Make Your Phlebotomist Happy by Drinking Plenty of Water Before Giving Blood

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The American Red Cross estimates that someone receives a blood transfusion every two seconds. This means that donating blood is an essential way to support the health of others who require donated blood to recover from an accident or illness. Giving blood is rewarding, but it can also be intimidating. One way to make the process easier for both yourself and the technician drawing your blood is to make sure that you are hydrated before your donation.

What Is It Important to Stay Hydrated Before Donating Blood?

Hydration makes donating blood easier for both the donor and the phlebotomist. If that were not enough incentive, drinking enough water is also essential to your overall mental and physical well-being. While fruits, vegetables, and other beverages can contribute to your hydration, water is usually the best choice. Avoid beverages like soda or other drinks that contain caffeine, as these can be less hydrating and offer little to no nutritional benefit.

What Is It Important to Stay Hydrated Before Donating Blood?

Hydration makes donating blood easier for both the donor and the phlebotomist. If that were not enough incentive, drinking enough water is also essential to your overall mental and physical well-being. While fruits, vegetables, and other beverages can contribute to your hydration, water is usually the best choice. Avoid beverages like soda or other drinks that contain caffeine, as these can be less hydrating and offer little to no nutritional benefit

Preventing Dehydration

Your veins become plumper and easier for your phlebotomist to find and access when you are well-hydrated. Phlebotomists are trained in finding veins even when they are not in this state, but drinking plenty of water ahead of time can reduce the time and discomfort involved in giving a blood donation.

Lowering Blood Pressure

Your blood becomes thicker when you are dehydrated, and your blood pressure decreases. While lower blood pressure is often healthier, this is not the case for donating blood. Thicker blood is more difficult to draw, and low blood pressure can increase the risk of fainting during your donation. This complication can make recovery more challenging and limit your ability to donate in the future.

How Much Water Should I Drink Before Donating Blood?

Determining how much water you should drink daily can be challenging. A good place to start is drinking half the amount of water in ounces as your body weight in pounds. For example, if you weigh 150 pounds, you should drink at least 75 ounces of water each day. Additional factors, like participating in intense exercise, spending time outdoors in hot weather, and living at a high altitude, can increase your dehydration.

Make sure to drink the recommended amount of water in the days leading up to your blood donation. Shortly beforehand, have a 16-ounce glass of water to ensure that your donation process goes smoothly. 

After Donating Blood

There are many things you can do to ensure a quick recovery from donating blood:

  • If you feel dizzy after donating, lay or sit down and put your head between your knees. Wait until you feel better before getting up again. If you experience this while still at the donation center, let your technician know right away. 
  • In the first few hours after you donate, make sure to eat a light meal and drink more water than the normal recommended amount. 
  • After a few hours, you can remove your bandage, but make sure to keep the venipuncture site clean and dry to promote healing. If you experience bleeding when you remove the bandage, raise your arm, and put light pressure on your inner bicep. 
  • You should avoid drinking alcohol or smoking for around 24 hours after your donation. If you still feel unwell a few days to a week later, check in with your physician to rule out an underlying issue.

Learn More About Medical Assistant Careers 

Blood donation is a vital component of effective medical care across the country and staying hydrated as a donor can make the process easier for everyone. If you are interested in medical assistant careers, contact Allen School of Health Sciences to discuss your opportunities. Classes are starting soon!  

Image Source:  Microgen / Shutterstock

What Causes Bruising After a Blood Draw

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Nurse drawing blood from patient It is normal to have some bruising after having your blood drawn. A bruise occurs when a blood vessel is damaged and blood escapes into the tissue under your skin. The pooling of blood causes a discoloration that is usually darker than the surrounding skin. Blood collects in the capillaries and leaks out slowly to cause the characteristic black-and-blue (or purple) mark. A bruise may also form if medical professionals fail to apply enough pressure to a needle when withdrawing it from a vein. This guide discusses why bruises appear after blood extraction and how to reduce the chance of bruising.

Reasons Why Bruising Occurs After a Blood Draw

During blood drawing, a phlebotomist inserts a small hollow needle into the vein in your arm to remove a blood sample. This temporarily damages the blood vessel wall lining, causing blood from the damaged vein to settle under the skin. Some causes of bruising include:  
  • Vitamin C and Vitamin K deficiency
  • A history of alcoholism and liver damage
  • Damaged blood vessels
  • Medical conditions such as hemophilia, Cushing syndrome, thrombocytopenia, von Willebrand disease, and kidney or liver disease
  • Small and hard to find veins
  • Lack of enough pressure after the blood draw
  • Consumption of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like naproxen and ibuprofen or anticoagulants like aspirin, clopidogrel, or warfarin.

How to Prevent Bruising After a Blood Draw

While some bruising during blood donation or blood tests is normal after blood draws, there are ways to reduce it. However, it is worth noting that different people tend to bruise more easily than others. If you are scheduled to have your blood drawn, you can follow these simple steps to avoid bruising:  
  • Request a small butterfly needle for the procedure. These needles are more gentle and less likely to cause bruising than larger ones; WHO recommends butterfly or 22-gauge needles from drawing blood in the elderly.
  • Apply firm pressure with your fingers after blood drawing and leave the bandage intact for at least six hours.
  • Avoid wearing tight clothing as tight clothes can prevent proper blood flow and constrict blood vessels, increasing the risk for bruising.
  • Refrain from strenuous activities and lifting heavy objects for a few days. This will allow your body to recover from venipuncture without unnecessary strain.
  • Avoid taking pain relief drugs such as aspirin or ibuprofen several days before having your blood drawn and 72 hours after. NSAIDs have a blood-thinning effect that causes excessive bleeding.
  • Apply a cold press using an ice pack on the injected region for pain relief and elevate your arm to reduce discomfort and speed up the healing process.

When to See a Doctor

It is important to know when to consult your doctor if you are worried about bruising after a regular blood draw process. In a few cases, a bruise may indicate an underlying problem such as internal bleeding, blood clot, or blood disease that requires medical attention. You may need to see a doctor if you:  
  • Experience large unexplainable bruises
  • Suddenly, begin bruising after starting a new medication
  • Have acute pain or inflammation at the blood draw area
  • Develop a lump on or near the area where blood was drawn
  • Have a history of excess bleeding during medical procedures such as surgery
  • Have a family history of bleeding problems

Learn More About Phlebotomy at Allen School

Bruising after a blood draw is a common occurrence, and while bruising is normal, some individuals tend to bruise more easily than others. It is important to know how to prevent bruising after a blood draw and be aware of when it becomes a cause for concern.   Ready to start learning more about phlebotomy in one of our programs? Working towards a new career? Contact the Allen School today! We are enrolling now for classes starting soon. We cannot wait for you to become part of the Allen School family. Visit www.allenschool.edu to learn more.    

Image Source: Soonthorn Wongsaita / Shutterstock

Medical Assistant Interview Tips: Appearance

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Updated July 2022

You don’t get a second chance at a first impression, and at job interviews, first impressions are vitally important. In just an hour, employers will get an idea of who you are, what your work ethic is, and whether you’ll fit their team, and it all comes down to how you carry yourself, and how you look. One of the most important aspects of job interviews is looking the part, and dressing in a manner that makes you look like the competent, professional person you are, and someone your potential employer would be proud to have in their workforce. Remember to dress for the job you want. Here are some tips on how:

Appearance

First off, it’s important to be clean and fresh overall. Make sure there are no visible stains or tears on your clothing, and that you’ve showered before the interview. Make sure your hair is well-brushed and in place. For an interview at a health facility, one of the best strategies is to go for business or business casual. This can mean a full three-piece suit, or at the very least, a crisp button-up and tie. Another take on business casual can mean a pants/skirt suit, or a dress with a conservative neck and hemline. Your hem should be no shorter than knee-length. Go for neutral colors like black, gray or navy. Avoid flashy colors or patterns. For jewelry, go for studs or small hoops with a small, non-distracting gem, or a tasteful chain and small pendant.

What to Avoid

Stay away from heavy colognes or perfumes. You want to smell clean, but avoid smelling like a department store! If you wear makeup, a bit of will make you appear fresh and well-groomed, however, stay away from the outrageous lip and eye colors that are more suited for a night out. Neutral shades like peach and tan will give you the perk you need. If you have removable facial jewelry, it might be best to take it out for the interview process. Make sure to cover any outlandish tattoos, if possible. Avoid jeans, sneakers, flip-flops, overly high heels and t-shirts at all costs, for these are all overly casual and will not give your interviewer a good impression.

Interviewing properly is the first step to a promising career in the healthcare field, and the first step to a successful interview is looking the part. When you look your best, you’ll feel your best, and be able to answer all questions with confidence and ease, and prove that you’ll be a valuable member of any facility you interview with!  The Allen School of Health Sciences is offering virtual campus tours for enrollment for our classes starting soon. Contact the Allen School today! We cannot wait for you to become part of the Allen School family. Visit www.allenschool.edu​ to learn more.

-Allen School

Health Care: Help Those You Love go Back to School

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Do you have a loved one currently attending school? Is someone in your life considering a return to start a new career? If so, here easy tips you can follow to give the students in your life the support they need for their upcoming class start.:

  • Believing in them: Enrolling in a health care program for the first time, or returning to school after a long absence, takes a leap of faith. Believing and vocalizing support in your loved one’s ability to succeed as a student can help boost their confidence when they have doubts.
  • Become their cheerleader: Deliver encouraging messages in person, text, email or even social media! Sharing words of support such as “You can do it!” or “Thanks for working so hard!” may seem small, but if you cheer your loved one on frequently and with feeling they will have no doubts about your desire to see them succeed.
  • Celebrate milestones in a big way: Another module complete; toast to your loved one’s success and share in the excitement!
  • Be inspiring: It’s inspiring to see someone you love overcome challenges, or doubts towards reaching an end goal. Going back to school is not easy, but it is temporary.
  • “Like” the small achievements: Have a Facebook or Instagram friend who is going back to school? Pay attention to their news feed. If they mention studying for an exam, send an encouraging note. “Like” their education achievements; big and small. From handing in a paper on time, to learning about their externship, let them know you are paying attention and care about their success.
  • Watch the kids: School experts agree that one of the single biggest challenges facing parents going back to school is consistent childcare. Whether your loved one is your spouse, your friend, your sibling, or your child, offer up regular help with the kids, and honor your commitment. You will be amazed how much studying an adult learner can do in 4 hours of kid-free time on a Saturday morning.
  • Make a school schedule, together: Going back to school as an adult requires serious time management skills. Create a family calendar, block off times for work and school. Block off time for homework and study; times for family and fun. Get the kids on a regular bedtime routine. You are all in this together.
  • Listen: Some days your loved one may feel like going back to school is an impossible goal. On those days, your ability to listen may be all that matters.

 Ready to start working towards a new career? Contact the Allen School today! We are enrolling now for classes starting soon. We cannot wait for you to become part of the Allen School family. Visit www.allenschool.edu to learn more.

-Allen School

25 Fascinating Facts About The Health Sciences

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Learning about the breakthroughs and discoveries of the health and sciences field can hold one’s attention for hours at a time. It can seem like there is no limit to the number of interesting facts that health-science researchers and scientists have compiled throughout history.

It’s one of the major reasons Allen School has passionately taught health science for over 60 years – Let these fun and incredible facts stoke your interest and deepen your knowledge in the study of the health sciences.

Interesting Facts About Health Sciences

  1. The Hippocratic Oath, which still unites doctors around the world to a common ethical code, was written over 2,000 years ago. (Source: “Hippocratic Oath.” Encyclopedia Britannica, edited by Adam Augustyn.)
  2. Myofascia – like that tough casing around a steak – is found in and around all tissues of the human body, and it adapts to the particular musculoskeletal movements unique to each person. (Source: Cleveland Clinic.)
  3. Now cliché, the slogan “You are what you eat” achieved widespread popularity after a 1923 beef advertisement, which claimed: “Ninety percent of the diseases known to man are caused by cheap foodstuffs. You are what you eat.” (Source: Martin, Gary. “You are what you eat.” The Phrase Finder.)
  4. Everyone knows that the rich green color of most plant life is due to chlorophyll. What is not widely known is that its molecular structure is almost identical to the hemoglobin contained in the blood. (Source: Oregon State University.)
  5. The vagus nerve, which plays an integral role in regulating the entire nervous system, connects to every organ of the human body except the adrenals. (Source: Dr. Mark Sircus.)
  6. A study reviewed by the NIH proved that slow, deep breathing reduces one’s heart rate, increases vigor, boosts alpha brain waves, and activates the parasympathetic nervous system. (Source: Zaccaro, Andrea et al [2018]. How Breath-Control Can Change Your Life […]. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience.)
  7. As far back as the early 1930s, scientists working for John Hopkins University were able to clearly see and identify living microscopic organisms even smaller than bacteria by using extremely advanced microscope technology. (Source: Johnson, Hal. “Newest Microscope Will Trail Unknown Germs to Their Lairs.” San Diego Union, Dec. 12, 1931.)
  8. During experiments aimed at discovering what was responsible for slowed decay rates in certain plant tissues, Nobel Laureate Albert Szent-Gyorgyi conclusively identified what we now know as vitamin C. (Source: Science History Institute.)
  9. In the mid-1800s, people ridiculed the suggestion by Hungarian doctor Ignaz Semmelweis to wash one’s hands before delivering childbirth or conducting surgery. (Source: The Washington Post.)
  10. The electromagnetic field of the human heart is over 100 times more powerful than the brain and can be detected by magnetometers up to three feet away. (Source: “Science of the Heart.” 2022. HearthMath Institute.)
  11. A study concluded that “self-awareness” and “targeting emotional processes” (e.g., journaling) significantly reduced pain and improved the physical functioning of patients suffering from chronic pain. (Source: Hsu, Michael C., MD et al [2010]. “Sustained Pain Reduction Through Affective Self-awareness in Fibromyalgia […].” Journal of General Internal Medicine, 25, 1064–1070.)
  12. Spending at least two hours in nature per week creates health improvements comparable to meeting common exercise guidelines as well as overcoming socioeconomic barriers to health. (Source: White, Matthew P. et al [2019]. “Spending at least 120 minutes a week in nature is associated with good health and wellbeing.” Scientific Reports, 9 [Article no. 7730].)
  13. The Medical Assistant field was officially recognized in 1956 with the founding of the American Association of Medical Assistants. (Source: American Association of Medical Assistants.)
  14.  Since 1961, The Allen School of Health Sciences has assisted and trained thousands of people for their new careers in healthcare. Learn more at one of our Allen School of Health Sciences campuses.
  15. The human body generates approximately 3.8 million new cells every… single… second! (Source: Starr, Michelle. “Your Body Makes 3.8 Million Cells Every Second […].” 2021. ScienceAlert.com.)
  16. Laughter has been repeatedly proven to stimulate organs, relieve stress, and improve immunity. (Source: Mayo Clinic.)
  17. Unlike the circulatory system, the lymph system doesn’t have a constantly pulsing network of tubes to keep it moving. The body’s solution? Movement! Exercise stimulates lymph nodes, drains cellular waste products, and enhances natural immunity. (Source: MD Anderson)
  18. Fingernails grow faster on one’s dominant hand. (Source: American Academy of Dermatology Association.)
  19. A study on how taking photos affects memory suggests that taking a picture of something actually reduces one’s memory for it. (Source: Soares, Julia S. & Storm, Benjamin C. [2018]. Forget in a Flash […], Journal of Applied Research in Memory and Cognition, 7(1), 154-160.)
  20. Yarrow and mallow were some of the earliest known medicines, used as far back as 60,000 years ago to heal internal and external surface barriers of the body. Today, people use them for the same reasons. (Source: Applequist, Wendy L. & Moerman, Daniel E. [2011]. “Yarrow […]: A Neglected Panacea? […].” Economic Botany, 65(2), 209-225.)
  21. Knowledge and use of medicinal mushrooms go back thousands of years. Even the 5,300-year-old Ice Man “Ötzi” had finely preserved mushroom specimens tucked in his pouch. (Source: Stamets, Paul E. et al [2018]. “Extracts of Polypore Mushroom Mycelia Reduce Viruses in Honey Bees.” Scientific Reports 8 [Article no. 13936].)
  22. Mycoremediation – the use of fungi with toxin-remediating properties – is becoming a popular method for quickly breaking down environmental pollutants and improving public health. (Source: Permaculture Magazine.)
  23. Legacy pollutants continue to be phased out of modern industrial use since lead was removed from paint in 1978 and from gasoline in 1995 – making our environment a safer and healthier place. (Source: Department of Ecology State of Washington)
  24. The next time you feel a sneeze coming on when you don’t have a tissue, simply rub the middle of your forehead up and down. It has a mitigating effect on the sneeze reflex.
  25. When sprouted, seeds and nuts boast higher levels of nutrients, reduced digestion-inhibiting anti-nutrients, and increased levels of enzymes that aid in digestion. (Source: SFGATE.)
  26. The placebo effect is getting measurably stronger over time. (Source: Tuttle, Alexander H. et al [2015]. “Increasing placebo responses over time […].” The Journal for the International Association for the Study of Pain, 156(12), 2616-2626.)
 

Learn More at Allen School of Health Sciences

  Ready to start learning more about the health sciences? Working towards a new career? Contact the Allen School today! We are enrolling now for classes starting soon. We cannot wait for you to become part of the Allen School family. Visit www.allenschool.edu to learn more.

 

Image Source: New Africa /  Shutterstock

Tips to Work from Home

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Tips to Work from Home

In the office, your coworkers often pose the greatest threat to keeping you from getting some real, heads-down work done. They drop by your desk, engage you in conversation, and invite you to lunch. The social benefits of a workplace are definitely nice to have, but they can become a challenge if you’re easily distracted. At the home office, however, it’s easy for you to become your own worst enemy, because when you’re not surrounded by coworkers, you’re free to drop those pesky inhibitions. At the home office, no one’s watching. You don’t necessarily feel that same peer pressure or communal obligation to get things done. (Also: You can wear shorts and a tee-shirt)!

Get Started Early: When working in an office, your morning commute can help you wake up and feel ready to work by the time you get to your desk. At home, however, the transition from your pillow to your computer can be much more jarring. Believe it or not, one way to work from home productively is to dive into your to-do list as soon as you wake up. Simply getting a project started first thing in the morning can be the key to making progress on it gradually throughout the day. Otherwise, you’ll prolong breakfast and let the morning sluggishness wear away your motivation.

Choose a Dedicated Workspace: Just because you’re not working at an office doesn’t mean you can’t have an office. Rather than locking yourself up in your room or on the couch, dedicate a specific room or surface in your home to work.

Structure Your Day Like You would in the Office: When working from home, you’re your own personal manager. Without things like an in-person meeting schedule to break up your day, you can be quick to lose focus or burn out. To stay on schedule, segment what you’ll do and when over the course of the day. If you have an online calendar, create personal events and reminders that tell you when to shift gears and start on new tasks.

Plan Out What You Will Be Working on Ahead of Time: Spending time figuring out what you’ll do today can take away from actually doing those things. And, you’ll have planned your task list so recently that you can be tempted to change your schedule on the fly. It’s important to let your agenda change if you need it to, but it’s equally as important to commit to an agenda that outlines every assignment before you begin. Try solidifying your schedule the day before, making it feel more official when you wake up the next day to get started on it.

Communicate Expectations with Anyone Who Will Be Home with You: Of course, you might be working from home but still have “company.” Make sure any roommates, siblings, parents, and spouses respect your space during work hours. Just because you’re working from home doesn’t mean your home. AND SOME FUN…….

Match Your Music to The Task at Hand: During the week, music is the soundtrack to your career. And at work, the best playlists are diverse playlists — you can listen to music that matches the energy of the project you’re working on. It only makes sense that it would help you focus on your work as well. ( Tell us what music you listen to when you are working from home. We will post your choices on our Allen School of Health Sciences Instagram @allen_school).

Use Your Laundry as a Work Timer: Doing your laundry is a built-in timer for your home. So, use the time to start and finish something from your to-do list before changing the load. Committing to one assignment during the wash cycle and another during the dry cycle can train you to work smarter on tasks that you might technically have all day to tinker with.

Keep the TV on in the Background: Of all the tips, tricks, and secrets I’ve uncovered for being more productive at home, one stands out above the rest: Putting on the Yes network! Just keeping the Yes Network running in the background at a low volume helps me get stuff done. (I’m not exactly sure why this trick works, but I can only assume it has something to do with Yankees)!

In order to protect our community during the COVID-19 crisis, The Allen School of Health Sciences is offering virtual campus tours for enrollment. Classes starting soon! Contact the Allen School today! We cannot wait for you to become part of the Allen School family. Visit www.allenschool.edu to learn more.

Medical Assisting Is More Than Just a Job. It’s an Important Healthcare Career.

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If you’re considering pursuing a career in healthcare, Medical Assisting can allow you to do meaningful work that matters in your community. Medical Assistants play an essential role in the day-to-day operations of healthcare facilities and are often among the first and last people a patient sees at their check-ups or doctor’s appointments. If you think the healthcare field could be right for you, here are three reasons why Medical Assisting is a great place to start.

1. Medical Assisting is more than just a job. It’s an important healthcare career.

Medical Assisting is a rewarding healthcare career that can give you the chance to contribute to patient health and care as you support physicians, nurses, and other medical professionals. Medical Assistants often interact with patients and, with an upbeat attitude and positive demeanor, can help to keep patients feeling at ease and smiling during a physician’s visit that might otherwise be stressful. In fact, the Allen School of Health Sciences has been graduating healthcare professions for nearly 60 years.

As a Medical Assistant, you’ll also be learning a lot about the healthcare field, and, in time, may find opportunities for advancement into roles like medical office or records manager, healthcare administrator, nursing or other related jobs.

2. Medical Assisting encompasses many duties, keeping you engaged and on your toes.

As a Medical Assistant, you may perform a diverse mix of administrative and clinical responsibilities. On the administrative side, you might schedule appointments, greet patients, update electronic health records, and handle billing and insurance. Clinical duties can include recording patient information and history, instructing patients on medications, checking vital signs, preparing blood samples, conducting basic lab tests, and assisting the doctor before and during a patient exam. In some states, medical assistants may also give patients injections or medications as instructed by the physician.

Medical Assistants can work in a variety of care facilities, with most having full time schedules while others have the option to work part-time instead. If you work in a physician’s or practitioner’s office, you’re likely to work a predictable schedule as most clinics and offices open during standard business hours, allowing you to more easily plan and schedule time with family and friends. Other large employers of medical assistants include hospitals and outpatient care centers.

3. Employment of Medical Assistants is growing faster than average.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Medical Assistant employment is expected to increase 23% by 2024, much faster than the 7% average across all occupations. (https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/mobile/medical-assistants.htm ) Medical Assistant employment growth follows the general growth of the healthcare industry and the increasing need for support workers at healthcare facilities. By 2024, the BLS projects that 730,200 medical assistants will be employed in the US, compared to the 591,300 medical assistants counted in 2014. Such an increase in demand can provide workers with increased career stability and the knowledge that, no matter where they are in the country, medical assistants will be needed.

How to Prepare for Your Medical Assisting Career

At the Allen School of Health Sciences, our accelerated medical assisting program can prepare you to begin working as a medical assistant in less than a year. Take part in one of our virtual career planning sessions and discover the many healthcare pathways available to you. Contact the Allen School today! We are enrolling now for our classes starting soon and cannot wait for you to become part of the Allen School family. Visit www.allenschool.edu to learn more.

-Allen School

Phlebotomy Equipment

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Phlebotomy is one of the most important jobs in the healthcare industry. A considerable portion of medical treatments and diagnoses rely on blood tests, and the collection of those blood samples is often done by a phlebotomist, who must carefully draw blood from the veins of patients. To do so effectively, they must have the right skills and equipment — with the latter being particularly important. Understanding phlebotomy equipment is key to understanding the job itself. If you’re considering a career in phlebotomy, read on to learn all about the top phlebotomy equipment pieces and their use in a medical setting.

The Most Commonly Used Equipment in Phlebotomy

Scrubs

When it comes to handling bodily fluids — especially blood — health care professionals can never be too careful. Exposure to blood can increase a phlebotomist’s risk of bloodborne pathogens, including HIV/AIDS, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C. Though the risk of contracting such an illness from blood exposure is low, it’s still important to prevent — and that’s why scrubs are important. Scrubs minimize the risk of cross-contamination of bodily fluids because they are made from thick, medical-grade materials that block any bodily fluids from seeping through.

Non-Sterile Gloves

Non-sterile gloves are another barrier of protection that’s important for phlebotomists to invest in. Sterile gloves are typically reserved for use in surgical procedures, so for a blood draw, non-sterile gloves are ideal. This is important for the same reason it’s important to wear scrubs. Gloves prevent potential exposure to blood from a patient and thus minimize the risk of exposure to bloodborne pathogens.

Alcohol Pad

One of the most important principles of phlebotomy is ensuring the integrity of the collected sample. If a sample is contaminated, it can yield false results or force a patient to later resubmit a new sample — both of which can threaten a patient’s health and wellbeing when test results are time-sensitive. In order to effectively prevent contamination of the blood sample, a phlebotomist must cleanse the draw site prior to venipuncture. This is typically done by using an alcohol pad on the skin. Alcohol is a natural antiseptic, so it quickly removes any bacteria or residue which might compromise a blood sample.

Tourniquet

Some patients have veins that are immediately visible and easy to access, but others are not so lucky. Regardless of how easy a blood draw may look, it’s always best to take steps to make the target vein as accessible as possible. A tourniquet is key to accomplishing this goal. When applied, a tourniquet will limit the blood flow to a limb, making it easier for a phlebotomist to draw blood due to the dilation of the vein.

Needles

Needles, of course, are perhaps the most essential tool for phlebotomists. Needles come in all shapes, sizes, and gauges, but the most commonly used gauge for venipuncture is 21. However, a 16 gauge need may be used for blood donation, and injections may call for a 30 gauge needle. It’s essential to have a range of needles available to always have the best tool for the task at hand.

Blood Collection Tubes

A phlebotomist who collects blood samples must have the correct containers for the blood to be collected in. Blood collection tubes are thus another important item in the tool kit of an effective phlebotomist. Different types of tubes are used for different types of collections—for example, the Microtainer® tube is often used to collect a blood sample from punctured skin on a person’s finger or heel. Alternately, a microhematocrit tube may be used for microhematocrit test collections.

Labels

Correctly identifying a blood sample is just as important as correctly collecting it. A mislabeled or unlabeled sample can wreak havoc and jeopardize a patient’s health. Labels should always be completed and applied to a patient’s sample immediately after being collected.

Gauze or Bandages

Gauze and bandages are two of the most essential supplies for any phlebotomist. After a sample has been taken, a patient’s venipuncture site should be covered in order to encourage clotting, stop bleeding, and prevent infection. Both gauze and bandages can accomplish this and protect a patient’s wound. Bandages and gauze also help to absorb excess blood that may continue to flow after the draw has been completed.

Syringe

Sometimes, if a patient has particularly fragile or small veins, a syringe may be necessary to complete the collection. Syringes are useful for this purpose because they allow for aspiration that prevents the collapse of the vein. Using a needle that is too big can easily cause swelling that results in vein collapse, which can quickly become a serious medical trauma.

Safety Trainer Device

The safety trainer device is a vital protective tool that prevents phlebotomists from potential exposure to a patient’s blood. These devices come in various forms, but they’re most commonly implemented in the form of a resheathing device that covers the needle after use. This protects phlebotomists from accidentally sticking themselves with a needle while transferring a blood sample into the vacuum tube from a syringe.

BD Eclipse

The BD Eclipse is a multi-sample collection needle that utilizes a vacuum system. It is most often used for venipuncture in conjunction with its vacuum tube collection feature. Phlebotomists can also enjoy the safety device that comes attached, which is part of the manufacturer’s SmartSlip technology. The needle’s pivoting shield further ensures the technician’s safety throughout the entire collection process.

Find the Right Phlebotomist Training Program

If you’re interested in a career in phlebotomy, you probably want to know as much as possible about the medical field and its available careers. Phlebotomy is an excellent job for anybody who wants to help people while working in the fast-paced health care industry, and Allen School is the best place to learn the skills you need for a successful career. For more information on available training programs, start dates, and financial aid, you can call us at (888) 620-6745 or reach us online.  

Image Source: Microgen / Shutterstock

Nervous to Go Back to School?

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How do you feel about going back to school? Do you dream of where it could take your career, or do you fear that because you are a working parent or professional that you will not have the time or energy to go back? Fear has this funny way of holding us back from exceptional things. We can think of many reasons not to take on this challenge like the additional workload, the time and energy it will take, and the biggest one of all- fear of failure.

How can you put these fearful thoughts aside and truly judge if it is time for you to go back to school? School should give you something you are missing. Why do you want to go back to school?  What is missing in your life right now that school could provide? What will furthering your education bring you? A promotion, growth of your knowledge and skill of your field, or perhaps a change your career track all together? When you can articulate the reasons or your “Why statement” then you can use it to fight back your fear and leave your fearful thoughts behind.

Get Your Support System to Back You Up

There will be times when you need help with your home life responsibilities. To avoid feeling overwhelmed by the extra workload, think about who your support system is and how they can help you accomplish your goals. Identify what you need help with. Will you do homework at night, early mornings, or on the weekends at the library?

Next, get that support system on board. These can be ​your spouse, partner, parents, neighbors, kids, or friends. Share with them why you are going back to school and share any areas you need help with. You will feel relief knowing that your support system has your back.

Find Extra Time Blocks in Your Day

Do you feel like you will not have enough time or energy to do homework? Then try this; Throughout your day tomorrow make it a priority to look for small blocks of free time. Did you spend too much time on social media during lunch? If so, then that could be time in your day to do work.

Keep a lookout for these blocks of time where you could give up something to make room for schoolwork. School will not last forever and making some sacrifices will be worth it.  It is hard to contain excitement and anxiety over what will happen once you get that degree or certificate, but all good things come to those who wait or work hard.

When fearful thoughts creep up when thinking about returning to school, take a deep breath and put them aside. You have many options for making it work for you and you could reap some big benefits going for it. Following these tips is a way to “go the extra mile”. If you follow these guidelines, you can improve your approach to going back to school.

Ready to start working towards a new career? The Allen School of Health Sciences is offering virtual campus tours for enrollment for our classes starting soon. Contact the Allen School today! We cannot wait for you to become part of the Allen School family. Visit  www.allenschool.edu to learn more.

Medical Assistant: What are your options?

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Becoming a Medical Assistant is one of the quickest ways to enter the world of healthcare. If you are looking to get a good job fast in a growing field, becoming an MA is the way to go. But after you have completed your program and are working in the position, then what? What is the career advancement options for a Medical Assistant?

Medical Assistants can Choose from Several Specializations

Healthcare is a field with tons of specializations, and Medical Assistants are no exception. Finding an MA specialization is one of the best ways to make yourself more in-demand. It also means finding a field that truly interests you and that you enjoy working in. An MA can specialize in everything from internal medicine to transplant surgery and oncology. It would be impossible to name all their options, but every branch and level of medicine must have specialized experts carrying out daily administrative and clinical tasks. Your choices for a specialization are as vast as healthcare itself!

You will Have a Leg up on Further Medical Education

If you want to become a nurse, the education and experience you will get as a Medical Assistant will make a difference in your training. You will probably find clinical and coursework more manageable than other students who go in without experience. Much (though not all) of the material you will encounter will look familiar. As a veteran of the medical world, you will probably be much more at ease with the technical and professional aspects of the material, as well as building upon your existing knowledge base. While other students are learning the ropes of the world of healthcare, you will be climbing them. After all, you have been here before.

Medical Assistants get Valuable Real-World Experience

No matter what you choose to do after your first MA job, you will always have experience that makes you more dynamic and interesting as both an employee and a person. If you want to become a nurse, your MA experience will serve you well. If you want to enter another field, potential employers will almost certainly think highly of your MA experience. And, of course, there is always the option of being an MA for the long haul. After all, Medical Assistants are in demand and an integral part of our healthcare system.

Are you thinking about a new career as a medical assistant? In order to protect our community during the COVID-19 crisis, The Allen School of Health Sciences is offering virtual campus tours for enrollment for our classes starting soon. Contact the Allen School today! We cannot wait for you to become part of the Allen School family. Visit  www.allenschool.edu to learn more.