Phlebotomist job description template

Phlebotomists draw blood and collect other specimens, then label, process and send them so test results come back accurate. A careful phlebotomist means fewer redraws, fewer rejected specimens and calmer patients. Good posts say whether the job is at a draw station, in a clinic, on home and facility visits or a mix, about how many patients a day you see, and which certification your state or lab expects.

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Phlebotomist

Full-time
Your Company is hiring a phlebotomist to draw blood and collect specimens for our patients. You'll greet patients, confirm their identity and orders, perform venipunctures and finger sticks, and make sure every tube is labeled, processed and packed correctly for the lab. Plenty of people are nervous about needles, so a steady hand and a calm, reassuring manner matter here. If you take pride in getting it right the first time, we'd like to meet you.

What you’ll do

  • Confirm each patient's identity with two identifiers and check the test orders before every draw
  • Perform venipunctures and capillary sticks on adults and children, following the correct order of draw
  • Label every specimen at the patient's side with name, date of birth and the date and time of collection
  • Centrifuge, aliquot, refrigerate or freeze specimens according to each test's handling requirements
  • Package specimens for courier pickup and complete requisitions and logs so nothing goes missing
  • Collect urine and other specimens, following chain-of-custody steps for drug screens when required
  • Help patients who feel faint or anxious, and handle difficult draws calmly and safely
  • Dispose of sharps properly, disinfect the draw area and keep supply and refrigerator temperature logs

What we’re looking for

  • Completion of a phlebotomy training program or equivalent on-the-job experience
  • Phlebotomy certification such as CPT (NHA) or PBT (ASCP), or a state license where our state requires one
  • Comfortable drawing with straight needles, butterflies and syringes, including on hard-to-find veins
  • Careful, consistent labeling and documentation habits
  • Calm, kind manner with nervous adults and children
  • Willing to follow bloodborne pathogen and infection-control procedures, with training provided

Nice to have

  • Pediatric draw experience, including heel sticks on infants
  • DOT urine specimen collector qualification for drug-testing collections
  • Experience with mobile or home draws, plus a valid driver's license
  • Experience entering lab orders in an EHR or laboratory information system (LIS)

Schedule

Full-time, Monday through Friday with early-morning starts for fasting patients, plus a rotating Saturday morning.

What we offer

  • Paid CPT or PBT exam fees if you're not certified yet
  • Hepatitis B vaccination and protective gear provided free
  • Early starts that leave most afternoons free
  • Health coverage, sick days and vacation days
  • Cross-training in specimen processing and lab assistant duties

Add your pay, location and schedule when you post. Jobs that show pay get noticeably more applicants.

Screening questions for a phlebotomist

Ask these on the application form to sort applicants quickly. They’re added automatically when you post this template.

  • Do you hold a phlebotomy certification such as CPT (NHA) or PBT (ASCP), or a state phlebotomy license?Yes / No · required
  • About how many venipunctures have you performed, and in what settings?Short answer · required
  • What do you say or do to put a needle-shy patient at ease?Paragraph

Phlebotomist interview questions

  1. Walk me through a routine draw, from calling the patient back to sending the specimen off.
  2. What order of draw do you follow, and why does it matter?
  3. You've missed the vein on your first try. What do you do next?
  4. A patient tells you they faint at the sight of blood. How do you prepare?
  5. An order calls for a fasting test, but the patient just had breakfast. What do you do?
  6. How do you make sure a specimen is never mislabeled, even when the waiting room is full?
  7. Which specimens need special handling, such as protecting them from light or keeping them on ice?
  8. Tell me about the hardest draw you've done and how you handled it.

Tips for hiring a phlebotomist

  • A few states, including California, license phlebotomists, so check your state's rules before you post. Elsewhere, many employers still ask for national certification.
  • Verify CPT (NHA) and PBT (ASCP) certifications through each organization's online verification before making an offer.
  • Ask finalists to demonstrate a draw on a practice arm, including tube order and labeling. You'll see their technique and habits in a few minutes.
  • Once a new hire starts, track redraws and rejected specimens. They're the clearest signs of a phlebotomist's skill and care.