Work duties of a phlebotomist technician can be categorized into 4 categories
Equipment
Procedure
Patient Care
Patient Information
Equipment
- ... [Show More] phlebotomists must ensure that all equipment and areas used are sterile
- equipment includes needles, bandages, gauzes, tubes, other
collection devices, as well as labels for tubes
- tracking supplies to ensure that proper amounts are always present - disposal of needles and other used supplies
Procedure
- correct puncture or incision of patient's skin
- collecting the correct amount of blood or other fluids - correct labeling of collection tubes/devices
- completing and submitting documents needed to lab
Patient Care
- reassuring patients, as some may have fear of needles
- being able to answer questions that patients may have
- verifying patient information to ensure accuracy of tests or procedure - monitoring patient during procedure to prevent movement or fainting
Patient Information
- patients' rights must be respected
- keeping patients' medical records confidential
- accurate documentation of collection, ordered tests, and test results - providing accurate documentation to the laboratory to ensure
performance of tests ordered by physician
Quality Improvement Methods
Include the use of data-based methods in order to reach improvement
Include flow charts and pareto charts
Flowchart
- used to break out components into diagrams in order to understand a process
Pareto Chart
- bar charts are made that show the frequency of problems
What does quality improvement for specimen collection involve?
Technique of Phlebotomist
Frequency of hematoma
Recollection Rates
What is included in quality control records
Expiration Date
Stability Information
Storage Information
Proper Use
Precision of testing supplies/reagents
Accuracy of testing supplies/reagents
Where can phlebotomists work?
Hospital
Clinic
Doctor's office
Laboratories
Blood Banks
Research Firms
Pharmaceutical Firms
Hospital
institution which provides medical and surgical treatment
Clinic
institution or hospital department focusing on diagnosis and care of outpatients
Doctor's Office
suite/office where doctors receive and treat patients
Laboratory
building or room where tests are performed to evaluate specimens in order to diagnose medical conditions
Blood Bank
institution where blood is collected from donors, and then stored and prepared for transfusion
Research Firm
institution equipped for scientific/medical research that may specialize in basic research or on specific areas
Pharmaceutical Firm
institution that develops and markets drugs for use as medications
How must all needles be discarded?
intact
What does it mean if an infection is classified as nosocomical
A patient developed the infection while they were in the hospital that was not present before entering the hospital
What is included in the chain of infection
source
susceptible host
poor isolation technique
Hygiene
wash hands with soap and water if they are visibly dirty
good hand-hygiene techniques reduce number of outbreaks of infections
hand washing is the single most important way to prevent spread of infection
Equipment used to control infections
gloves, masks, goggles, gowns, or coats
autoclaves (instruments for sterilizing under pressure)
Emergency Needle Stick Information
if exposed to blood due to a needle stick or other sharp object, wash needle stick and cut with soap and water
flush mouth, eyes, and skin with water
report the incident to a supervisor
seek medical treatment
Blood Pressure
pressure exerted by circulating blood upon the walls of blood vessels
Usually refers to the arterial pressure of systemic circulation
When does blood pressure decrease
decreases as the circulating blood moves away from the heart through the arteries
Where does blood pressure drop most rapidly
along the small arteries and arterioles
Decreases continuously as it moves through capillaries and back through veins to the heart
What other factors can influence blood pressure in the body
valves in veins
Gravity
Pumping from contraction of skeletal muscles
How is blood pressure measured
Systolic (maximum) over diastolic (diastolic)
Systolic
Blood pressure at the time of contraction
Specifically during contraction of the left ventricle
Systolic contraction is contraction of the ventricles
Heard during the normal first and second heart sound
Diastolic
Blood pressure when the heart is in relaxation and expansion
Minimum arterial pressure when the ventricles are filling with blood
Heard during diastole, when the heart relaxes
Pulse/ Heart Rate
rhythmical expansion of arteries due to contractions of the heart
Recorded as beats per minute
Where can a persons pulse be felt?
any place that will allow an artery to be compressed against a bone
Radial Artery
Carotid Artery
Brachial Artery
Popliteal Artery
Posterior Tibial Artery
Which finger can not be used to measure pulse?
Thumb: it has a pulse of its own
Is a lower or higher pulse rate better?
Lower
Although, 60 may be dangerous
Newborn Pulse
120 - 160 beats per minute
1 month-12 months Pulse
80-140
1-2 years pulse
80-130
2-6 years pulse
75-120
6-12 years pulse
75-110
13+ pulse
60-100
adult athletes pulse
40-60
What are blood cells called
hemaocytes
Serum
fluid portion of blood
What cells does blood circulate through
arteries
arterioles
veins
venules
capillaries
Where is blood made
bone marrow: soft center of bones
95% of blood cells are produced here
How does formation of blood cells begin
Begins in bone marrow as stem cells
These cells will grow and mature into blood cells
3 Types of Blood cells
Erythrocytes (red blood cells)
Leukocytes (white blood cells)
Thrombocytes (platelets)
What percentage do cells make up of blood
45%
What percentage does plasma make up of blood
55%
Blood makes up how much of our body weight
8%
( 5 Liters)
What is the blood pH level
7.35-7.45
Function of blood
To carry materials to bodily tissues
(hormones, oxygen, vitamines, antibodies, heat, electrolytes, nourishment)
To carry materials away from bodily tissues
( carbon dioxide, waste)
Red Blood Cells
most numerous blood cell in the body
Have a shape similiar to biconcave lenses and have no nucleus
These cells are our way of delivering oxygen to the body
Have a life span of 100-120 days [Show Less]
