3 answers
3 answers
Updated
Estelle’s Answer
You need to be calm and comforting. As you get better and better at drawing blood, your confidence will build, and patients will notice. You also need to be organized. Drawing blood, labeling it, and getting it to the lab is critical business in medicine, so take your job seriously, and you will be great!
Updated
Hailee’s Answer
Hi Friend!
In my experience, just talking to people. Kind of making jokes laughing with them. If they aren't really for that, just strike up any conversation. Making the patient feel comfortable with you. Being confident in your skills and letting them know you know what you are doing is key. Being able to multitask and talk to the patient, set up supplies and perform the draw is super important. If they see you are confident in what you are about to do they definitely are a little more relaxed. What helped me the most with learning my blood draw skills and finding veins was practicing on family or friends. You don't have to stick them but just by tying a torniquet on and getting the feel of that helps a lot. When i first started i sat in a chair and tied a tourniquet over and over on my leg until i found a way that was most comfortable for me. Also, a tip for finding veins is closing your eyes. I know this sounds absolutely crazy! But closing your eyes and going off of what you feel and not by what you see is super important. Some people you cant see their veins but you can feel where they are. Feel for something that feels bouncy or gummy. Being a phlebotomist is one of the most rewarding and best decisions i could make in my life! I absolutely love my job and interacting with patients.
In my experience, just talking to people. Kind of making jokes laughing with them. If they aren't really for that, just strike up any conversation. Making the patient feel comfortable with you. Being confident in your skills and letting them know you know what you are doing is key. Being able to multitask and talk to the patient, set up supplies and perform the draw is super important. If they see you are confident in what you are about to do they definitely are a little more relaxed. What helped me the most with learning my blood draw skills and finding veins was practicing on family or friends. You don't have to stick them but just by tying a torniquet on and getting the feel of that helps a lot. When i first started i sat in a chair and tied a tourniquet over and over on my leg until i found a way that was most comfortable for me. Also, a tip for finding veins is closing your eyes. I know this sounds absolutely crazy! But closing your eyes and going off of what you feel and not by what you see is super important. Some people you cant see their veins but you can feel where they are. Feel for something that feels bouncy or gummy. Being a phlebotomist is one of the most rewarding and best decisions i could make in my life! I absolutely love my job and interacting with patients.