English 111: Imformative Essay

Taylor Raisor

English 111

Informational essay

June 23, 2014

        A typical day at the doctor's office can start out great but end tragic. Once they hear you have been sick for three days they want to send you to get lab work. This is the point where people typically refer to the workers as vampires. They feel like the process takes forever and the agony lingers forever.  I don't know what is worst the anticipation of it or the actual long drawn out process. Those people that actually work aren't there to hurt you. Who would have guessed? They actually are called phlebotomist.  Their main function and goal is to produce a sterile environment for the patients. By which they help take numerous steps to achieve to assure the doctor is able to pin point your illness via your blood.

        The first step when you're walking into the lab is always going to be checking in with the phlebotomist. They  will want to make sure they have the correct data for you. The wait time and delay between when they call you back mentally feels like the longest. As you walk into the lab area the phlebotomist will typically then direct you to a chair by which you will sit. While you get comfortable in order to protect you and the technician working at the time the phlebotomist will then wash her hands and follow by putting on gloves.  Once glove you will note the various supplies by which they will then lay out.

        The next step they will follow will pertain to what is needed for the actual procedure. People often think of long scary needles. This is not the case at all the lab tech will set out the following a .22 hollow needle, a hood cover, a tourniquet, cotton balls, alcohol wipes, and certain test tubes pertaining to your lab order. When looking at the set up you may see the various cotton balls and alcohol wipes and be able to note them right away.  However, other things you may note will be the other items need.  For example: The various bright color caps on long skinny tubes are actually for different tests not just looks. If you were to come in to the doctor and he wanted to test your blood flow level you would need a blue tube. Within that is a liquid that helps mix within your blood to be able to set apart that level of your blood by creating a clot.

        The lab tech will typically be able to explain the different test to you while she asks you to relax and put your arm out. The idea of this is to be able to target one of the main veins that lies under your skins surface. Many people miss understand what you can draw blood from. The blue lines you may see under your skin aren't veins there for you would not be able to get any blood from them. Once she notes that you are in the position she will tie a tourniquet anywhere from two - three inches above your elbow. A tourniquet is a long rubber band like material by which the phlebotomist will tie around your arm to restrict blood flow and help the process go faster.

        Once a main vein is targeted and feels plump and secure, the technician will then wipe the area down with a alcohol wipe very tediously. This step is taken to make sure the area is sterile and nothing can get into the blood stream or intervene with test results. Typically you will sit for ten seconds while the wet area dries. During this time you may note the technician will then be carefully applying the needle to a hood. The hood is a round cylinder shaped device that actually will allow the test tube to go into it for a transfer of the blood from the needle inside your arm to the needle in the test tube.

        Once all the hard ware is assembled the needle will need to be evaluated. This is an important step to assure that it is not only less painful for the patient but to make sure the needle has been correctly manufactured. Each need goes into a triangle shaped point called a bevel. The bevel of the needle is the first part you will want to enter the skin. Once the technician had evaluated the bevel she will typically use to fingers to anchor the skin or allow the free movement of it to be lessened. Typically the give away to this is when they say "Take a deep breath and 1, 2, 3." Usually at this point the needle has entered the skin at a 15 degree angle. The phlebotomist will then reach with opposite hand for the test tube and push it into the hood, leaving the other hand anchored with no movement. Once the test tube is attached you will be able to note the flow of blood into the clear tube. As this transfer of fluid is occurring the technician will remove the tourniquet to allow the blood to begin circulating more.  Once the tube is filled to the correct level it will be removed from the hood.