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What You Should Know About a Phlebotomy Job | Phlebotomist Profession

BY: Guest User | Category: Careers | Submitted: 2010-04-19 10:14:53
 
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A phlebotomist is basically a certified professional who draws blood from patients for testing or other purposes. Usual prerequisites are a high-school diploma and completed phlebotomy training courses. Most of the job opportunities also require a certification that can be obtained from the American Society for Clinical Pathologists or the National Phlebotomy Association. Beyond these basic facts, phlebotomy is, of course, a job with specific duties, prerequisites, and career paths.

The main duty of a phlebotomist is to draw blood from veins through a venipuncture procedure, to collect the blood in tubes, to label them accordingly, and to send them further for analysis. Performing these tasks requires good phlebotomy knowledge, but also good communication skills and ability to interact with patients before and during the venipuncture. Moreover, phlebotomists need to know and follow the correct safety procedures in handling blood samples that are possibly infectious, and in disposing of used needles and syringes. To prevent accidents, they should also wear protective gear such as masks and gloves. The work hours of a phlebotomy job can be different from one employer to another. In some hospitals phlebotomists might be required to work also in night shifts.

The educational prerequisites for a phlebotomy job may vary from state to state. The basic prerequisites are a high-school diploma and training courses in subjects such as medical technology, human circulatory system and anatomy. With these prerequisites, you can usually apply to obtain a certification from one of the existing associations such as the American Society for Clinical Pathologists or the National Phlebotomy Association. An advanced phlebotomy job might also require additional training such as a Bachelor of Science in Medical Technology or following on the job a specific training to acquire new skills.

The median salary for phlebotomists in 2008 was around $28,000 according to Salary.com. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there is currently a shortage of phlebotomists, and a forecasted increase of job opportunities in this field. In 2006, there were around 319,000 clinical laboratory technologists and technicians, including phlebotomists. Clearly, experienced phlebotomists will always find jobs in hospitals, but there will also be new job openings in doctor's offices and medical laboratories. This increase is triggered by an increased need of laboratory tests and an increased population growth.

Phlebotomy offers various career paths. Typical employers are hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, blood donation centers, and laboratories. You can plan for a career in phlebotomy, or you can think of a phlebotomy job just to help support yourself while you are studying to acquire higher education. The typical career path is to start as a phlebotomist in a laboratory or at a blood donation center and then to continuously acquire experience and improve your education and skills to take on more responsibilities and earn better wages.

Another option can be working as a veterinary technician. Blood tests are just as needed in any medical services, regardless of whether they are provided to humans or to animals. A phlebotomy job as a veterinary technician also requires obtaining the blood samples, and performing the tests.

An exciting direction for a career path can also be to become a scientist specializing in phlebotomy research. This requires however higher education, usually a PhD in chemistry, medicine, or microbiology. Scientists working in phlebotomy jobs might find a job at pharmacology companies, biotechnology firms, or various private laboratories.

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