I'm a Phlebotomist, AMA!

I am very very afraid of needles. I’ve tried everything e.g distraction, numbing cream etc in order to get my vaccinations and blood drawn but no matter what I do I just can’t do it even though I’m trying my best. I’m currently in the process of getting a referral to Great Ormond Street to get my vaccinations under sedation. My question is, do phlebotomists get annoyed or frustrated with people like me who freak out and how do you deal with these situations?

Reply 21

-Eirlys-

OP

Debate & Current Affairs Helper

21

Original post by shadowdweller

@-Eirlys- what are the best and worst parts of your job?

What advice would you give to someone looking to get into phlebotomy?

The best parts are meeting all kinds of people, working all over the place, not just in one area and being a part of the NHS and people's diagnostics and potential treatment. The people I work with are really nice too. :smile:

The worst parts are when you fail at taking someone's bloods. It's easy to be pretty hard on yourself, especially when you're just starting out. We hate failing just as much as patients, so it's nice if the patient is kind and understanding with us. I don't particularly enjoy working on the wards, only because most patients are challenging to bleed. I am trying to gain more confidence in the wards.

My advice would be to apply! You won't know unless you apply. There is a demand for phlebotomists so the odds are already in your favour when you apply. Having previous experience in care and with patients who exhibit challenging behaviour and/or may have dementia or a learning disability is preferable. Previous healthcare work is preferred but isn't always necessary. I think interviewers are looking more at whether you could tolerate working in challenging environments and witnessing some shocking and saddening things. They're also seeing if you as a person would fit well within their team and if you're a genuinely kind and approachable person. If you're a pretty confident person who's willing to get stuck in (no pun intended :lol:

), then they'll be willing to take you on. I think you have to be quite hardy as well, but you gain all of those skills if you have previous healthcare experience.

Original post by Obolinda

how do you feel about people who are scared of needles :redface:

was crying and hyperventilating, my mum was laughing and filming me :lol:

I respect their phobia. Although it makes no sense to me as I don't have a needle phobia, I can appreciate that it's a big thing for them. However, there's not much I can do. All they can do is look away and not watch. I can't really alter how I take their bloods to make it a bit easier for them in terms of hiding the needle. Your mum sounds nice and supportive. :lol:

Original post by upbeat4

How do you take blood from patients who are deathly afraid of needles?

The same as I do for everyone else. There's not much I can do, they usually look away when they see the needle coming out. If they are so fearful that there's a risk of them passing out, then they can lie down and get some privacy.

Original post by EstelOfTheEyrie

How do you handle people who are terrified of needles? Are the needles really that scary?

I've answered your first question above. :smile:

So the straight needle which is the usual, go to needle looks pretty long, I think it's 1.5 inches. Some people get a little uncomfortable when they see it but we only insert the bevel which is like 1mm of the needle. I find that using only a tiny amount of the needle is not only enough to get bloods from someone, but it's less painful and bruises a lot less, if at all. I've had numerous patients tell me they didn't feel a thing and I think that's largely because I don't go further than is needed. Butterfly needles are about 1 inch and look a little less imposing because they're narrower. If someone's vein is quite deep, then the whole needle length can be inserted sometimes.
The straight needles are covered right up to the moment of venepuncture so it's not always obvious where the needle is in the tray, unless you're looking for it which I think some phobic people do, understandably.

The needles aren't scary at all, it's the association people have made to them. My own theory for the high number of needle phobias could be explained by their parents telling them as small children to be weary of needles, "don't touch or pick up needles in the street". You're going to make a negative association to them, thinking there is something bad about ALL needles, not just the random ones you find on the street. A lot of parents may be phobic themselves and their kids pick up on it and so it just passes down the generations. And obviously, it's quite an unnatural procedure that will bring some pain or discomfort. A lot of people with phobias have had bad experiences when they've had bloods taken too so they get nervous. Most people are fine though, thankfully. :biggrin:

Reply 22

-Eirlys-

OP

Debate & Current Affairs Helper

21

Original post by Fear-of-failure

I am very very afraid of needles. I’ve tried everything e.g distraction, numbing cream etc in order to get my vaccinations and blood drawn but no matter what I do I just can’t do it even though I’m trying my best. I’m currently in the process of getting a referral to Great Ormond Street to get my vaccinations under sedation. My question is, do phlebotomists get annoyed or frustrated with people like me who freak out and how do you deal with these situations?

Do you know what caused your needle phobia? If it's that bad, I'd suggest trying some phobia therapy if you can. :smile:

In terms of your question, we don't mind accommodating for someone who has a phobia at all. That's part of our job after all! :biggrin:

We don't want you to have a bad experience and strengthen your phobia even further! The only thing is that those patients usually take longer to do which can make us fall behind, BUT we appreciate that it's not your fault and that's just how things go sometimes. And it's not the end of the world if we run late anyway. I think it's rare to have a clinic where no-one with a phobia comes in. Don't worry about what others are thinking, focus on yourself!

I recommend to anyone who has an issue with needles to just be honest. It's better that we know and get you prepped better before we take bloods.

Reply 23

LeapingLucy

19

Is it something you can see yourself doing for the rest of your career?

And do some phlebotomists go on to become HCAs/similar?

(edited 5 years ago)

Reply 24

singzeon

11

Have you ever worried of poking through the entire vessel?

Is phlebotomy harder for people with darker skin or with scars or tattooes? If so, is there anything you would do differently for such cases?

Reply 25

2500_2

18

This is such a fascinating thread! So interesting to read more about this role - you sound really dedicated.

Reply 26

Mummy Phleb

2

I have been working as a Phlebotomists for 4.5 years in a very busy hospital in Essex. I am a Band 3 Senior so I train and mentor new staff. Queens is a walk in service seeing up to 500 people a day. We also cover the hospital wards as well as clinics. The job is not easy and isn’t for everyone we have a lot of people joining who think its just sitting down bleeding people all day and it’s not. We have to deal with all kinds of people and you have to be professional at all times. Phlebotomy can be very stressful you can get to know a patient only to find out they passed away.

Reply 27

Secretariat123

14

Why do you always miss the vein and just end up poking holes in people? :frown:

Spoiler

Reply 28

Mummy Phleb

2

Every phlebotomists has their own way of dealing with phobias personally I get the person to close their eyes and imagine their anywhere in the world I slowly rub their arm so they know I have no needle in my hand but while I’m rubbing I’m feeling for a vein. I explain that the whole procedure will take seconds and that once the needle was in they should take deep breaths but not pant by the time I have explained all that they are normally calm enough to proceed. I don’t allow people to video or take pictures of the procedure.

Reply 29

Toastiekid

22

what's the crusty stuff inside the vials the blood go in?

Reply 30

Mummy Phleb

2

Original post by Toastiekid

what's the crusty stuff inside the vials the blood go in?

😂 there are different things in different bottles most are a type of preservative some is to stop clotting, some to make it clot.

Reply 31

Mummy Phleb

2

Original post by singzeon

Have you ever worried of poking through the entire vessel?

Is phlebotomy harder for people with darker skin or with scars or tattooes? If so, is there anything you would do differently for such cases?

Finding a good vein is about touch not about what you can see so having a tattoo or dark skin does not make any difference. We often get people pointing to the veins you can see at the top of the skin and they are not always the best veins to use. The veins deeper down are better to use.

Reply 32

Mummy Phleb

2

Original post by shadowdweller

@-Eirlys- what are the best and worst parts of your job?

What advice would you give to someone looking to get into phlebotomy?

The best bit is the people you meet especially the elderly they have so many interesting stories and are so funny. The worst bit is loosing a patient especially if you have gotten to know them.

Reply 33

Etomidate

15

Could not find suitable question. Ward nurse informed.

Reply 34

liaente

19

Do you believe in blood types and how they correlate with personality? I've heard personalities relating to blood types are particularly popular in Japan and South Korea :h:

Reply 35

Aldersgate

12

A good 'vampire' saves a lot of patient anguish.
I am sure some veins retreat like snakes when they sense a 'green' needle on the skin.

I had a nurse try again and again, and just left a mass of bruises, she was near to tears, and was very apologetic.. Her angle was all wrong, but I kept quiet...she called a doctor in but by then my veins had retreated far, far from the surface.
But the nurse at the surgery is like a water diviner, placing her fingers over likely places, and then going in ONCE and 'hitting oil' first go!...These nurses are great :smile:

What is the skill /secret in drawing blood first go?

(edited 5 years ago)

Reply 36

Aldersgate

12

Blood 'O' types are more likely to be susceptible to Norovirus, I read....and too suffer more severely with it if they do catch it.
But as to blood groups determining personality...that seems a bit like Astrology :smile:

'Barnum effect'.

Reply 37

Toastiekid

22

Original post by Mummy Phleb

😂 there are different things in different bottles most are a type of preservative some is to stop clotting, some to make it clot.

ahh cool

the nurses who took my blood kept having it clot and had to keep taking more :lol:

, i assume mine had the one to stop clotting

Reply 38

Mummy Phleb

2

Original post by Aldersgate

A good 'vampire' saves a lot of patient anguish.
I am sure some veins retreat like snakes when they sense a 'green' needle on the skin.

I had a nurse try again and again, and just left a mass of bruises, she was near to tears, and was very apologetic.. Her angle was all wrong, but I kept quiet...she called a doctor in but by then my veins had retreated far, far from the surface.
But the nurse at the surgery is like a water diviner, placing her fingers over likely places, and then going in ONCE and 'hitting oil' first go!...These nurses are great :smile:

What is the skill /secret in drawing blood first go?

Practice practice practice. Phlebotomists bleed people all day everyday our fingers get very sensitive to finding a good vein and we can tell if a vein will give blood or not.

Reply 39

quasa

Entertainment Forum Helper

20

what happened to your default ama question?

I'm a Phlebotomist, AMA!

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