Passing the Phlebotomy certification exam is something you will have to do before beginning a career in this growing health field. You will find your choice to be one that is both demanding and challenging as well as rewarding both financially and emotionally. Phlebotomy is the science of drawing blood and is one of several fields in the healthcare industry that is growing in its need for new applicants. The training for the certification exam can range anywhere between six months to eighteen months depending on which program you are enrolled in.
Being a phlebotomist you must have the skills necessary to correctly draw blood, know the required hospital procedures for storage and preparation of blood and have knowledge of human anatomy. All phlebotomists must have the proper training before they are hired by either a lab or a hospital. Taking the correct Phlebotomy courses or attending certified Phlebotomy schools will ensure that your training is sufficient to be hired upon passing the required exam.
Phlebotomy training programs can range anywhere from two semesters to a one-year period and most schools will allow their students to take a phlebotomy training program separate from other medical career classes. The main goal of a properly trained phlebotomist is to be able to quickly draw blood as painlessly as possible from patient’s veins. The curriculum for phlebotomy usually includes the following:
• cleanup and removal of bio hazardous waste(blood)
• medical safety
• HIPPA laws
• patient sensitivity
• human anatomy
These classes are necessary for anyone that is desiring to pass the phlebotomy certification exam and go into the medical field. Once you become a phlebotomist you will have the option of transferring into other medical careers based on the foundation you already have in the medical arena. Phlebotomy technician salary can range anywhere between $20,000 a year to $50,000 a year depending on what geographic area you are located in, how much experience you have and the needs of the hospital you are working in. Once you have a few years of experience under your belt you can expect your pay to go up and by performing other duties in other departments you can also expect your salary to increase.
Being certified insures your employers that you have been trained properly and are able to give the best of care to the patients you are responsible for.
Part of the training to become a phlebotomist includes learning to work with patients who are stressed out or nervous. Having the correct demeanor to reassure and keep patients calm is a very important aspect of this career field.
In addition to the classroom training your course should include some type of hands on training in the following areas:
• actually drawing blood
• microscopic studies
• heel sticks
• capillary blood draws
Not all states require you to have a certification however most employers will require that show proof of completion of a college training course. Your course should be accredited by at least one of the following organizations:
• National Credentialing Agency
• National Association of Medical Personnel
• American Association of Clinical Pathologists
• American Technologists
There are several employment areas available to you once you complete school such as doctors’ offices, clinics, emergency rooms as well as blood banks and private laboratories. Just remember that it all starts by choosing the correct training program and successfully passing the Phlebotomy certification exam.
