Always short staffed
High turnover
Shoddy hardware
Phlebotomists are required to do reception, accept payment (including overdue invoices), scan IDs and insurance card, answer questions, allay anxiety and fear, accommodate for physical, emotional or cognitive disabilities, accommodate for low English (or other local language) proficiency, draw blood perfectly, decipher complex testing requests, call physicians for clarification if needed, do kit draws, maintain asepsis, and so much more in a ten minute appointment. You are required to take walk ins even if there’s not enough time. During all of that, you will have timers going off to remind you to spin down the other blood you’ve drawn from prior patients and do all of your own processing and preparation for courier pickup.
If you thrive on chaotic circumstances out of your control and adrenaline spikes all day this is the place for you. Otherwise, avoid phlebotomy altogether. The industry is broken and they want us to do the work of 3 employees by ourselves. They want robot-level accuracy and speed with the patience and compassion of a hospice nurse. It destroys the joy of employees at every level. I had about 10 different supervisors in 9 years. Major Red flag 🚩
