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Phlebotomy refers to the process of making an incision in a vein and drawing the blood of a patient. This blood is then used for transfusions, medical research or – more commonly – the diagnosis of various illnesses. Phlebotomists provide an essential service in hospitals and GP’s offices, taking the strain off other medical personnel such as Doctors and Nurses.

Extensive training and responsibility

As you might expect, phlebotomists have a number of responsibilities which their extensive training is designed to prepare them for. They are well trained so that they are able to obtain blood samples without interfering with or disturbing other medical care that the patient is receiving. Phlebotomists are also trained to extract blood in the correct way in order to avoid contamination or spoiling the sample.

Once a blood sample has been taken a phlebotomist is also responsible for transporting the specimen to its intended destination.

As well as extracting blood, phlebotomists also provide a number of other essential medical-based services. These include the cleaning and sterilisation of equipment, preparing stains, updating patient records and explaining medical procedures to patients.

Job perks

Being a phlebotomist can be a rewarding job. You get to work in a hospital environment but you do not have to deal with any of the worries that come with being a doctor or registered nurse. Many people also choose to work as phlebotomist part-time and this gives you some flexibility.

There is always a great demand for phlebotomists as they provide essential services within a hospital.

If you decide to pursue a career in phlebotomy then training will usually take place whilst you are working. There are no minimum requirements to begin phlebotomist training although strong education qualifications would put you at an advantage when it comes to applying.

The training provides you with a range of skills; some of which are not medically related. A combination of theoretical study and practical learning is used to prepare you for the job and once you have completed training you will receive a certificate which says you are competent enough to work without close supervision. This enables you to work in any UK hospital, allowing you freedom to travel and work in different areas of the country.

Drawbacks

Alongside the advantages of being a phlebotomist there are some disadvantages too. As a phlebotomist you carry a large amount of responsibility on your shoulders. It is you job to ensure you extract blood using the correct procedures but you must also make sure specimens are stored correctly to avoid contamination or inaccurate results.

As a phlebotomist you may spend a fair amount of your time working in a laboratory. Here you are at risk from exposure to toxic reagents and chemicals. Disposing of needles in the correct manner is also one of your responsibilities and means you must always be vigilant of health and safety.

There is a small margin for error whilst working as a phlebotomist; you cannot risk mixing samples or labelling them incorrectly as such mistakes can have dire consequences.

Is it right for me?

Ultimately, to decide if a career in phlebotomy is right for you, you need to consider everything that the job entails. Research all of the duties thoroughly and consider whether this is something which you feel you would enjoy doing on a regular basis.

As an important part of the healthcare service, job satisfaction would be high in such a career but you must be confident of your ability to cope with the pressures associated with the job too.

There is more to keeping your job than knowing how to perform the job requirements. One area of concern that is frequently undervalued is effective interpersonal communication skills for building and preserving working relationships. This dynamic can be critical for individual success at work, and ultimately the success of the company. The following are tips for producing favorable results for all concerned.

First, strive to keep good working relationships around you, and recognize there are many small mistakes that can compound if they are not properly managed or avoided entirely. Watch for seemingly small errors in relationship building. Knowing how to deal with interpersonal matters can preserve your job and make your work life, and the work life of those around you, more pleasant.

Second, be aware that some companies have policies concerning relationships between workers. There are usually policies addressing dating, marriage and employment of family members. Do not assume you know the policy where you work. Locate and read the policy in your company’s employee handbook or ask the Human Resource Manager for clarification. It is one area you must understand.

It is not unusual for companies to have policies stating that relationships you have during the hours on the job must remain professional at all times. Personal, dating and familial relationships may be prohibited entirely, and if they are allowed by company policy they must be conducted professionally, especially if the involved individuals work closely on a daily basis. However, sometimes in larger organizations where distance and department differentials prevent close proximity of two subject employees, that prohibition might be relaxed by management’s consent.

The importance of knowing your company’s policy on relationships in the workplace is very important. Do not assume you know the policy where you work. Read the policy in your company’s employee handbook or ask the Human Resource Manager if you have questions. It is one area you must clearly understand.

The third area to be concerned with is gossip. Talking about others, which to you may seem to be harmless evaluation, can ruin relationships and be disastrous for interoffice relationships, and potentially affect the company. Gossip can make you look bad and get the person being targeted into trouble for no reason. You should save your gossip and personal evaluation of others for a time when you are outside the workplace. Or better yet, keep you assessments to yourself.

In the event you are bullied by a co-worker, know that the bully cannot harm you. Keeping good notes about the bullying incidences can serve as substantiation for your claim should you decide to take action later. When your notes are complete and prove your complaint, present the information to your supervisor or the company’s Human Resources Manager. Usually, they are in a position to better handle the situation for all parties concerned.

In addition to the previously mentioned issues, do not take credit for things you did not do, and quickly speak up when you make mistakes. Do not take from the common facilities such as break room storage and refrigerators, food that belongs to others without their consent. Also, pay for your food and drinks when you’re with co-workers outside the office. It’s amazing how small matters can swell into monstrous concerns, and it’s easy to avoid them by being aware of potential danger zones like these.

Your attention to these areas can minimize many complications. Improving interpersonal communications can improve your work life, and knowing your company’s policies is required for appropriate workplace behavior. Although these points are not exhaustive they can help produce an effective and pleasant workplace.

Businessmen are ambitious and always want to grow to great heights; unfortunately some of them lack liquid cash for this. One popular method of tackling this issue is through invoice factoring. This is an attractive type of financing by which a lending company provides you cash for your invoices.

The Actual Working of Factoring

Factoring refers to a transaction when a business agrees to sell its invoices to a ‘factor’ or third party in exchange for immediate cash which they can use to expand their business. This working capital proves useful but the invoices are sold for a lesser value. When the company assumes control over the invoices, a percentage of it, 70-90% is advanced to you and they will pay for the invoices. After they receive all the money, the balance receivable value will be settled with you after deducting the factor’s charges and fees. The discount on the fee depends on how old invoices are. Invoices older than 3 months are not accepted by most factors. When you plan to have a contract with a factor, the clients have to be notified of the arrangement.

Benefits of Invoice Factoring

There are several benefits of selling invoice to a factor. The most important advantage is the flexibility; the amount of money a business can borrow increases with sales. This gives an edge over banks and other lending institutions. Cash-flow is vital to any business especially for a new business, as only with sufficient funds can you become competitive. Secondly, in this type of financing, other than invoices, no other collateral is required to receive the funds.

Unlike loans, you don’t have to wait for weeks or months. Moreover, there is no botheration of accumulating bad debt as the borrowed money is secured by the accounts receivables. You can focus on your business as there is no responsibility of any credit control. You can continue to offer payments options to your clients and your employees can be paid without any delay. You will be in a better financial position because now you are able to bring in added profitable business. The net margins also increase.

Invoice Discounting

Discounting using invoices is another way of receiving money against invoices. This permits you to continue to keep control over the sales ledger. This type of financing is generally not available to cash traders or retailers. Businesses that supply services or products to other big businesses on credit can only avail of this finance. It permits you to flexibly raise your working capital which improves the cash flow. The discounter will usually want to check on your business and review the finances before he provides the funds. Regular checks by discounters are normally conducted in order to find out if your business plans are effective. They will be informed online of the details of invoices. Only after such a thorough check will funds be provided.