Does it sound appealing to have a recession-proof career in the medical field that does not require extensive and exhaustive education and training? You may want to consider pursuing a career in phlebotomy especially if you have sound dexterity and enjoy helping others. You must also have a mentality of wanting to rise to the occasion if you want to work as a phlebotomist because you will be working in high pressure circumstances. You will be responsible for properly drawing blood from patients, analyzing the blood and storing the blood by following proper protocol. If you are seriously considering pursuing a career in phlebotomy, it is important that you are of the health risks that exist.

Phlebotomists are at a very high risk for needlestick injuries because of the number of venipunctures that are performed on-the-job. Needlestick injuries are wounds that result from an accidental puncturing of the skin. Those workers who use hypodermic syringes and other instruments are at an especially high risk for needlestick injuries. What does this possibly mean for you if do go on to become a phlebotomist? Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C and HIV must all be considered. Transmission of Hepatitis B can be nearly completely prevented through vaccination. However, transmission of viral Hepatitis C from needlestick injuries is a major potential health risk that all aspiring phlebotomists must be made aware of. You must also be made aware of the small HIV related health risk that exists working as a phlebotomist. There are 51 well-documented cases of HIV infections transmitted patients to health care workers. Out of these 51 cases, 20 were affiliated with phlebotomy. You will learn much more about all the potential health risks that exist when working in phlebotomy when you receive formal training. You will learn to follow strict safety protocol and regulations in order to minimize health risks to you and patients.

If you have chosen to pursue a career in phlebotomy, feel confident knowing that this is a strong field firmly embedded in the medical industry. Phlebotomists play a very important role in diagnosing the health of patients. It is important that you do understand the risk of needlestick injuries that exist when working in phlebotomy. Hepatitis C is an especially major concern in this field. You will learn important safety protocol when you receive formal training that will help minimize any potential threats or dangers working in this field.

If you are working as a phlebotomist, you should already know that it is vitally important to maintain certification and a solid skill set in specimen collection through means of continuing education. You should visit the National Phlebotomy Association website in order to understand specific continuing education requirements of phlebotomists. The National Phlebotomy Association was established in 1978 and is currently the only organization that handles all the aspects of educating and certifying the country’s phlebotomists. Let’s take a closer look at the important factors involved in continuing education for phlebotomists.

According to the National Phlebotomy Association, phlebotomists must meet the current standard of 1.8 Continuing Education Units per year. This is to ensure that phlebotomists can meet and measure up to high standards. According to the National Phlebotomy Association, 1 Continuing Education Unit is equal to ten hours of training time. The National Phlebotomy Association has outlined several activities that can be applied toward the required credits. Certification and recertification classes in cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) by the American Heart Association or Red Cross can be applied toward the required credits. You might be interested in attending a relevant health care seminar or workshop, as attendance to such events can be applied toward the required credit threshold. Do you enjoy teaching? You can teach a phlebotomy training course and apply this to your necessary Continuing Education requirements. You could also complete relevant volunteer work or take further courses in a university or community college. The unifying theme around these activities is that they all help to keep your skills as a phlebotomist strong.

If you are working as a phlebotomist, you must continuously work on both maintaining and developing important skills necessary to do your job effectively. You can do some research and find the full list of activities approved by the National Phlebotomy Association that can be applied to required Continuing Education Units. You can choose those activities that you will likely enjoy and benefit the most from. If you have a passion for teaching, you may opt to teach a phlebotomy training course for some period of time. If you enjoy learning, you could enroll in a relevant university or community college course.

Are you intrigued by the idea of pursuing a career as a phlebotomist? Pursuing this career can be very exciting and rewarding, as job prospects for phlebotomists are especially strong. This career really is recession-proof because it is embedded in the healthcare industry. Hospitals, independent medical labs and blood donors will have a strong demand for phlebotomy techs throughout the next decade. This is largely because of the fact that the population of older people is rapidly expanding and this segment of the population will require extensive medical care and attention. If you are interested in advancing your career beyond phlebotomy, becoming a phlebotomist can open up further exciting career paths. Let’s take a look at all the door that can be opened by obtaining proper phlebotomy training and working as a phlebotomy technician.

Phlebotomy jobs can be a tremendous stepping stone to become a nurse, doctor, practitioner or highly specialized medical technician. Working as a phlebotomist will absolutely sharpen your organizational skills as it pertains to a medical setting. As a result, after phlebotomy certification, many phlebotomists are well suited and do ultimately go on to become medical center or hospital administrators. A skilled phlebotomist can go on to become an instructor or supervisor with the skills he or she has acquired on-the-job. Academia is always a great direction to turn to for those working in the healthcare industry and phlebotomy is no exception. A skilled phlebotomy can gain employment as an instructor for a phlebotomy training course. Working as a teacher to convey information to students about a field you are passionate about can be extremely rewarding.

If you have decided to pursue a career as a phlebotomist, you have made an excellent choice. This field provides tremendous job security because it is an important part of the healthcare industry. Working as a phlebotomy technician can equip you with the skills necessary to thrive in a variety of further occupations, including the following: Nurse, doctor, practitioner, highly specialized medical technician, medical center or hospital administrator and instructor for a phlebotomist training course. All of these are very rewarding career choices that can be opened to you by working as a phlebotomist.

We frequently receive emails from people who are interested in a health care career and simply want to know “What is phlebotomy anyway?” This is a great question and we thought it might be good to take a step back to discuss the career for those who are new to the field and want to know more.

Do you enjoy conducting scientific analyses? Are you able to work well and maintain your composure under pressure situations? If you answered yes to these questions, you may want to consider pursuing a career as a phlebotomist. A phlebotomist has a very important job to do, which is to collect blood samples from patients or blood donors in a clinical environment. After the phlebotomist has collected the blood sample, he or she must analyze it using advanced and sophisticated technology. Due to the fact that phlebotomists are at risk to diseases when handling blood, they are trained in lab safety and must follow strict protocol.

When you ask “What is phlebotomy?” you might also want to know what the major overall duties associated with being a Phlebotomist? If you choose to become a phlebotomist, be prepared to have to complete the following: Explaining procedures to patients, updating patient records, preparing stains and reagents, sterilizing equipment, taking patients’ blood pressure and sending urine samples to lab testing. What skills are necessary in order to carry out these duties effectively? An individual must be a strong communicator and have the capacity to work well under pressure in order to become a Phlebotomist. The individual must also be skilled with their hands, as he or she will be handling sophisticated equipment in a lab setting. Many people are squeamish when it comes to blood and needles. If you happen to be like this, you will not succeed as a phlebotomist. Working as a phlebotomist can be a very rewarding experience, as a phlebotomist is directly promoting the well-being of a patient. Whenever a phlebotomist draws blood or sends samples, there is an addition to the patient’s blood history. This will be an important part of the patient’s health profile and will remain on record for his or her entire life.

If you enjoy conducting scientific analyses, can work well under pressure and work well with your hands, pursuing a career as a phlebotomist can be highly rewarding. You must be prepared for the rigorous training that awaits you as well as an extensive list of duties once you do become a phlebotomist. You will be an integral part of the medical team as a phlebotomist. Hopefully, this brief introduction to the career will help you answer the question of “What is phlebotomy?”

Are you interested and intrigued by the idea of pursuing a career in phlebotomy and want to know how to become a phlebotomist? We live in challenging economic times with high unemployment and must handle a hyper-competitive job market. A career as a phlebotomist would provide substantial job security, as it is a component of the healthcare industry. Furthermore, there will continue to be high demand for phlebotomists in hospitals and independent medical laboratories, for example, because the population of older Americans continues to increase. The large baby boom population will require significant medical care and attention. Do you have what it takes to become a phlebotomist? Let’s take a look at the traits that a quality phlebotomist must possess.

If you want to truly understand how to become a phlebotomist, it is important that you responsible, organized and able to perform well under pressure. A phlebotomist is required to collect blood samples and must ensure that samples are properly labeled and stored. Mix-ups and errors would be very costly and so it is important that you are very organized if you want to pursue a career as a phlebotomist. If you cannot pay attention to details and make even the slightest mistake, a patient’s health record may be jeopardized and his or life can be put in serious danger. In addition, desirable qualities for those who wish to pursue a career as a phlebotomist include great eyesight, good hand-eye coordination and steady hands. Does the sight of blood make you uncomfortable or squeamish? If so, you will not want to pursue a career in this field. Computer and typing skills are highly desired because in some cases, phlebotomists will be expected to complete data entry. Lastly, you must be friendly, approachable and have a strong desire to help others in order to succeed as a phlebotomist.

Not everyone has the desirable traits to pursue a career as a phlebotomist. If you do decide to go ahead with this career field, it is vitally important that you are responsible, organized, able to maintain your composure, friendly, approachable, have good eyesight and steady hands. If you do possess these characteristics, march ahead confidently and find out more about how to become a phlebotomist.

Welcome to the Phlebotomy Training and Career Headquarters fact of the week series. In this video, we discuss the various types of phlebotomy employers.

If you’re serious about beginning a career in phlebotomy in today’s competitive job environment, you will almost certainly want to consider enrolling in an accredited phlebotomy training program. These courses can make you a much more attractive candidate to potential labs and clinics than basing your credentials strictly through on the job training. However, to be a leading candidate for phlebotomy jobs, there are a few “soft skills” that can make you more employable which you won’t find being taught in any phlebotomy certification course.

Be a Team Player

One of the top “soft skills” that can make you an attractive candidate is the ability to work well as a team member of a larger group. Most clinics and labs employee a staff of phlebotomists who work alongside other medical professionals such as physicians and nursing professionals. Having the ability to work well with other members of the staff can go a long way in adding value to an organization.

Effective Communication

As with any job, effective communication skills are key as well. As a practicing phlebotomist, you will be working with patients and other lab personnel on a daily basis. The ability to communicate procedures and results with clarity and the right tone can help you shine as a candidate for phlebotomy jobs.

Ability to Multi-Task

In many clinic and lab settings, employees are required to manage several unique projects at one. And for the phlebotomist, there are various job duties that must be managed simultaneously. By building good multi-tasking skills, your potential value to an employer increases exponentially as you will very likely help to reduce the need for support staff.

Leadership Skills

In the phlebotomy industry, there are numerous opportunities for advancement. There are often multiple supervisory positions within a lab, clinic, or blood bank and there are also opportunities to work as an instructor in various phlebotomy training programs. By working to develop leadership skills early on in your career, you can begin to prepare yourself to assume one of these advanced positions.

Be Fun to Work With

Perhaps the most overlooked “soft skill” which employers seek in a job candidate is the ability to maintain an easy going and light hearted attitude in the work place. While jobs in the health care field demand precise attention to detail and a sharp skill set, it’s also important to be someone who managers and staff members get along with and enjoy having in the workplace.

By honing some of these “soft skills” early in your career, you can prepare to make yourself an attractive candidate for phlebotomy jobs and set yourself up for success.

If you are considering a career as a phlebotomy technician, it is likely that you’re also evaluating job openings, salary ranges, and benefits. However, if you are thinking of beginning your journey as a phlebotomist, it can also be helpful to consider opportunities for advancement within the field.

One of the best career moves for the certified phlebotomy technician is to become an instructor. As phlebotomy training is relatively short and inexpensive to complete when compared to many other roles within the health care industry, you can enter the field without investing years of your time or tens of thousands of dollars. This means you can begin a career in the field relatively quickly and start gaining the valuable experience you need to start moving up the ladder with roles and responsibilities.

How Do I Become an Instructor?

The minimum requirements to move from a certified phlebotomy technician to a certified instructor accredited by the American Association of Phlebotomy Technicians are:

• Candidate must currently hold phlebotomy certification with a major accredited certification agency OR be licensed as an LPN or RN.
• Must have accrued a minimum of five years performing phlebotomy related duties
• Must have accrued a minimum of at least one year of verifiable teaching experience
• Must submit a detailed course outline to the AAPT Advisory Board which also must be accepted and approved

Where Do Instructors Work?

Employment opportunities are widely available for the phlebotomy technician instructor. Many instructors are employed in vocational schools or community colleges where certificate programs are offered to students. They also very often find employment with hospitals, community clinics, and private lab corporations which train and instruct their own phlebotomists to meet their standards.

How Much Do Instructors Make?

Salaries for the phlebotomy technician instructor vary greatly. The factors that influence pay are generally where a position is located as well as the employer setting. Private labs typically tend to pay a higher salary than community health care employers such as hospitals. Earnings can also be influenced by the candidates work experience and education level. The median salary for the phlebotomy technician instructor is currently between $36,000 and $40,000.

If you’re interested in a career as a phlebotomy technician and are already thinking of your advancement options, do some research on phlebotomy instructors in your area.

Once you received your certification as a phlebotomy technician, your next step is a very exciting one: you get to start searching for a rewarding job placement. The newly certified phlebotomy technician has the opportunity to find positions in a variety of health care related settings, from hospitals to blood banks. In this article, we’ll take a look at how to evaluate phlebotomy jobs in your area to help you find the most gratifying job for your unique needs.

Employment Setting

The first factor to consider is to try to get an understanding of the environment in which you would like to work. Since the role of the phlebotomy technician is employed in hospitals, private labs, clinics, private health care practices, and blood banks, you need to know what type of environment you would succeed in. If you think you would like to help patients as part of an overall treatment plan, then perhaps working in a hospital would be a good fit. You’ll work closely with the physicians and nurses to help monitor a patient’s treatment needs and progress. If you would prefer a role that is more service oriented, then a blood bank could be a great choice. These facilities play a key role within their communities in connecting the general public to those in need.

Scheduling Considerations

When researching phlebotomy technician job openings in your area, it is important to also be aware of the typical schedules associated with various workplace environments. For a phlebotomist who works in a hospital, the day may start as early as 5:00am whereas private labs may not open until 9:00am. If you’re not an early riser, then perhaps the latter is a better fit for you. Generally, job postings will give you an indication of the expected schedule for a particular position, however, if they don’t you can always contact the appropriate human resources representative to learn more about the job.

Salary Ranges

Compensation for the phlebotomy technician is typically either hourly or salaried. Obviously, pay is a major consideration for any job and some employers in the industry tend to offer higher compensation than others, while those who offer less in terms of monetary compensation may provide better benefits packages. For instance, while private labs are often able to offer a more attractive salary or hourly wage than hospitals and community clinics, hospitals very often offer great benefits packages which can include generous health and dental plans.

If you’re interested in getting a feel for what types of openings are available in your area, feel free to take a look at out Jobs page where you can locate openings near you. While there are many employment opportunities for the certified phlebotomy technician, taking the time to understand if a specific role will meet your unique needs will help ensure that you accept a position that will be challenging and rewarding for years to come.

If you’re considering becoming a phlebotomy technician, you are very likely aware that this career in and of itself can be very rewarding and challenging. However, what many individuals who are aspiring to become a phlebotomy technician don’t realize is that this field can be a great way to enter the health care industry with an eye on career progression and advancement.

The training required to become a certified phlebotomy technician is relatively short and inexpensive when compared to many other career tracks within the allied health fields. This makes it a perfect entry point for those individuals who want to test the waters within the health care industry to learn more about what jobs and vocations might best suit them without making a major investment in time and financial resources. In many cases, training and certification for the phlebotomy technician can be completed in a matter of weeks and for a cost of a few hundred dollars. Compare that to nursing degree programs which can require 4 years of study at an accredited institution and the associated tuition and you can quickly begin to see that becoming a phlebotomy technician can be a rapid way to start out in the industry and get exposure to the working environments associated with hospitals and clinics.

So after becoming a phlebotomy technician, what other health care related professions might be viable career choices? There are many directions that you may choose to pursue if you find that you enjoy the health care industry. For starters, another somewhat lateral career track within the health care industry which requires minimal training and certification is medical assisting. Becoming a medical assistant can expose you to many exciting career opportunities in which you are able to work closely with practicing nurses and physicians to gain valuable hands-on skills.

Alternatively, if you become a phlebotomy technician and spend some time in the health care industry, you may discover that you are truly passionate about working with patients. In this case, you may seriously want to consider a career in nursing. While the degree programs and costs associated with training to become a nurse required more time and tuition fees than typical certificate programs, you will rarely speak with a practicing nurse who does not believe it was well worth the investment. Nurses are able to have a direct impact on the lives of their patients each and every day and enjoy an incredible sense of accomplishment.

If you are considering becoming a phlebotomy technician, it’s never too early to start evaluating how this career step can have future implications in expanding your employment options in the health care industry.