alcohol prep pads, tourniquets, 22g straight needles and butterfly needles. For each patient, I put on a new clean pair of gloves, put a piece of tape below my thumb, grab a piece of gauze, alcohol prep pad and tourniquet. I keep all these materials close to me so that everything can be done in an orderly and timely