When you are admitted into the hospital it is a pretty unnerving event. Not only are you not feeling well and need medical care or surgery, but for many it is a rather uncommon occurrence. Hospitals are scary places for many people and with the sheer amount of people bustling around there; it can be difficult to find out who is who. You have doctors, nurses, phlebotomists, aides and all sorts of other healthcare professionals. It is important to understand the role of each of them.
Nurses and Doctors have a field that most people are familiar with. They are in charge of your medical care and the direction that it goes. If you want medications, have questions or symptoms, these are the people that you go to for help. They will take care of each of your needs in every way that the possibly can.
1st Role of Phlebotomists
Phlebotomists are another vital piece of the health care team. These are the staff that makes certain that any lab work is drawn properly and safely. These are not nurses, but licensed professionals in most states. They are required to take classes and pass a certification test. It is beneficial to have phlebotomists do the blood draws as this is what they specialize in each and every day.
Other Roles of Phlebotomists
They also can perform other duties such as starting IVs and other medical procedures having to do with venipuncture. Phlebotomist will have to be further licensed in order to perform these, but again will show a specialization that many others do not have. The more Phlebotomists that draw blood the better they become. With venipuncture being a slightly painful experience, you certainly want the quickest and easiest blood draw possible.
There are also many others that you will see around the hospital. Techs are the ones that clean the rooms and settle you onto the specific floor that you will be residing on. There are technicians that will specialize in any tests that are ordered. You will find aides that will assist you in activities of daily living and even therapists to help you return to your normal level of functioning.
No matter why you are in the hospital, the most important thing is to work on getting better and therefore be home as soon as possible. The entire healthcare team is dedicated to this pursuit as well. No matter if it is your physician or phlebotomists they all have the same goal to get you well quickly and safely in mind.