At Last I Am A Phlebotomist Again!

Although a friend pointed out to me that I was indeed a phlebotomist all this time. Just not a practicing one. So...At last! I am a practicing Phelobotomist again! Basically what I do is go visit nursing homes and draw blood from the residents.

I must say, working with old people is both a challenge and a delight. Some are more challenging and some are more delightful, but most are a fair mix of both. I suppose that is true of all people. For some reason it seems more apparent in the elderly.

Today, first thing I woke some sweet lady up to get some blood from her and after a long night which, as I discovered later, was quite painful and sleepless for her. To the girl who came and woke her from her precious sleep for none other than a poke she said, "Oh you have a beautiful complexion". What a dear. I do believe she is purely delightful. Most are not so black or white. Often they are losing their minds, or their physical capacities, or both. Or they are just cranky because they are old and that appears to be their right. Another gentleman I've visited would give me his arm for long enough for me to find a vein then take it back, elbow bent, the vein far from accessible. One is schizophrenic and occasionally can't make up her mind whether to let me take her blood or not. Another moans and groans in jest enough that I never can tell if he was really hurting or just teasing me, but his roommate says he's joking. I hope so. Another flirts incessantly which I can't decide whether it's charming or a little creepy, but he's a harmless old man so I suppose that's why he does it. Many of the people I poke are in wheelchairs or in bed, so I occasionally find myself kneeling on the floor to reach them. Today as I got up from such a draw the gentleman's roommate asked if I said a prayer for him while I was down there.

I can't say I anticipated as difficult it would be to get blood out of some of these people, or even to be in the same room as some of these people. And I don't expect to get used to the smell. One day another girl came with me and as we left she remarked that every hall smells different. I hate to say it, but she's right. But I think I like it.