Phlebotomists are medical technicians who draw blood from patients for use in transfusions, medical tests, research and donations to blood banks. These professionals typically receive specialized training in phlebotomy courses, which can include some phlebotomy classes online, as well as certification.
Phlebotomy is done mostly through venipuncture, or the intravenous drawing of blood. Phlebotomists work together with other medical professionals, including nurses, doctors and medical assistants. In addition to drawing blood, a phlebotomist labels and delivers blood samples, verifies patient identity, and reads vital signs, among other tasks.
To become working phlebotomists, most prospects complete phlebotomy courses and obtain phlebotomy certification. Phlebotomy courses are taught at many vocational and trade schools, community colleges, and some four-year colleges and universities. Topics include patient interaction, anatomy, safety measures, biohazard concerns, patient rights and other legal issues, standard first aid and techniques for drawing blood.
In the past, training for phlebotomists took no more than a day. But now many states mandate several months of phlebotomy courses and successful completion of a phlebotomy certification exam, together with a minimum of a high school diploma.
It is possible to find phlebotomy classes online, but not all are geared toward obtaining certification. And phlebotomy courses typically involve six-day hands-on externships where student draws blood in professional settings, earning them practical experience before they start work in the field. Supervision is provided by licensed medical professionals.
Including the externship, phlebotomy courses can take as little as four months or as long as year or more. Phlebotomy classes online tend to take less time, as do programs at vocational and trade schools. Completing a course costs $1,500 to $3,000 on average, though that normally includes the cost of the Phlebotomy Certification Exam that many students take following completion of classes.
That exam isn’t required by every state, but it’s very common for students to take it, as it improves chances at landing a job. There are three opportunities to take the test; if a student fails three times, he or she has to redo the entire coursework. Employers use certification as a measure of the quality of potential hires, so obtaining one is recommended.
To sit for the exam, a student has to satisfy one of three general criteria, though there’s variation among the states. The stent has to go through an accredited phlebotomy course, have at least one year’s experience practicing phlebotomy skills hands-on, or be certified by another group recognized by the American Certification Agency.
Medical students often use phlebotomy as a job while they’re in school, and it’s also a common way for people to get into the healthcare industry. It can lead to jobs in other blood-related careers, such as blood diseases and hematology.
Phlebotomy is a growth specialty, though it’s popularity is relatively new. Doctors, nurses and nursing assistants used to handle the work, but the growing complexity and bureaucratization of healthcare forced them to hand the work to someone who could specialize in the task.
Phlebotomists don’t earn a great deal, especially when they start out, but how much they make depends on education level, whether they’re certified, years of experience, geographic locale and location of employment. The average annual income for a starting phlebotomist in the United States is $20,000 to $26,000. It’s $30,000 to $35,000 for those with between five and nine years of experience and $50,000 for 20-year veterans.
Education is critical, and that includes continuing professional education. Obtaining a certificate tells an employee you meet the basic standard of approval, making you a more attractive hire and increasing your salary command. Working in a hospital generally means better pay than working a doctor’s office but not as much as working for the government.
Technical training and some hands-on medical education are necessities for phlebotomists, and these can be obtained at any phlebotomy school. But phlebotomists also must have good bedside manner, especially when dealing with people who are squeamish around needles or blood. An eye for detail is also required so health safeguards will be observed.
Phlebotomy schools, phlebotomy classes online and phlebotomy certification are all steps on the path to a job as a phlebotomist. There may be no better time to see where it leads, as it’s a specialty that’s expected to continue growing as the healthcare industry becomes even more complex and overburdened.
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