Phlebotomy Training, Develop Your Career

Right now in 2012 there is an ever growing demand for jobs, and more and more people are turning to the healthcare industry for those jobs.   For the last ten years all we have heard is that there is a huge demand for healthcare workers and that if your looking for job security, healthcare is the way to go.    Well that is only partly true.   Right now there is a huge demand for healthcare workers, but the better question is are the hospitals and healthcare agencies hiring?

A lot of people are flocking to get phlebotomy training and nursing education so that they can have good long lasting, safe careers.   And its true that once you get your foot in the door in the healthcare field they often times offer very safe and lucrative careers to their employees,  I just feel its important to let you know that its not as easy a road as some might lead you to think.  So be ready to put in your time and work hard to break into a career as a phlebotomist.

Often times once you are able to get experience in the healthcare field there are a vast amount of job opportunities.   It simply can be difficult to acquire that initial experience.  It is important to network and build relationships while in your clinical training, often times this can lead to a easy first job.

Their are a few different ways you can become a phlebotomist:

1.  You can take your phlebotomy training at a Private Institution in your local area and receive your phlebotomy certification.

2.  You can take your phlebotomy training online,  in which case you will

have to find your own clinical placement

3.  You can earn your medical assistant degree, in which case you are now a medical assistant and a phlebomotist (package deal)

4.  You can check your local community colleges for courses being offered in phlebotomy or medical assisting.

Of all of these options I recommend the third.  If your going to become a phlebotomist get your medical assistant degree as well.   Phlebotomy is a great career, and to be honest its a lot of fun.   There is a certain challenge involved in drawing blood from a persons arm that can keep this career interesting and ever changing.    But if you only get your phlebotomy training you will not be nearly as marketable in the job market as you are as a medical assistant.  Medical assistants can work in doctors offices, clinics, hospitals, their everywhere!   Phlebotomy jobs are a bit harder to find and often times will be filled by more qualified medical assistants.

Phlebotomy Course Description

The phlebotomy course is made up of 3 different levels of education.

-The first basic program involves educating you on the basics of phlebotomy.  This includes 20 hours total of basic anatomy of the body, anatomy of the vasculature,  clean and safe blood drawing technique,  and appropriate procedures for different types of blood analysis.  This portion of the course is mostly a general overview of  phlebotomy technique and is geared toward the preparation of certain healthcare professionals to enter the career field, such as medical assistants, nurses, doctors, PA’s and NP’s.

-The second part of the program (Advanced Phlebotomy Training) is an additional 20 hours of lecture in which you will gain more in depth knowledge of the cardiovascular system and the importance of sterile and clean techniques while drawing blood.

-The third and last portion of the training program will be your clinical hours.   This will require a minimum of 40 hours in which the program will place you in a real clinical setting and have you practice drawing blood from real patients.  *FUN*  Sometimes we will have the students do more then 40 hours if they need more time.

Now if you have decided to go the medical assistant route, which I highly recommend you do, you will want to skip these courses.  Your program as a medical assistant will include the phlebotomy training and in the end skipping the phlebotomy course will save you money.

Cost of Phlebotomy Training Programs

The cost of phlebotomy training varies upon which level of training you are looking to undertake.   Private schools are usually in the ballpark of $2000 in total costs, including books, tuition, and clinical placement.   Agencies that offer phlebotomy training online often times charge much less, however you will still need to find a clinical site that will allow you to complete your clinical hours, which often times will be a added fee.

You can also look into local community colleges and check to see what your local tuition fees are for these coures.   There are a lot of different ways to get help  with tuition, including grants, scholarships, student loans, and unemployment education programs.