Final answer:
A phlebotomist is a healthcare worker who is trained to draw blood using needles for various purposes such as testing, transfusions, and donations. They are certified by passing exams and must follow strict protocols to prevent infections.
Step-by-step explanation:
Health Care Worker and Phlebotomy
A health care worker who needs to be willing to stick people with needles to draw blood is known as a phlebotomist. Phlebotomists are trained professionals who perform venipunctures to draw blood from surface veins, as well as capillary sticks and arterial sticks for different blood analyses. They play a critical role in the medical field, as their work enables the diagnosis of diseases, monitoring of patients, and supports blood donations and transfusions. Phlebotomists must adhere to rigorous safety protocols to prevent infections and ensure that there is no risk of transmitting diseases like HIV. Certificates for phlebotomists are issued by organizations such as the American Society of Phlebotomy Technicians after passing a national examination.
Healthcare workers, including dental and clinical laboratory personnel, are also at a higher risk of needle sticks and must be conscientious regarding infection control. Maintaining a safe blood supply by adhering to ethical standards, using new needles for each donation, and testing blood for diseases are of paramount importance in the healthcare industry.