Which of the following steps is essential to ensure patient understanding before a procedure?

Ensuring patient understanding before a procedure is crucial for both ethical and procedural reasons. When a phlebotomy technician explains the procedure to the patient, it allows the patient to understand what is happening, why it is necessary, and what to expect during the process. This step helps alleviate any anxiety the patient may have and fosters trust between the technician and the patient. Providing a clear explanation of the procedure also promotes informed consent, ensuring that the patient is aware of their rights and the nature of the procedure being performed.

While greeting and identifying the patient is important for establishing rapport and ensuring correct patient identification, it does not directly address the patient's understanding of the procedure. Collecting blood samples is, of course, the primary action being performed but occurs after the patient is informed and has consented. Preparing the venipuncture site is a technical step that follows patient interaction but does not engage the patient’s understanding or concerns regarding the procedure. Therefore, explaining the procedure is the essential step to ensure patient comprehension.