The Role of the Phlebotomy Technician
This is where and when you label a specimen tube.
What is at the bedside, immediately after the draw?
What is at the bedside, immediately after the draw?
Rules enforced by government that are written, codified, and the same for everyone in a jurisdiction — breaking them can mean fines, license loss, or jail.
What is a law?
This type of communication includes facial expressions, posture, gestures, and eye contact.
What is nonverbal communication?
This is the single most important action for preventing the spread of infection in a healthcare setting.
What is hand hygiene?
Before every collection, you must confirm this many patient identifiers.
What are two?
Falsifying a specimen label lands in this category, because it breaks both a rule and a professional standard.
What is both illegal and unethical?
A phlebotomy technician demonstrates this skill by giving the patient full attention, avoiding interruptions, and responding appropriately.
What is active listening?
These guidelines require healthcare workers to treat all blood and certain body fluids as potentially infectious.
What are Standard Precautions?
This type of puncture is outside your scope unless you have been specifically trained and authorized to perform it.
What is an arterial puncture or what is an IV insertion?
A phlebotomist who fails to verify patient ID and causes a transfusion reaction has committed this — negligence by a professional acting in a professional capacity.
What is malpractice?
When a patient does not speak English fluently, this qualified person should be used to help explain the blood-collection procedure.
Who is a medical interpreter?
Used needles must be placed immediately into this type of container without bending, breaking, or recapping them.
What is a puncture-resistant sharps container?
In the chain of laboratory testing, the phlebotomist holds this position — which is why every downstream step is compromised if you mishandle a specimen
What is first link?
The federal law passed in 1988 that set quality standards for all laboratory testing performed on humans in the United States, no matter where the test is done.
What is CLIA (the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments)?
This practice involves respecting differences in a patient’s beliefs, customs, values, language, and healthcare preferences.
What is cultural competence?
This protective equipment must be worn during blood collection and changed between patients.
What are disposable gloves?
Beyond the draw itself, this is your responsibility for the specimen from the moment it leaves the patient until it reaches the testing department.
What is maintaining specimen integrity through processing and transport?
When a patient is a minor, unconscious, or has dementia, permission for the draw comes from this person.
Who is the legal guardian or legally authorized representative?
After explaining the procedure, the phlebotomy technician asks the patient to repeat the instructions in their own words. This communication technique checks understanding.
What is the teach-back method?
This term describes the sequence through which an infectious organism travels from its source to a susceptible person.
What is the chain of infection?