Personal Narrative: An Interview With A Phlebotomy

Being one of the first NPs in this role was a frightening experience for her, “ there were not preceptors in this area”, she states, so they had to create the role from the ground, not an easy task while taking care of highly acute patients.

The reason why I selected the Clinical Laboratory Technology Program: I felt if I need a change in my life and career. I knew this was a great opportunity for me to explore more in the medical laboratory science field. After, being a Phlebotomist for several years I just wanted to do more; such as, being more involved with the breakdown of the process of results. Phlebotomy is great but it’s a limit on how much you can and a great mind want’s to explore.

The reason I selected Technical Education is because, I wanted change in my life and career. After, being a Phlebotomist for several years I wanted to discover more; Phlebotomy is remarkable, but then it’s a limit on how much can be perform in Phlebotomy. As for me; I wanted more to explore. I knew Clinical Laboratory Technology was a considerable opportunity to branch into.

After graduating college in 1926, Charles Drew was later on enrolled to a medical school-McGill University- in Montreal, Canada, 1928. After studying in several colleges in Canada, Charles Drew returned to the United States and, in 1938, he went to Columbia University where Charles Drew continued exploring blood-related matters. It was there where Charles Drew discovered to process and preserve blood without its cells or plasma in it. Because of this new thesis and method he created, Charles Drew received his doctorate degree in 1940, and a degree in Doctor of Medical Science. During the late 1940’s, Charles Drew was recruited by a medical doctor, John Shudder, to set up a program where donors could donate their blood, and it will be preserved

Working alongside physicians, I have seen over 5,000 patient cases and documented each individual history of present illness, review of systems, physical exam, medical decision making, and diagnoses. I have viewed hundreds of X-rays and EKGs and recorded physician interpretations. Observing and charting specifications of emergency room procedures provided a stimulating element-- from an application of a sugar tong splint on an athlete for an acute ulnar fracture, to a scalp laceration repair on an elderly patient after a fall. One of my most exhilarating cases is seeing a PA save the life of a COPD patient as he performs a chest-tube insertion for a pneumothorax. Furthermore, my predilection for the PA role is corroborated by the aspect that PAs get to spend more time with patients. In one particular scene, a compassionate PA offers a heartfelt consultation to a suicidal veteran with PTSD. These invaluable experiences have markedly expanded my medical knowledge base and further bolstered my interest in the role of a physician assistant.

There are many ways that blood can be drawn from a patient. There are patients who may have special needs, such as the elderly and infants. These patients often have collapsible or delicate veins that often make drawing blood more difficult, than other patients. Individuals who learn what is phlebotomy will find these people work in all aspects of the medical field. They can be found in nursing homes, doctor's offices, hospitals, and various clinical-type settings.

Since graduating from college, I have acquired close to 2000 hours of experience in the clinical setting. This employment opportunity also enables me to shadow upwards of four primary care providers each day. Typically, they will assist me with reading diagnostic tests, interpreting results, going over treatment options, and many other medicinal tasks. Thus far, I have participated in a variety of cases ranging from mild to severe. This includes heart problems such as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, blood clots as in deep vein thrombosis, and oncological diagnoses. Most recently, I have been training in phlebotomy. This skill will be useful because it will provide me with practical clinical experience, and also help me to better understand lab

Bloodletting, known as phlebotomy in the medical world, imitates to some degree the violent blood loss of the European Vikings. As explained earlier, the loss of nutrition through bloodloss was balanced out by the mutation, hemochromatosis. Now, hemochromatic people do the opposite and balance high iron levels with bloodletting. The process of bloodletting can be done several ways, obviously much more differently and safer than in the past. The author of Survival of the Sickest, Dr. Sharon Maulem, chooses to donate blood on the regular to balance his iron levels, similar to his grandfather who was also

seem to be the harder part. Medical and science of the modern world have come a long way from blood

A phlebotomist is required to have clear sight of what vien to pick so they don’t need to  poke the patient's arm more than once. Like others they also need to be careful on every detail they write about the patient information(Phlebotomist 1). Additionally, they need to be able to insert the needle in fast so they don’t feel the pain as much. Phlebotomist needs to clean the patient's arm where the needle will be going in(How 1).

As the slightest of things have an impact on the blood pressure reading result, this could in turn make the patient anxious, which would naturally cause their reading to be elevated, and not necessarily give a true reading. This is why it is imperative that when carrying out this skill, that the individual feels comfortable and totally at ease. In order to do this you would always ensure that the patient understands the procedure, why it is being done and how it is done. Effective communication is key, as the patient needs to be spoken to, using a language that they are able to understand and relate to. Using medical terminology, irrespective of how accurate the information may be, would not necessarily give the patient any

Seat the patient in a chair and decide from which arm to draw the blood.

The purpose of this journal is to reflect on my experience and skills gained during my clinical placement at Ben Taub Hospital. On my first clinical day, I was excited and nervous at the same time. My first placement was in the PREOP/PACU area. I was assigned to help a patient who had been in the PACU area going on 2 days. Normally, once the patient comes from surgery they are only in the PACU area for a short period of time before they are discharged home or given a bed in another area of the hospital. This particular patient still had not received an assignment for a bed. The physicians would make their rounds to come check on him daily. The patient was a 28-year-old Hispanic male, non-English speaking, he had a hemicolectomy. He had a NG tube, urinary Foley catheter, and a wound vac. My preceptor had just clocked in and she needed to check on the patient’s vitals and notes from the previous nurse. Once she introduced me to the patient and explained while I was there, she then asked me to check his vitals. (Vital signs indicate the body’s ability to regulate body temperature, maintain blood flow, and oxygenate body tissues. Vital signs are important indicators of a client’s overall health status (Hogan, 2014). I froze for a quick second. I have practiced taking vitals numerous of times and I knew I could do it correctly. I started with the temperature first, when I was quickly corrected on a major mistake I had made by my preceptor. I HAD FORGOT TO WASH MY HANDS and PUT

With this in mind, I entered my last clinical rotation on the OR floor in a large teaching hospital. It contained 19 operating room suites and personnel included a VP of surgical services, a unit manager, a supply manager, an education coordinator, a few supervisors, and an array of surgeons, anesthesiologists, circulating nurses, scrub nurses/technicians, unit clerks, and surgical aides. My preceptor trained me in the position of circulating nurse. As the circulating nurse, I acted as the patient’s advocate while the patient was under the influence of anesthesia. During surgery, I was delegated the task of anticipating needs and trusted to use my clinical judgement when split second decisions were required.

When blood is removed from a vein, it is called venipuncture or phlebotomy. Venipuncture should be performed with care. The veins of a patient are the main source of specimens for testing, the entry point of medications, and the site for IVs and blood transfusions. Because there are only a limited number of easily accessible veins in a patient, it is important that everything be done to preserve their good condition and availability. Universal precautions should be observed at all times. Gloves should always be worn when obtaining blood specimens. BEFORE BEGINNING ANY PROCEDURE—ACCURATELY IDENTIFY THE PATIENT ! Follow the proper protocol to identify the patient make positive identification of the patient by checking hospital armband for