The role of the phlebotomy technician. Skills and knowledge required for successful clinical performance

An inventory of competencies considered representative of the entry-level phlebotomy technician's role was developed and validated. A national sample of certified phlebotomy technicians received through the mail a questionnaire delineating 44 specific task or knowledge areas and nine higher order work areas. Respondents rated the specific areas along importance and extent-of-performance dimensions and rated the higher order areas in terms of importance and time spent. The importance ratings obtained (which were also scaled by employing the Rasch measurement model) indicated that knowledge reflected in the inventory was considered important for successful practice. Approximately 33% of the questionnaires (175/530) were returned. The results presented here may be considered by allied health credentialing agencies, employers, curriculum developers, and educators in defining the phlebotomy technician's work role.