Pediatric Blood Draws: Tips for Phlebotomists

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.

Skills to Hone as a Certified Phlebotomy Technician or Medical Assistant

If you are currently working in the medical field as a phlebotomist or medical assistant or are seeking to learn more about the job climate for these roles, a quick browse online will certainly make you feel pretty good! Many sources claim, and logically so, that the demand for medical staff positions are on the rise and will likely continue to rise as the baby boomer generation ages. That said, a certified phlebotomy technician or a specifically trained assistant will have greater leverage in the job market—particularly when it comes to job retention, salary negotiations, and other perks.

But what other attributes will set you apart? Consider these soft skills:

Charisma: Sure, some are born with it and others must work a bit harder, but take time to sharpen your listening skills and empathetic responses to patients. Many times, you will be working with clients that are possibly stressed by either the test you’re performing or even the potential for bad news. Those phlebotomists and technicians that work to relate with the patients are irreplaceable to others on staff.

Positivity: No doubt, medical professionals are among the hardest workers. They often work long hours on their feet and have to wear many hats. If you’re the kind of person that can do this with a smile and a positive attitude, you can almost guarantee a job anywhere and frequent pay raises.

Organizational Skills: Those certified phlebotomy technicians and other professionals that can multitask well and juggle all the balls that these positions will toss at you will have the greatest chance at success and the best opportunities for advancement.

Test Anxiety & Relief

Many people experience some version of test anxiety in their lifetimes. While some may only encounter this type of stress once or twice over a very difficult exam, others feel it every time they are required to show their learning in the form of a test. If you fall into the latter category and are preparing to take your phlebotomy certification exam or a test for your continuing education course, follow this advice to help calm your fears.

Before Test Day

As the course begins, develop a good study method and try to manage your time wisely. A huge source of stress often comes from trying to absorb too much information late in the game. You can also visualize mastery of the material as you learn it.

Final Exam Preparation

Again, avoid cramming. You should have developed some level of mastery over the material by this point, so go forth with confidence! Get a good night’s sleep, enjoy a good breakfast, and be sure you get comfortable in your seat. Before you start, clear your mind and take a few deep breaths to calm the nerves. Relax—you’ve got this!

During the Test

Take it slow and steady, and be sure to read through any instructions carefully. If you find yourself getting stressed, turn the test over (pause in some way) and stretch. Take a few more deep breaths and dive back in. Skip any questions you don’t know and return to them later. Remember, there is no reward for finishing first, so don’t let the sound of people getting done cause any anxiety.

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.

A Brief--And Possibly Surprising--History of Phlebotomy

If you're a skilled medical professional, we don't have to explain to you the definition of the word phlebotomy. You might, however, be puzzled about the origins of the word. The old Greek words phleb for 'vein' and tomia for 'cutting' seem misleading now. After all, what does cutting have to do with the drawing of blood for diagnostic purposes?

Actually, cutting had plenty to do with very early phlebotomy techniques. Evidence shows that so-called “bloodletting” was practiced in ancient Egypt. Whether it began there or not, who knows, but the gory method that was thought to rid the body of practically any ailment was practiced in many cultures up to and including a nascent United States of America. All manner of small knives, lances, and glass suction cups were employed to remove “excess” blood from the unfortunate patient's body.

In December 1799, George Washington was one of those unlucky patients. George was suffering from a bothersome throat infection, the cure for which was -wait for it- bloodletting. After being relieved of more than nine pints of blood in fewer than 24 hours, the first US president up and died. After that, public opinion regarding the efficacy of bloodletting as a cure-all began to wane.

It's a very good thing that 21st century phlebotomy techniques have exponentially advanced since the “good old days.” The American Society of Phlebotomy Technicians is the second-oldest certifying agency of the field of Phlebotomy, and one of the only agencies that offers continuing phlebotomy education and advanced phlebotomy training.