Being a certified phlebotomy
technician is no easy job—you’re dealing with people that are anxious about
getting their blood pulled and stressed out over why the testing must be done.
These tensions are further heightened when the patient is a child. Here are
some thoughts to keep in mind if you’re a phlebotomist that works with
children:
In addition to the normal patient stresses, you also have a
whole family of stresses added on. Mom or dad (or both) will likely be there,
just as stressed as the patient, or even more so. You’ll want to make sure you
are appropriately addressing both.
One way to help distract the child and help them feel at
ease is to involve them in the process. You can have them hold the bandage that
will be placed on the injection site or have them pick out a band aid. Use your
imagination. If you can give them a “job” it can really alleviate the stress
and build trust.
Speaking of trust, engage the child every step of the way
and tell them fun facts about blood, etc. A child’s natural curiosity will
often take over and this clarity can help alleviate fear.
Take note of your voice and body language. You’ll want to
adjust to accommodate the age of the child, speaking in soft tones and using
vocabulary on their level. Maintain eye contact. Additionally, be sure to shift
your tone as you speak with parents.
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