Phlebotomists
Overview
Salary
Demand
Core Tasks
Technology Skills
Tools Used
Top 10 Knowledge Required
Top 10 Skills
Top 10 Abilities
Top 10 Work Activities
Detailed Work Activities
Work Context
Education
Majors
Interests
Top 10 Work Styles
Work Values
Overview
Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed
Experience
Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.
Education
Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
Job Training
Employees in these occupations usually need one or two years of training involving both on-the-job experience and informal training with experienced workers. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.
Examples
These occupations usually involve using communication and organizational skills to coordinate, supervise, manage, or train others to accomplish goals. Examples include hydroelectric production managers, travel guides, electricians, agricultural technicians, barbers, court reporters, and medical assistants.
Draw blood for tests, transfusions, donations, or research. May explain the procedure to patients and assist in the recovery of patients with adverse reactions.
Salary Salary
Salary at 10th Percentile: $26K
Salary at 25th Percentile: $30K
Median Salary: $36K
Salary at 75th Percentile: $42K
Salary at 90th Percentile: $50K
Demand
Core Tasks
Dispose of contaminated sharps, in accordance with applicable laws, standards, and policies.
Organize or clean blood-drawing trays, ensuring that all instruments are sterile and all needles, syringes, or related items are of first-time use.
Draw blood from veins by vacuum tube, syringe, or butterfly venipuncture methods.
Match laboratory requisition forms to specimen tubes.
Conduct standards tests, such as blood alcohol, blood culture, oral glucose tolerance, glucose screening, blood smears, or peak and trough drug levels tests.
Dispose of blood or other biohazard fluids or tissue, in accordance with applicable laws, standards, or policies.
Perform saline flushes or dispense anticoagulant drugs, such as Heparin, through intravenous (IV) lines, in accordance with licensing restrictions and under the direction of a medical doctor.
Collect specimens at specific time intervals for tests, such as those assessing therapeutic drug levels.
Process blood or other fluid samples for further analysis by other medical professionals.
Provide sample analysis results to physicians to assist diagnosis.
Administer subcutaneous or intramuscular injects, in accordance with licensing restrictions.
Document route of specimens from collection to laboratory analysis and diagnosis.
Enter patient, specimen, insurance, or billing information into computer.
Draw blood from arteries, using arterial collection techniques.
Draw blood from capillaries by dermal puncture, such as heel or finger stick methods.
Monitor blood or plasma donors during and after procedures to ensure health, safety, and comfort.
Conduct hemoglobin tests to ensure donor iron levels are normal.
Transport specimens or fluid samples from collection sites to laboratories.
Calibrate or maintain machines, such as those used for plasma collection.
Collect fluid or tissue samples, using appropriate collection procedures.
Determine donor suitability, according to interview results, vital signs, and medical history.
Explain fluid or tissue collection procedures to patients.
Train other medical personnel in phlebotomy or laboratory techniques.
Serve refreshments to donors to ensure absorption of sugar into their systems.
Technology Skills
Technology
Example
Hot Technology
Tools Used
Tool
Example
Top 10 Knowledge Required
Customer and Personal Service
92%
Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
English Language
76%
Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
Clerical
69%
Knowledge of administrative and clerical procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office procedures and terminology.
Education and Training
69%
Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
Psychology
64%
Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.
Computers and Electronics
63%
Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
Medicine and Dentistry
62%
Knowledge of the information and techniques needed to diagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities. This includes symptoms, treatment alternatives, drug properties and interactions, and preventive health-care measures.
Administration and Management
59%
Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
Public Safety and Security
59%
Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
Biology
58%
Knowledge of plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, interdependencies, and interactions with each other and the environment.
Top 10 Skills
Service Orientation
73%
Actively looking for ways to help people.
Social Perceptiveness
70%
Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Active Listening
68%
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Speaking
68%
Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Critical Thinking
65%
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Coordination
63%
Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
Monitoring
63%
Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Reading Comprehension
63%
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Writing
63%
Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Active Learning
60%
Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
Top 10 Abilities
Near Vision
78%
The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
Arm-Hand Steadiness
75%
The ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.
Problem Sensitivity
73%
The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
Oral Comprehension
70%
The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
Oral Expression
70%
The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
Written Comprehension
70%
The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
Deductive Reasoning
68%
The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
Speech Clarity
68%
The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
Finger Dexterity
65%
The ability to make precisely coordinated movements of the fingers of one or both hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble very small objects.
Information Ordering
65%
The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
Top 10 Work Activities
Assisting and Caring for Others
92%
Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
89%
Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
Getting Information
89%
Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
Interacting With Computers
89%
Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge
87%
Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
Processing Information
86%
Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
Making Decisions and Solving Problems
85%
Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
Documenting/Recording Information
84%
Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards
84%
Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work
83%
Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
Detailed Work Activities
Collect biological specimens from patients.
Dispose of biomedical waste in accordance with standards.
Explain technical medical information to patients.
Clean medical equipment.
Prepare medical instruments or equipment for use.
Give medications or immunizations.
Maintain medical equipment or instruments.
Conduct diagnostic tests to determine patient health.
Maintain medical records.
Monitor patients to detect health problems.
Feed patients.
Teach medical procedures to healthcare personnel.
Transport biological or other medical materials.
Work Context
Face-to-Face Discussions
How often do you have to have face-to-face discussions with individuals or teams in this job?
Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets
How much does this job require wearing common protective or safety equipment such as safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hard hats or life jackets?
Contact With Others
How much does this job require the worker to be in contact with others (face-to-face, by telephone, or otherwise) in order to perform it?
Telephone
How often do you have telephone conversations in this job?
Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
How important is being very exact or highly accurate in performing this job?
Exposed to Disease or Infections
How often does this job require exposure to disease/infections?
Electronic Mail
How often do you use electronic mail in this job?
Spend Time Making Repetitive Motions
How much does this job require making repetitive motions?
Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
How often does this job require working indoors in environmentally controlled conditions?
Work With Work Group or Team
How important is it to work with others in a group or team in this job?
Education
Interests
Conventional
81%
Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.
Realistic
72%
Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.
Investigative
58%
Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.
Social
58%
Social occupations frequently involve working with, communicating with, and teaching people. These occupations often involve helping or providing service to others.
Enterprising
29%
Enterprising occupations frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects. These occupations can involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.
Artistic
15%
Artistic occupations frequently involve working with forms, designs and patterns. They often require self-expression and the work can be done without following a clear set of rules.
Top 10 Work Styles
Attention to Detail
99%
Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
Concern for Others
97%
Job requires being sensitive to others' needs and feelings and being understanding and helpful on the job.
Dependability
95%
Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
Integrity
94%
Job requires being honest and ethical.
Stress Tolerance
92%
Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high stress situations.
Cooperation
90%
Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.
Self Control
87%
Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations.
Independence
86%
Job requires developing one's own ways of doing things, guiding oneself with little or no supervision, and depending on oneself to get things done.
Adaptability/Flexibility
83%
Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace.
Achievement/Effort
81%
Job requires establishing and maintaining personally challenging achievement goals and exerting effort toward mastering tasks.
Work Values
Support
67%
Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees. Corresponding needs are Company Policies, Supervision: Human Relations and Supervision: Technical.
Achievement
58%
Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement.
Relationships
58%
Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to provide service to others and work with co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment. Corresponding needs are Co-workers, Moral Values and Social Service.
Working Conditions
50%
Occupations that satisfy this work value offer job security and good working conditions. Corresponding needs are Activity, Compensation, Independence, Security, Variety and Working Conditions.
Recognition
43%
Occupations that satisfy this work value offer advancement, potential for leadership, and are often considered prestigious. Corresponding needs are Advancement, Authority, Recognition and Social Status.
Independence
39%
Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to work on their own and make decisions. Corresponding needs are Creativity, Responsibility and Autonomy.
