Uhwah Staff Phlebotomist

******* Please complete the Application Form fully, CV's are not accepted *********

Principal Duties and Responsibilities

The Phlebotomist, Staff Grade will:

Scientific/Technical

• Attend daily at the hospital at such hours as may be determined by the Health Service Executive HSE-South
• Collect blood samples for patients by venepuncture as requested by medical or laboratory staff.
• Be competent in the selection of the appropriate sample bottles for all common laboratory investigations as described in the laboratory user guide.
• Be competent in the procedures required for bleeding high risk, immunocompromised and barrier nursed patients.
• Organise and stock work benches and trolleys on a daily basis.
• Clean and disinfect trolleys and work benches after use.
• Ascertain location of patients on wards by liaising with ward medical and nursing staff.
• Liaise with ward medical and nursing staff to prioritise patients for bleeding.
• Transport specimens collected to the Pathology Specimen Reception Laboratory if required.
• As required, undertake competency in the use of CVC’s, PICC Lines, Femoral Lines, Portacath’s, Hickman lines and have experience in accessing any such device for blood sampling.

Planning and Organisational

• Plan the most efficient route to and between destinations.
• Restock the phlebotomy rooms when necessary.
• Ensure that protocol and situation changes are communicated to other staff as they rotate through the various work areas.

Patient / Service User Related

• Maintainpatient confidentiality at all times.
• Display empathy and a pleasant, helpful manner when dealing with patients, visitors and staff.
• Contribute to the delivery of a quality service to customers within agreed timescales.
• Communicate effectively with patients to ensure correct identification, co-operation and clarification of complications.
• Ensure samples are labelled correctly according to protocols.
• Provide after care and assistance to patients affected by venepuncture.
• Be competent in dealing safely with nervous or aggressive patients.
• Be competent in dealing safely with fainting patients.
• Maintain basic life support skills to enable the safe care of patients.
• Liaise with service users to improve relationship, service and patient care.
• Answer telephone enquiries in a helpful manner.
• To facilitate weekend duty if required

Information Resources

• Ensure samples collected are clearly and accurately labelled with patient identification details.
• Participate in departmental audit and accreditation processes including ISO15189 accreditation.
• Maintain a basic level of IT skills.

Human Resources

• Participate in relevant staff and departmental meetings.
• Co-operate with your line manager to promote good team working.
• Maintain the high standards of the department by contributing towards individual and team objectives.
• Comply with all personnel and other official and operational policies of the Pathology Department and of the Hospital.

Financial Resources

• Monitor phlebotomy stocks and alert your line manager if necessary.
• Use departmental resources in a cost effective manner.

Teaching and Training

• Assist with in-house training by supervising and giving advice to trainee Phlebotomists as directed.
• Maintain and update Phlebotomy skills.
• Maintain personal technical competency by following recognised CPD routes and attending courses as appropriate.
• Share knowledge and experience with colleagues.

Health, Safety and Security

• All employees have a duty to report any accidents, complaints, defects in equipment, near misses and untoward incidents, following Hospital procedure.
• Comply with all Hospital Policies, Procedures, Protocols and Guidelines appropriate to the role.
• Participate in audit and quality improvements.
• Be aware of the National Standards for Safer Better Healthcare.
• Ensure that Health and Safety legislation is complied with at all times.
• Have a working knowledge of the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) Standards as they apply to the role for example, Standards for Healthcare, National Standards for the Prevention and Control of Healthcare Associated Infections, Hygiene Standards etcand comply with associated HSE protocols for implementing and maintaining these standards as appropriate to the role.
• To support, promote and actively participate in sustainable energy, water and waste initiatives to create a more sustainable, low carbon and efficient health service.

Confidentiality

• All information relating to patients and staff gained through your employment with this Hospital is confidential.

The above Job Specification is not intended to be a comprehensive list of all duties involved and consequently, the post holder may be required to perform other duties as appropriate to the post which may be assigned to him/her from time to time and to contribute to the development of the post while in office.