A Day in the Life of a Phlebotomist

A phlebotomist is drawing blood on a patient

Phlebotomists, also known as phlebotomy technicians, are critical members of any patient healthcare team. Their main responsibility is to obtain lab samples such as blood and other fluids to help physicians diagnose and treat medical conditions and diseases. 

As a phlebotomist, you’ll get to work in a wide range of places and perform many duties each day. Let’s dive into what a typical workday might look like for you in Miami.

Arriving at Work: Workplace, Typical Work Hours & More

After grabbing your coffee (or tea), you’ll arrive at work. For phlebotomists, this could be in the morning or the evening as many work day shift or night shift, depending on where they choose to work. Your workplace could be a hospital, doctor’s office, clinic, specialty care center, long-term care facility or even a specialty lab center.

Once you arrive, you’ll take a look at your daily work to see what’s coming up. You may need to start prepping your equipment or may need to call patients to discuss lab results from the day before.

Completing Your Workday: Daily Phlebotomy Responsibilities

Throughout the rest of the day, you’ll perform a wide range of tasks. For example, you’ll prepare patients for lab draws and perform venipunctures for testing. You’ll also need to carefully watch patients to ensure they handle the draw well.

After a draw, you’ll need to properly prepare samples for testing. You may also need to prepare samples for shipping to lab facilities or dispose of samples no longer required for testing.

Some of your day will also consist of speaking with physicians about lab orders and results. You may also need to contact patients to schedule lab appointments or reach out to those who missed their appointments.

Clocking Out: Wrapping Up Your Day

As you wrap up your day, you’ll need to properly clean and sterilize your equipment. You may also need to enter lab results into a patient’s chart. Before you head out for the day, you may take a look at the next day’s schedule to see what you can prepare ahead of time.

Ready to Start Your Phlebotomy Career? Reach Out to Us!

A career as a Miami-based phlebotomist can be a rewarding one. And if this is a typical workday you feel you would enjoy, becoming a phlebotomist might be the right next step for you. Have questions? Want to learn more about our Phlebotomy program? Reach out to us today by calling 877-206-4279 or send us a message.

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