Venuschick23

I know this is a super old post but I just ran into it :) It's good to hear what the other side has to say...I've been through a phlebotomy course; already passed the national exam and am currently interning at a local hospital to complete my clinical hours. Being in a hospital setting is a lot different than class I'll tell you that much! Do you know if the person that drew you was a student or had they been there for a while? I'm finding out that there are a WHOLE LOT of fast paced phlebotomy programs out there where most students don't get much experience. It's scary for me to KNOW now and think that some of the people I'm working with never got the practice that they needed during their schooling. I, on the other hand, went through an ROP program and it was the best thing I ever did...we learn the "Do unto others as you would have others do unto you" method since we get to practice on EACH OTHER...for 4 months straight, 3 nights a week, we did it all. But even though we got all the practice in the world during class it's alot different once in the hospital setting depending on the patient, their sensitivity or fear of needles and so many other health factors. But now matter how much experience we got, there is always something that can go wrong. I can say that I HATE when I see the people I work with "fishing" for veins, it looks painful! and 90% of the time it is! But it's either doing that while you're already in the vicinity, or another needle stick on the patient somewhere else. I personally don't like the fishing method, if I miss once, I'll leave it to the patient to decide if they want me to try and get it while I'm there or just try again. It's tough to say depending on the phlebotomist, everybody is different. The part I hate about this job is that I know people dislike needles, I hate to be on the receiving end too, who doesn't? Unless you're a needle masochist or something lol And no one is ever happy to see the lab walk in to the room because every draw is always so uncertain. But if you knew from the beginning that they were going to mess you up, you have rights, you could have refused for that particular tech to not draw you and they would just get someone else to do it. I say trust your instincts next time. It would be nice if the lab can bring in a line-up of phlebotomists for you to pick from huh? that way if the person you pick messes up then it's all on you :trout: lol I've learned so much being at this hospital and can't believe how little some people think about what phlebotomists have to go through and offer...when we're the ones that put ourselves in direct (invasive) risk like every other high ranking person in a hospital. And we're the ones that help get the results EVERYBODY needs in order to treat the patient...to help you...drawing blood I feel is a "necessary evil" and an essential part of your final diagnosis. I have seen a few too many nurses dabble with bloodletting trying to get an IV needle in for the 5th time when it was completely unnecessary to do it so many times because I would come and wait there until they got it so they can just draw from that line instead of me having to draw the patient, and when they don't get it and I need my specimen STAT they're in shock because I get in there and get my draw the first time. Ironically, I hated needles and decided to take phlebotomy to get over my fear...I feel I have succeeded. And what it all comes down to is how empathic the person that's drawing or sticking an IV in you is. Bottom line. It's a dirty job but somebody's gotta do it right? lol