Would you be interested in working in a robust recession-proof field that is embedded in the health care industry, which means that you will routinely provide medical care and assistance to patients? Do you possess sound dexterity and the willingness to work in challenging and high pressure circumstances? Do you want a career in the medical field without having to face extensive and exhaustive classroom education and clinical training? You may want to consider pursuing a rewarding career in phlebotomy. As a phlebotomist, you will take, analyze and handle blood samples from patients. It is important that you are very focused and precise when working as a phlebotomist. You will develop critical skills in phlebotomy through clinical rotations. While it does not take too long to complete your phlebotomy training, you will need to successfully complete clinical rotations. Let’s take a look at what you can expect.

During your series of clinical rotations in phlebotomy training, you can expect to work in a hospital or lab setting to perfect your understanding and ability to carry out important procedures in the field. You will absolutely practice completing venipunctures during your clinical rotations in phlebotomy training. With this important procedure, you will insert a safety needle into a patient’s vein and then you will attach the needle to tubes so that blood can be collected. It is important that you collect the proper amount of blood, apply proper pressure to the wound bandage it appropriately. This is the most common procedure involved in phlebotomy and you will learn more about it during your clinical rotations. The finger stick is another important procedure you will practice during clinical rotations. With this procedure, you prick the index finger, heel or foot of patients to draw blood. You can also expect to learn about the techniques and technology involved in analyzing blood samples, important safety protocol and proper ways to store blood.

If you have chosen to pursue a career in phlebotomy, feel confident knowing that you have chosen a field that boasts strong job prospects and is embedded in the health care industry, which means you will provide real medical service to patients. You must complete rigorous clinical rotations during your phlebotomy training. You will understand how to properly perform such procedures as venipunctures and finger stick. You will also be exposed to the technology in analyzing blood samples as well as important safety protocol.

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.