Phlebotomy Jobs, the job of a Phlebotomist

Posted on October 28, 2011 by Jon Yarbrough

Phlebotomy is the job of collecting human blood and other various human fluids for the examinations and studies in the laboratories. The results of these analysis act as a valuable information for treating various syndromes. Persons who collect blood and fluid samples are called Phlebotomist. They are well trained personnel who have responsibility of collecting blood samples from the donors’ body without harming them. They make sure that the blood is taken and reached laboratory safely, because in case of any harm to specimens, accurate results might not be taken. A phlebotomist should have knowledge of blood collection, blood storage techniques, CPR, first aid, physiology and human anatomy. Many phlebotomists perform this job as part time work, while some others give their services to health centers where they work as assistants or health workers.

Phlebotomists, who have not done formal training or who do not have certification, might have problems finding suitable jobs for them in the market. However, there is no legal need of certification required for practice, but there are some states like Louisiana and California which demand certification. There have been at least 10 certifying agencies which are providing education on this job and which are nationally recognized for this purpose. These agencies include NCCT (National Center for Competency Testing), ACA (American Certifying Agency) and APA (American Phlebotomy Association) and others. Phlebotomists who have passed training programs and also have certifications are most likely to find jobs easily because the certification and the training programs make their skills recognized and they become professionals. Some health centers also demand their employees to be graduated from affiliated training institutes.
Their working schedule is set in variety of manners, like they often see working together with doctors and nurses in private health care centers or in hospitals. They also perform their duties in blood banks and laboratories. They typically work forty hours a week.

There is no practical difference between a part time and full time phlebotomist as the part time phlebotomist is also equally trained and skilled just like the full time phlebotomist, but they just differ in working hours. There are also some mobile phlebotomists as well who travel place to place for collecting blood and fluid samples from the donors or patients. Each week, a new area is assigned to them for collecting samples. A phlebotomist can also perform his duties in drug testing, law enforcement and in rehabilitation center.

Phlebotomists have handsome earnings as their average annual salary is approximately 26710 dollars. The salary depends upon the level of experience, location of work and employer. If a Phlebotomist is well experienced and well educated, he/she can easily earn up to 18 dollars an hour.

There is high demand of Phlebotomists in the market as the population is increasing day by day and so the private clinics and hospitals. The stats show that the number of Phlebotomists is increasing with a handsome rate of rate of 14%. Overall, the phlebotomy job is a good attractive job which comes with a striking salary and long career.

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Phlebotomy Training

Posted on October 28, 2011 by Jon Yarbrough

Phlebotomy involves extracting blood from a person by a phlebotomist. Usually, this is done with the goal to treat people with too much iron in their blood but most of the time for blood transfusion who needs it. However, before a phlebotomist is qualified to carry out phlebotomy procedure, he has to go through phlebotomy training.

The training includes going through a formal education where the trainee has to finish either a 4 year bachelor’s program or a 2 year course. There are also other training programs with one year duration offered in vocational universities. Whatever program the trainee chooses dictates the limitation of their job description. Individuals who took the bachelor’s degree have a better chance of landing a higher position and better salary while those who opted for a shorter program will stay as technicians.

Trainings could be done through online method or in campus. Schools offering online training usually include videos and other means of teaching. The use of videos is helpful since it demonstrates not only the proper way of drawing blood but also the wrong method for the trainee not to follow the same. Although, you do not always meet your instructor in this method of training, they are always available if you need help from them. In campus training allows you to attend classes inside the classroom. You may also have the chance to practice with models in the laboratory after taking all the theoretical subjects. Other schools allow their students to have an actual practicum in hospitals or clinics too.

There are many things that a trainee learns from the phlebotomy training. The theoretical aspect includes learning the anatomy of the body particularly the veins and arteries. The circulation of the blood, its importance, components and analysis are all taken into account. Knowledge of this helps the trainee to locate the veins easily even in times when the condition of the patient makes it difficult to locate veins.

The actual training includes going to the hospital applying the theories learned where real patients are involved. Here, the trainee is supervised by their instructor to do extraction the proper way. The trainee starts with applying tourniquet to distend the vein, choose the best vein, and apply precautionary measures to avoid introduction of infection such as rubbing the area with disinfectant before finally pricking the skin. Proper handling of body fluids, the proper disposal of used needles and other materials used, and measures to protect themselves are all put into practice. The correct technique to hold the needle, the proper extracting to avoid messing with blood and to minimize pain during the procedure is also included.

Not only skills are learned from training but good manner is molded as well during the phlebotomy training. Phlebotomists are like nurse who should care for their patients. The mere site of a needle is painful already to think more so if it is inserted through the skin. The only consolation patients get from a phlebotomist is their empathy thus it is essential to learn how to empathize with their feelings.

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Phlebotomy Classes, what you should know

Posted on October 28, 2011 by Jon Yarbrough

To be a phlebotomist, it is necessary to take up phlebotomy classes in an authorized institution or training hospitals. Phlebotomy classes usually have a ratio of 20 students to 1 teacher and last for about four months. There are typical students who would like to take up professional skills without paying for too much tuition. There are lots of patients who are afraid of seeing their own blood and it is important for a phlebotomist to be efficient in locating the veins. The phlebotomy classes will help phlebotomists to be trained on how to handle different situations in extracting blood, relaxation techniques, and essential bed side manners when dealing with patients.

The lessons taught during phlebotomy classes includes blood extraction from the different parts of a patient’s body for medical purposes. It is taught in classes on how to locate veins and the right techniques during venipuncture in both infant and adults. Extracting blood from infants is another special lesson taught during phlebotomy classes. Children below 2 years old are difficult to handle because they have small veins and often hard to locate.

Infection control is also taught during the classes. Every phlebotomist must be efficient in following the standard protocols in proper blood handling, needles and sharps disposal. Infections can easily be transferred through open wounds. During phlebotomy bacteria and viruses can easily penetrate and it is important to maintain sterility to prevent transfer of infections. A good phlebotomist must acquire the skills to perform procedures without mistakes. This part of the curriculum is designed to teach the students on how take blood from the patient in the right vein. Being efficient in blood extraction will benefit the phlebotomist in future job application. It is necessary to poke the patient’s vein only once to prevent stress and pain on the patient.

There are different kinds of equipments shown during phlebotomy classes. Students are taught on how to use these instruments for different kind of extractions. Familiarity on needles in different gauges is also taught as well as the blood collection tubes and syringes. A Phlebotomist will be extracting blood for laboratory tests or during blood donation. It is essential to be familiarized with blood collection set and how to handle blood after extraction.
Legal issues are another lesson tackled during phlebotomy classes. Safety is also discussed especially the patient and phlebotomist’s safety during vein puncture to prevent incidents like needle puncture which could be the reason for infection transmission. The work place is also emphasized to prevent environmental hazards. Laboratory safety must be practice to prevent blood contamination.

Phlebotomy classes are done in training hospitals or poly clinics with students who had at least a 2 year associate course or vocational courses. After the training, a certificate is issued. To be effective in the job, a phlebotomist must learn in her class and her own on how to be calm with his or her patients during vein puncture. Ease and comfort must be provided during extraction to lessen pain.

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Phlebotomy Certification

Posted on October 28, 2011 by Jon Yarbrough

If you really wish or desire to take up a medical career, you might want to be considering phlebotomy. As such, phlebotomy certification is the right step in an appropriate direction. Phlebotomy is basically a medical practice of drawing blood for medical testing and/or blood transfusions. The work of a phlebotomist is sometimes more than just drawing blood from veins; as a considerable number of people (patients) do consider the experience of bloodletting a terrified one, it is then part of a phlebotomist functions to make patients feel very secure and also to correctly label the collected blood samples.

There are series of readily available options to choose from if you are really considering obtaining phlebotomy certification. The most simple and easy option is to get certified online. All you just have to do is to dig for a suitable school online where you will be obtaining your training. There are several online schools that do proffer training in phlebotomy. It is pretty much necessary for you to fathom the fact that different schools proffer different programs, as such, you have to look for the one with classes that best suit your learning style. For instance, some phlebotomy training schools and courses do conduct online tests at specific periods of time and these periods might not be suitable for you. If your main objective is to work in a hospital or clinic environment as a phlebotomist, it is then essential for you to seek out for school with phlebotomy certification from either a state or national health department.

Typically, phlebotomy certification does require regular tests which are targeted to assist you in understanding the course material. Handling all of these tests with great seriousness is important for your success. Even if you are not going to be getting letter grades at the end of the certification, if you perform well in any exam you take, you will then be able to determine the effectiveness of your training.

The three major benefits of phlebotomy certification are;

High Salary: phlebotomists that possess phlebotomy certification do earn much wages than those without certification. Phlebotomy certification does enhance out-of-gates additional earnings which is a huge bonus.

Experience: before you can be certified as a phlebotomist, you have to pass through eight to twelve month course that would train you the scopes of phlebotomy. You will be thought vein puncture techniques, anatomy, medical laboratory administration and the likes. This would in turn rank you higher ahead of those that do not go for phlebotomy certification.

Job opportunities: certified phlebotomists do easily find employment than those without a certified certificate. Most States in the US require phlebotomy certification before you can legally practice phlebotomy. Just about two States and very few hospitals, clinics and laboratories can bear the risk of hiring those without phlebotomy certification. With the certification, your resume will stand out of multitude just because your hypothetical employer really knows that you’ve passed the required government tests and that you’ve been trained in the field.

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