Putting Blood Donation Patients at Ease

It is not uncommon for even the biggest, toughest guy in the room to be afraid of needles. Virtually nobody likes to get poked with a sharp needle, and watching blood drain out of the body can make some people feel very uneasy. Helping blood donation patients feel at ease is a necessary skill for phlebotomists.

Although phlebotomy technicians are highly trained through comprehensive phlebotomy classes, making patients feel a little better about blood donation is just as important as the procedural skills themselves. After all, a nervous or anxious patient will have a harder time donating blood than someone who is relaxed.

Making Blood Donation Patients Feel Comfortable

One of the most important lessons learned in phlebotomy classes is how to be calm and confident during a procedure. Simply talk to a patient calmly and assuredly, and the patient will be much more relaxed than if the phlebotomist was acting in a nervous manner.

Another good skill for phlebotomists to know is how to identify patients who may be uncomfortable donating blood. If a person is uncomfortable, a phlebotomist will need to be more patient and comforting than for someone who is unperturbed by needles.

Working With Nervous Patients

A tactic taught in phlebotomy classes in Denver and across America is the three-count. When dealing with someone who is nervous, counting to three can help alleviate apprehension. Instructing patients to take a long, deep breath can also help. Distracting the patient allows the phlebotomist to find a good puncture quickly and more easily.

It is important not to hesitate. The quicker the procedure is done, the less painful it will be for the patient. The three-count and deep breath techniques can also be used during the removal of the needle. Once the procedure is finished, all that is left is to thank the patent and ask if he or she needs any help or has any further questions.