The Great Irony

K, I realized I just have to get this out there.


I don't like being stuck with needles.

In fact I used to be kinda needle-phobic. I've wondered why I chose to be in phlebotomy for that very reason. Well, I guess it's because when you know what it's like to have your own apprehension about needles you are better able to sympathize with patients who are afraid too.

I haven't had a patient afraid of needles yet or a needle-phobic patient. I differentiate between the two because there is a difference. Someone who is just "afraid" or "has a strong dislike" for needles is just that. They seriously don't like them and try to avoid them when they can, but when they have to have one they just turn the other way and look forward to the end. That's the category I'm in.

Then there's another category. My grandpa is in this category. He passes out at the sight of needles. Unfortunately, this means he has to get another needle just to revive him, so it works out to his detriment. Someone who is phobic of needles has a deeper fear than most people without phobias can understand. They even avoid essential medical care just to not get stuck. There have even been cases of people going into cardiac arrest upon being stuck because their fear is so great! It's not a condition we can laugh about.

So, I guess my aversion does come in handy. I know other students who have absolutely no fear or even hesitation about needles at all. I have no idea how they do it. One student even egged me on to stick her during practice even when I couldn't find her vein. If that had been me, I'd have developed a pallor and recommend they find an easier arm to practice on (Although I actually have really good veins, I often find myself admiring them <3). You don't want to make students anxious by making them think you have no confidence in them, but then there's something to be said about too much confidence. But, when you have no fear, you don't worry about that I guess. It's just a little poke.

I stirr...

Yes, the time has come to start this blog. I've scoured other medical blogs in blogspot and knew that I too would need a place to specifically write about this new journey.

Basically, if you couldn't tell from the description I am currently in a program at my college to become a phlebotomist. I have been doing my internship at my local hospital for about three weeks now. So far, it seems like a pretty fun career and many of the younger phlebotomists there seem to kinda agree with me. I asked an older woman if the job was fun and she said "noooooo." I'm guessing that you do have to spice things up after a few years, but for now I'll stick to learning the ropes. I hope to become a nurse someday so phlebotomy should be handy for that.

For those of you who are not familiar with the field (I wasn't until I read about in the colledge catalogue!) phlebotomy is the art of taking blood. It literally means "to cut vein." Not that I'm slicing people open, it's just a needle people, it's a poke! We also work in the lab running samples of basically any fluid that can come from the human body including, but not limited to, blood, urine, stool (that's poop to nonmedical folk), pus, bile and cerebral spinal fluid.

Being a vamire isn't as romantic as Twilight makes it out to be, eh?

Anyway, you see the good and the bad in this field. From people just passing through to those who will probably never leave. This field can bring you up, stimulate, challenge, sadden, enlighten and ultimately force you to grow. And those are just things I learned from a three week internship!

Hope you enjoy the ride with me...