Allaying Patient Fears During Blood Draws

As a phlebotomy technician, your primary role is to effectively draw blood and collect it according to protocols that will ensure that it is appropriately processed by the lab. Being organized, focused, and paying attention to details are important characteristics to display. Another highly important part of the phlebotomists job is to calm the fears of their patients, which will happen quite frequently.

Here a few tips to help your patients feel at ease:

·         Show empathy and maintain eye contact with the patient throughout the process. Try and relate to their fears.

·         Stay on pace with the patient. Try to slow down if that seems to help or expedite if they seem to want it over quickly.

·         Talk about each step as you take it in a calm tone so as to not alarm the patient.

·         Give the patient a focal point. Whether you encourage deep breaths, counting to ten, or focusing on an image in the room, give the patient an alternative to zeroing in on the needle.

·         If you have an extremely anxious patient or if they indicate fainting or other issues with previous blood draws, offer them a reclining or flat surface to help them stay calm.