Empathy is an integral part of our human nature. It is a skill ingrained in us, but it can also be learned and improved upon. Explore ways to develop your empathy and be more successful in life.

Watch a TED Talk about empathy.

Think about the last time you were at a doctor or dentist's office--what made you nervous? What made you feel better? Is helping people through an experience like this something you'd like to do?

Picture working in a medical office.

A phlebotomy certification may help you stand out to employers and feel more confident in your role. It may also be required in the state you wish to practice in! Learn more about getting certified from the National Phlebotomy Association.

Find out what it takes to get certified in phlebotomy.

The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).

The ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.

The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing that there is a problem.

The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.

The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.

The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.

The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.

The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.

The ability to make precisely coordinated movements of the fingers of one or both hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble very small objects.

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).

Phlebotomists

Draw blood for tests, transfusions, donations, or research. May explain the procedure to patients and assist in the recovery of patients with adverse reactions.

Work involves designing, building, or repairing of equipment, materials, or structures, engaging in physical activity, or working outdoors. Realistic occupations are often associated with engineering, mechanics and electronics, construction, woodworking, transportation, machine operation, agriculture, animal services, physical or manual labor, athletics, or protective services.

Realistic

Work involves following procedures and regulations to organize information or data, typically in a business setting. Conventional occupations are often associated with office work, accounting, mathematics/statistics, information technology, finance, or human resources.

Conventional

Work involves studying and researching non-living objects, living organisms, disease or other forms of impairment, or human behavior. Investigative occupations are often associated with physical, life, medical, or social sciences, and can be found in the fields of humanities, mathematics/statistics, information technology, or health care service.

Investigative

Work involves helping, teaching, advising, assisting, or providing service to others. Social occupations are often associated with social, health care, personal service, teaching/education, or religious activities.

Social

Work involves managing, negotiating, marketing, or selling, typically in a business setting, or leading or advising people in political and legal situations. Enterprising occupations are often associated with business initiatives, sales, marketing/advertising, finance, management/administration, professional advising, public speaking, politics, or law.

Enterprising

Work involves creating original visual artwork, performances, written works, food, or music for a variety of media, or applying artistic principles to the design of various objects and materials. Artistic occupations are often associated with visual arts, applied arts and design, performing arts, music, creative writing, media, or culinary art.

Artistic

Phlebotomist/ registration 

You are not going to be able to go to school and take care of that baby. 

Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed

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.

Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, and rules of composition and grammar.

Knowledge of administrative and office procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and workplace terminology.

Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.

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.

Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.

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.

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.

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.

Knowledge of plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, interdependencies, and interactions with each other and the environment.

Actively looking for ways to help people.

Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.

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.

Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.

Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.

Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.

Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.

Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.

Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.

Miscellaneous Healthcare Support Occupations

Healthcare Support Occupations

Other Healthcare Support Occupations

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.

Dispose of blood or other biohazard fluids or tissue, in accordance with applicable laws, standards, or policies.

Conduct standards tests, such as blood alcohol, blood culture, oral glucose tolerance, glucose screening, blood smears, or peak and trough drug levels tests.

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.

Enter patient, specimen, insurance, or billing information into computer.

Donor management system software

Electronic medical record EMR software

Medical procedure coding software

MEDITECH Laboratory and Microbiology

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft Outlook

Microsoft Office software

Microsoft Word

Scheduling software

JavaScript

Aliquot tubes

Blood culture bottles

Sterile screw-cap glass tubes

Sterile screw-cap plastic tubes

Phlebotomy practice arms

Phlebotomy practice blocks

Phlebotomy practice heels

Phlebotomy trays

Specimen tube holders

Unopette equipment

Multi-sample blood collection needles

Venipuncture needles

Capillary tubes

Microcapillary hematocrit tubes

Blood specimen refrigerators

Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) pipettes

Safety needles

Phlebotomy chairs

Blood glucose monitoring equipment

Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.

Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.

Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.

Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.

Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.

Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.

Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.

Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.

Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.

Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.

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?

Constant contact with others

Contact with others most of the time

How frequently does your job require face-to-face discussions with individuals and within teams?

Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams

Every day

How often does this job require wearing common protective or safety equipment such as safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hearing protection, hard hats or life-jackets?

Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets

How important is being very exact or highly accurate in performing this job?

Extremely important

Very important

How often do you have telephone conversations in this job?

Once a week or more but not every day

How important is it to work with or contribute to a work group or team in this job?

Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team

How often does this job require exposure to disease/infections?

Once a year or more but not every month

How serious would the result usually be if the worker made a mistake that was not easily correctable?

Phlebotomists

Overview

Career

What Phlebotomists Do

Other Job Titles Phlebotomists May Have

Tasks & Responsibilities May Include

Phlebotomists

Overview

Career

What Phlebotomists Do

Other Job Titles Phlebotomists May Have

Tasks & Responsibilities May Include

Education

Level of Education Attained by Phlebotomists

Majors Related to Career

Related Leaders