Effective communication is a critical component of successful phlebotomy procedures. The patient must be adequately prepared for the blood collection procedure, both physically and mentally.
Educating the patient about the process is respectful to the patient and will improve sample integrity. Allow time:
- For patients to ask questions
- To share information that is important to the sample collection process
- To describe post-venipuncture self-care information
Use simple vocabulary and not complex medical terms when explaining procedures or answering patients' questions.
If an error does occur during the venipuncture procedure and is realized by the phlebotomist, the appropriate actions should be taken. For example, suppose a blood tube was not collected for a particular test. In that case, the phlebotomist should explain the error to the patient and perform a second venipuncture to collect the required tube.
Ignoring an error or taking inappropriate actions can put a patient at risk.
