Job Spotlight: Kimberly Davis, American Red Cross team supervisor
When phlebotomist Kimberly Davis prepares a person to donate blood and then gently "sticks" it to them in the process, she confides it's somewhat personal.
Her sister, years ago, was diagnosed with a blood disorder, thrombocytopenia, in which platelets disappear and must be replaced. Davis, a Columbus native, felt so strongly about it that she made the transition from a career in radio and television to become a phlebotomist.
That was 15 years ago and Davis, 49, now is a team supervisor with the West Central Georgia Chapter of the American Red Cross. In the job, she still draws blood from donors from time to time, but her responsibility is making certain the blood drives go smoothly.
The need for blood is a constant, said Steve Tennant, senior donor recruitment representative with the local Red Cross chapter, although when summer vacation ends and students return to school, the pool of donors increases.
"A large percentage of our blood comes from college and high school students, and when they're out of school we lose that opportunity to collect right off the top," he said. "And then you have Memorial Day and July 4th, with a lot more people traveling and trauma accidents during the summertime."
Blood drives also are a constant, but Tennant said an opportunity for local residents to donate will take place Monday at the John P. Thayer YMCA in downtown Columbus. It will be a drive in honor of National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, promoted by local mothers with families impacted by the disease.
"That's the whole concept -- the first time at the YMCA, the first time we've done a Childhood Cancer Awareness Month (event), and it's going to be larger" than normal, said Tennant, noting about 80 people have signed up thus far, a major turnout for the 2-7 p.m. occasion.
Childhood cancer will be in the spotlight, as will the need for giving blood and the role that phlebotomists such as Davis play in getting the precious life-saving fluid from the general public to those who desperately must have it.
A career as a phlebotomist isn't the highest paying.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics says the median national salary for phlebotomists is $29,730 per year or $14.29 per hour.
But it is a critical job that will be in high demand for years to come, with the BLS projecting 27,100 additional phlebotomists will be needed by the year 2022, a "much faster than average" growth rate. There are 101,300 in the profession today.
The Ledger-Enquirer visited with Davis recently as she launched a blood drive at Midtown Medical Center. She discussed her job, why she does it and the challenges that come with it.
How did you make the transition to phlebotomy?
I went back to school at Columbus Technical College and received my certificate for phlebotomy there. And then I worked at The Medical Center (now Midtown Medical Center) for seven years, and I've been with the Red Cross eight years.
Because of my sister having that disease, I decided to change. I wanted my life to be more meaningful.
How long did the schooling take?
When I went to Columbus Tech, it took right around a year for my studies. Actually, I did my teaching here at the hospital and they took me in and wanted to hire me right away. So I did that and stayed here for seven years.
What was it like at the hospital?
I worked in the evenings here as a phlebotomist, up and down on the floors, going to patients and taking whatever the doctor ordered. But then I saw a need and really liked the trauma unit. So I asked for a position in the trauma unit and I was stationed there. I did that for about my last two years.
What was that like?
It was rewarding because I felt like, of course, I'm helping. (Patients) can't get that help until I get that blood for the tests. So it was very rewarding. This trauma unit covers a lot of area in Georgia and Fort Benning as well.
What types of patients did you come in contact with?
Car accidents, military with gunshot wounds. One patient had a (rocket launcher) on his shoulder and it misfired, and it took quite a bit of him away. I've seen the stabbings, the gunshots, burn victims. I've had someone come in and he was burned over 90 percent of his body. So I've seen a lot.
That emotional roller-coaster has to make the Red Cross work a breeze?
This is easy cake. (laughs) But it's so rewarding, this job, because I know personally because of my sister that the (blood) units that we take every day can possibly reach my sister. So I do the best job that I can do to my ability to make sure it's done correctly.
How is your sister doing now?
She's doing very well, very well.
How did you become a team supervisor?
I started out as a phlebotomist and worked my way up and became a team supervisor two years after I started.
But you stay active 'sticking' folks, as you say, to get the blood?
I do. (Before becoming a supervisor) we would get our monthly stats and I would stick about 100 people a month, give or take.
That's gone down now?
Yeah, because I'm more running and monitoring the drives, all of that stuff I have to do to make sure everything runs well, to make sure the team's together, and make sure we start on time. Of course, it's to make sure all of those donors are happy and that they want to come back and give again. There's a lot of responsibility.
Walk me through the process of getting a person ready to donate blood?
Once they come out of the (personal health) history process, we get them on a bed and identify them to make sure they are who they are. I give them a piece of paper, either at the beginning or the end, that has post-donation instructions of what to do after they give. If they have any issues afterwards, any bruising or anything like that, it tells them exactly what to do. It also has a phone number on there to call, so if they have anything that's unusual -- which doesn't happen often at all -- that they will be ready. Then we find a suitable vein.
Is finding a vein always easy to do?
No. We look on both arms and ask them which they're comfortable with, because some people can't be stuck in but one arm. So we go with that and find a suitable vein. We clean that area with betadine iodine. If they are allergic to that, we have an alcohol-based scrub. And then we proceed to do the procedure. That's the sticking part.
And you're keeping an eye on them?
We're monitoring at all times. If they get flush, that's a sign, or if they start sweating. Believe it or not, yawning is a sign. All of those things we look for and we're trained for that.
How long does it take to give blood?
Anywhere from five to 20 minutes. Everybody's different. The size of the vein, how much fluid they've had, if they're hydrated or not. That's why we always ask if they can drink fluids prior to giving. We have plenty of water and juice on hand, and they're more than welcome to it.
Is there a percentage of people who have anxiety giving blood?
It's hard to say, because sometimes we get all (donation) veterans, like the crew that you just saw. All of them have been here before, so they know the routine. They come in and do what they have to do, and they've hydrated themselves. Sometimes you do get people that are all new, so you might have a few that have a little anxiety.
What's the biggest challenge of your job?
We travel a lot with the Red Cross. We travel daily never knowing what's going to happen the next morning. I go to bed one night thinking, OK, I'm here in Columbus. And they call me at 6 o'clock and say, you know what, you're going to Macon today. But I love it, too. I love my job and what I do. But it is challenging at times.
Is the Columbus area a blood-giving kind of community? Do they turn out a lot?
Yes, they do. And platelets as well. We encourage people to go out there to the donor center on Veterans Parkway and give platelets. They are equipped with the platelet machines. You can only give platelets at the center.
As a team supervisor, what are your challenges, keeping everything on schedule?
Definitely. With my blood drives I try to run them as smooth as possible and make everybody happy. People's time is very valuable and I realize that, so I try to get them in and out as quickly as possible and, of course, do it correctly.
How often can someone give blood?
Every 56 days.
What does it take to be a good phlebotomist?
I would say it's a calling, a definite calling. Yes, there is a technique, a learned technique, and you have to have skill, of course, to do that, and the willingness to do it. I didn't have an issue with it because I'm a very technical person. So it was right up my alley.
Is this job a stepping stone for some?
Some people move upward. It's according to what you want to do. Some people do go back to school to get a degree.
What's the most rewarding aspect of your job?
Savings lives. I save lives every day. How many people can say that?
AMERICAN RED CROSS BLOOD DRIVES
Those wishing to donate blood can do so at the American Red Cross Blood Donation Center, 7490 Veterans Parkway, Columbus. Hours are 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday and Tuesday; noon-7 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday; 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Friday; and 7 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday. The center is closed Sundays.Here are locations where upcoming blood donation drives are planned:
Monday, 2-7 p.m., John P. Thayer YMCA, 24 14th St., Columbus
Thursday, 2-7 p.m., Cascade Hills Church, 727 54th St., Columbus
Oct. 7, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., West Georgia Technical College, One College Circle, LaGrange, Ga.
Oct. 7, 12:30-6 p.m., First United Methodist Church, 401 Broad St., LaGrange
Oct. 9, 2:30-6:30 p.m., First United Methodist Church, 206 Broad St., Manchester, Ga.
Oct. 12, 8 a.m.-12:30 p.m., St. Paul United Methodist Church, 2101 Wildwood Ave., Columbus
This story was originally published September 27, 2014 at 3:49 PM with the headline "Job Spotlight: Kimberly Davis, American Red Cross team supervisor."