Among the many health care careers available to men and women of all ages today, many individuals fail to consider phlebotomy, a unique hands-on career that requires plenty of interaction with patients. Although a phlebotomist’s job is incredibly important especially for critical or emergency care, it does not come with the same amount of stress that numerous other health care careers include. Phlebotomists are responsible for drawing blood in patients’ rooms, emergency departments, clinics, blood donor centers and laboratories. Therefore, you should be comfortable with plenty of human interaction as well as with needles and blood in general before beginning this career.
How Do You Begin a Career in Phlebotomy?
Phlebotomy is an entry-level health care position that only requires you to have a high school diploma or GED before taking classes. Many states do require certification, and it is always best to search for a state-approved educational track to ensure that you are getting the education and hands-on experience that you need before seeking your first job. Most part-time educational tracks take less than two months to complete.
What Are Typical Work Conditions for Phlebotomists?
The majority of phlebotomists work in very controlled environments, such as in hospitals or clinics where they draw blood from veins, send urine and fecal samples, prepare slides and update patient records to display the newest laboratory values. While a portion of the daily job is completed behind a desk, most of the work is hands-on. Many patients are afraid of needles and are nervous about having blood drawn. It is the phlebotomist’s job to set these peoples’ minds at ease and to make the experience positive.
What Is Job Satisfaction and Career Growth Like in Phlebotomy?
Phlebotomists do very important work, providing vital laboratory values to doctors and nurses to aid them as they create care plans for their patients. Therefore, this career can be quite rewarding although it can be slightly stressful and busy at times. Plus, the job outlook is very good for this career with a low unemployment rate and the chance at upward career mobility. Moreover, this field is expected to grow by 23 percent by 2028.
Do Phlebotomists Have Further Career Opportunities?
No one wants a job that feels stagnant, and the good news for phlebotomists is that there is always plenty of opportunities for job growth and advancement. In fact, this career is an excellent jumping-off point for numerous other careers in the health care field. Some go on to become certified nursing assistants or medical technicians while others jump into two-year or four-year educational tracks for nursing. As is the case with many health care careers, phlebotomy is just one way that you will be able to put your newfound knowledge and skills to work for yourself and your fellow men.
At Project Heartbeat, you can receive a quick but thorough introduction to phlebotomy through our certificate program that we offer in Oakland and the Bay Area as well as in Sacramento. Graduates receive Certificates of Course Completion and are immediately ready to take the certification test from the National Center for Competency Testing. Clearly, phlebotomists do very important work in the health care field. If you are looking for an entry-level medical job, this could be the right choice for you.