How is the job in a blood or plasma center for nurses?

Underpaid, understaffed and takes a toll on your physical but mostly mental health! You deal with a lot more blood borne pathogens and are more likely to come into contact with diseases and viruses! This atmosphere is more chaotic a you deal with a lot of nonsense, you will need to be able to keep your composure a show up ready for anything! This job is not for the weak! Hats off to anyone in this field!

I worked as an RN in blood management for 10 years in California. CA law requires an RN to be present during blood and blood product donations so there are more options for RNs here to work in this field. Major aspects of the job include interviewing donors to determine eligibility, includes a mini physical and strict health/risk assessment determined by a questionnaire. Once eligibility is determined there is the donation process, involving using a 16 gauge needle to draw a pint of whole blood, or a slightly smaller needle for apheresis automated procedures to collect platelets and/or plasma. You do need to have (or develop) good needle stick skills. I enjoyed getting to know donors (who were all volunteers where I worked, so nice folk generally), and I enjoyed the life saving mission we shared as a team. RNs also supervise phlebotomists and can manage the donor centers. The centers who only collect plasma for pay have a very different vibe, from what I am told. I can’t help with that as this was not my work experience. All in all I enjoyed my time in blood management working with volunteer unpaid donors.

As with any job, the people and culture will make a difference.
There are lots of policies and procedures in place to keep the blood supply safe. You must expect lots of training in this area as blood products are tightly regulated by the FDA.
There can be lots of standing and walking so wear good compression socks and shoes.
If you are only collecting products it will soon become routine. If you are in a hospital doing apheresis, then no 2 days may be the same. That is where your Clinician mind will likely thrive.
If you are only collecting products from donors, there may be a management path as well.
Everyone has a different experience. I enjoyed apheresis but the donor center aspect was repetitive.