A private investigator walks into a phlebotomy class....

A private investigator walks into a phlebotomy class... It sounds like the beginning of a good joke, doesn't it? These two words don't go together, investigator and phlebotomy, unless someone at the school or the school itself was being investigated. Or, there is a very good explanation that involves the investigator herself, yours truly.

After almost 30 years of putting puzzles together as the investigator, I decided to use my skills in the healthcare field and under the microscope. My reason is very personal along with the desire to work in the healthcare industry. Phlebotomy is the first step to go to where I want to be.

Phlebotomists are people who draw blood and they make their jobs look easy but, until you have been behind the scenes as I have, it is anything but easy. I have a new respect for phlebotomists who have the responsibility for the well being of the patient whom they stick. They have to know where to stick, how to stick, and everything there is to do after the stick. They must know precisely how to get the best batch of blood in the right tubes in the right order because every tube has a different purpose most containing additives. The tubes must be inverted a certain amount of times in order for the blood to be at its best when the lab technicians run their tests.

In order to become a state certified phlebotomist, one must understand how the body functions including where blood comes from, the different kinds of blood and their function, as well as all about the circulatory system, internal organs, and HIPAA. 

I give credit to my fellow classmates whom I had the pleasure of sharing a wonderful six weeks with. We learned together, experimented on, and learned from one another. Hats off to Keisha Randle who was an extraordinary instructor with the patience to get us through the program.

CONGRATS PHLEBOTOMY CLASS OF 2018!!!