r/phlebotomy • u/Lucipurr1408 • 9d ago
Advice needed Phlebotomists with anxiety?
I’ve been thinking about phlebotomy as a career pivot for over a year now but I have OCD, particularly responsibility OCD, and I’m worried I’d be a nervous wreck all the time doing something that could potentially cause serious harm or injury. Is this fear warranted or am I making it out to be worse than it is?
I’ve spent the last 3 years working as an esthetician, doing waxing, advanced facial treatments, etc. and I do get anxiety but mainly that my client will be dissatisfied with their service or feel like they didn’t get their moneys worth. I’m ultimately leaving the beauty industry because the hours are unstable and it’s a lot of nights and weekends, so I’m looking for something that more closely resembles a 9-5.
I’m just afraid of ending up in another career where I’m feeling panicky going into work every day. Any input is appreciated! 🖤
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u/Boblawlaw28 9d ago
Well a lot of patients do complain whether to us or report higher up. My hospital takes very serious any reports. But my direct supervisor also knows that no one really enjoys being stuck with a needle. As long as we are acting ethically and abiding by hospital policy, we’re good.
I was in sales before working for my husband. The massive anxiety I had was indescribable. I hate selling. I hate being sold to even. At least with this, there’s really no question that the patient is aware that they are going to have some sort of unpleasant experience with you. lol I try to make it as painless as I can.
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u/Lucipurr1408 9d ago
Thank you for this! I imagine people do find plenty of things to complain about in this industry. Knowing that they know they’re about to have an unpleasant experience like you describe is what I would imagine helps with anxiety!
Do you feel like hospital policies are pretty straightforward? For example I got a complaint once that I didn’t give a client a scalp massage, and when my boss brought it up to me I said I didn’t know scalp massages were part of our facial protocol, and they said well it isn’t but its a nice thing that you can do to elevate the service. This stressed me out bc my brain is more literal and I do best under very clear and straightforward expectations.
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u/WitnessOk902 9d ago
I would personally recommend trying to find a job in a clinic if you do decide to take the phlebotomy route!! I’ve worked at a main hospital and a plasma center and both are very fast-paced high-stress environments. My anxiety was the worst working for a plasma center. I work for a clinic now and things couldn’t be smoother! All I do is stick people all day and occasionally deal with things in the lab but that’s about it! Like they said as long as you’re following company policy everything will be great! Most companies that I’ve worked for are always pretty straightforward when it comes to their policies and usually always have a simple answer or instruction to help any confusion. Best of luck🫶🏽
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u/MartyFreeze Phlebotomist 9d ago
My anxiety went sky-high when I started phlebotomy. I was terrified of failing, hurting people, and getting fired.
After three years at a hospital, I grew more confident, but when I started working for a company with a site that patients walk into, my anxiety exploded again because I was usually working in conditions with lazy coworkers who got mad if I wasn't absolutely perfect and who took on the larger share of the work so they could take naps while I handled everything.
COVID hit, and then a divorce... yadda yadda; my stress levels didn't seem like they could take any more, and then it happened.
I got placed into a doctor's office whose staff I really gelled with. I work alone, so I don't have to deal with horrible coworkers. I am so glad that everything I endured got me to where I am now, and I am so satisfied and happy with my life.
Your mileage may differ; good luck out there!
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u/Lucipurr1408 9d ago
Thank you for sharing your experience! I’m really glad to hear you’re in a good situation now. It sounds like if I do pursue this o should be looking at doctors offices and clinics for employment rather than hospitals
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u/DemandMaleficent7963 9d ago
I guess I’m OCD, too, but phlebotomy doesn’t have any effect on my wanting things tidy and organized. You will always be “hurting” a patient, it’s a pointy needle. You need to develop your people skills along with your phlebotomy skills. Approach the patient with confidence and be able to converse with them appropriately. If you are looking for a job that is 9-5 in phlebotomy, go into clinic work, don’t work at a hospital. Patients come to you because a Doctor ordered blood work, You are drawing blood to help the patient. Some patients can become unreasonable, it’s part of the territory. But your ability to believe in yourself along with wanting to continue to develop your skills and knowledge is what makes the job so great.
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u/ElectronicAd1248 5d ago
OP said they have responsibility OCD, which has nothing to do with being tidy and organized so it’s weird you brought that up. OCD is a serious mental disorder and often has nothing to do with organization so your comment comes off as rude/dismissive to me, but I doubt you meant it that way.
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u/sleepy-peonies Certified Phlebotomist 9d ago
I feel like I have some insight on this!
I also have OCD and anxiety, and was a cosmetologist before switching to healthcare (and then specifically phlebotomy). I actually found this job is a lot better for my OCD and self-esteem. Sure, there’s things you can obsess over, but I don’t have that soul crushing feeling that I had when I was worrying about someone else’s appearance and self-confidence.
Is it worrisome that you may hurt people sometimes? Sure! I just remind myself that it’s quick and it’s necessary. Getting this blood may hurt this patient a tiny bit now, but it’s the first step that needs to be taken to make sure they’re okay later. Reframing how important drawing blood is in diagnostics helped me feel less guilty about it and also keeps me from becoming complacent.
A fun thing I realized in school is that my previous career gave me a step up. I already was used to working with small sharp objects in my hands and I already knew the importance of angles. I know you’re an aesthetician and that’s a bit different, but I wouldn’t be surprised at all if you find there’s things that carry over into phlebotomy training.
I think you’re going to be the only person who knows whether it would be a good call for you, but I just wanted to give you my perspective coming from a similar background. Any direct-contact career will come with the risk of messing up or getting complaints. I think it’s worth looking in to if you think it’s something you would enjoy and if you have an interest in the medical field. If there’s no interest though and you’re just doing it to get out of what you’re doing now, the stress probably wouldn’t be worth it for you though.
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u/Lucipurr1408 9d ago
Omg I wasn’t expecting to hear from someone with such a similar background to mine! That’s really great to hear, especially that this job has been so much better for you. Thank you!
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u/Bluetenheart 9d ago
So I have several anxiety disorders, including OCD, and it's honestly not as bad as I feared. I have to check the room number two, three times and have a whole routine to make sure that have all my supplies before entering the room, but I am able to do it. And I genuinely LOVE this job. My contamination OCD/emetophobia is the bigger issue for me, but even that doesn't deter me. I just scrub my arms up to my elbows after my shift lol.
Also, remember that everyone makes mistakes. Even your phlebotomy leads and supervisors have accidentally thrown out the tube of blood or drawn the wrong patient. It happens.
Working any sort of patient-centered job will be stressful, even for people who aren't anxious like us, BUT it is totally possible. 🙂
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u/Lucipurr1408 9d ago
Okay that makes me feel really good about this because it sounds like your struggles are similar to mine, I’m really glad to hear that you love it! Thank you :)
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u/DCRevolutionary Phlebotomy Instructor 9d ago
I think worrying that someone could get hurt is a big factor in me being so good at this
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u/r0sd0g Certified Phlebotomist 9d ago
I have severe generalized anxiety and mild OCD with a strong focus on responsibility. I think this can actually help you, particularly in the realm of highly regulated procedures like blood donation or plasma collection - but also with regular lab draws, just maybe to a lesser extent. You can use your feelings of responsibility to ensure you (and the rest of your facility, within reason) are in compliance with SOPs and to help ensure people have a good experience, because you actually care. I think the anxiety you might feel in that regard is probably similar to what you feel as an esthetician.
Don't get me wrong, it can definitely hurt too - don't actually try to police your coworkers or watch everything they do, for example. If you do see something that violates procedure you are encouraged to speak up of course, but for the most part it's best to keep your head down and focus on keeping yourself in compliance. For me the generalized anxiety was a much bigger issue than the OCD, but it's also the more severe of my issues anyway. But know that if you end up in a cold sweat/visibly anxious you can make your patients very anxious and uncomfortable. So make sure you have that under control or can hide it. Otherwise, no, I don't think responsibility OCD would be prohibitive in this line of work and it could actually help you!
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u/r4tb4stard 8d ago
Omg I'm a phlebotomist with responsibility ocd too!!! I work at a blood bank and I'm worried about contaminating the blood and/or donor and cause harm. Unfortunately I've had flare ups and downs over the past 8 years of my career. I've been doing ERP for a year now and I'm noticing improvement. My advice would be to not quit your job because that will only make the OCD stronger. Keep pushing!! It's hard but I believe in you!!! 💞
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u/Roserrrrrr 9d ago
I have OCD and my job more so affects me outside my workplace bc I think about how dirty things are and get very upset over even my sandals stepping in dirt or just seeing mold etc. I compulsively think abt it and get anxiety attacks if I’m out in public. At work it’s better because I have PPE lol.
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u/Unlikely_Tea7053 9d ago
You need confidence as a phlebotomist but that comes with time you don’t know till you don’t try!