A Career As A Phlebotomy Technician
A phlebotomy technician is a person trained in extracting blood from a human or animal. Phlebotomy certification takes six months in most states if you are a full time employee working under a certified phlebotomist. If you do not have field experience but have completed a training course that takes approximately four months, you must have 200 hours of experience and 100 successful blood draws. However, certification requirements vary from state to state so you need to check to see if your state has a different requirement. Some states require an exam to be passed.
Responsibilities of a phlebotomist include: Prepping the patient for the blood draw, ensuring sterility of instruments and equipment, following the facilities procedure for making sure that blood is collected from the right person, and doing proper documentation and labeling.
Phlebotomists work in a laboratory, doctor’s office, or hospital setting. The job may require cleaning up potentially hazardous spills safely. Most facilities now use computers to track patient records and test results. Some training on computers and programs may be required as part of your on-the-job experience. A background in data entry, reports, and updating medical records would be beneficial. It is also recommended that an internship be done during training to help acquire a job.
It is necessary to be able to handle blood and bodily fluids without getting squeamish. A good phlebotomy technician is someone who is personable and has good interpersonal communication skills.
A specialist with a bachelor’s degree in blood bank technology and advanced training can have a starting salary of $40,000 a year. The three E’s that determine the salary are your level of education, experience and employer. Technicians get between $18,720 and $25,168. On average, a supervisor earns an annual salary of $33,488. Benefits also vary by employer.
In some facilities and hospitals, technicians can advance in their career. There might be several levels of pay and responsibility. Often a phlebotomy technician will work for a few years then go back to school. They then pursue a degree in medical laboratory technology or another branch in laboratory medicine. If you work in a blood bank you can go back to school and become a specialist in blood bank technology.
Phlebotomy technician jobs are expected to rise 14 percent by 2018. Jobs in related fields are also expected to rise due to the rising number of citizens 65 and older.
Venipuncture is a term that a phlebotomist will hear all the time. It refers to creating an exit for blood with a needle. Venipuncture with a vacuum tube is usually used in venipuncture testing. A butterfly needle is used with patients with small veins, usually children. The plastic wings on either side of the needle hold it in place, a good thing for squirmy children. A heelstick is a procedure for infants under six months.
There are many accredited universities all around America where you can get the training you need to become a phlebotomy technician. Some states that have accredited schools are: Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, and Wisconsin.