| You may not recognize the word "phlebotomy," but | | | | assisting programs online at a college directory service. |
| you probably know what phlebotomists do. No, it's not | | | | Information about the career and education programs |
| some crazy type of insect collecting or mysterious | | | | is offered free of charge by most accredited career |
| brain surgery. If you have ever had a blood sample | | | | colleges. |
| taken, you've interacted with a phlebotomist. They are | | | | Phlebotomists' Earnings |
| the highly-trained medical technicians who collect blood | | | | Entry-level pay is competitive. The American Society |
| and other fluid samples from pediatric and adult | | | | of Clinical Pathologists reports that the average annual |
| patients. | | | | salary for phlebotomists is $24,350. According to the |
| Phlebotomy is a vital part of today's ultra-modern and | | | | same survey, a phlebotomist in a supervisory position |
| vast health care industry, and phlebotomists have a | | | | can earn a salary of approximately $35,000 per year. |
| variety of specialized skills. They often must explain | | | | Many phlebotomists get additional training and become |
| the procedure to the patient, and take the patient's | | | | lab and EKG technicians, lab supervisors, or graduate |
| blood pressure, pulse, and respiration rate. Once the | | | | into administrative roles. |
| blood or urine sample is taken, the phlebotomist labels | | | | Phlebotomy-A Growing Career Field |
| the collection tubes and prepares them for transfer to | | | | According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, during |
| the lab for analysis. The patient's records must also be | | | | the current decade from 2008 to 2018 job growth in |
| updated. | | | | clinical laboratory technology will be faster than the |
| Many people-both children and adults-are squeamish | | | | average for all occupations. Job opportunities are |
| about giving blood. They don't like being stuck with | | | | expected to be excellent because the number of job |
| needles and they don't like to see their own blood. | | | | openings is expected to continue to exceed the |
| That's where the professionally-trained phlebotomist | | | | number of job seekers. |
| can make a big difference. Being a good phlebotomist | | | | Thanks to both the development of new types of |
| is not just a laboratory job; it involves knowing how to | | | | tests and steady population growth, the number of |
| calm and reassure patients who may have anxiety | | | | laboratory tests continues to increase. As the decade |
| about a critically important procedure. | | | | progresses, increasingly powerful diagnostic tests will |
| Training in Phlebotomy | | | | encourage additional testing and may spur |
| Regulations for phlebotomists and phlebotomy training | | | | employment. While hospitals are expected to continue |
| requirements differ from state to state. Many | | | | to be the major employer of clinical laboratory |
| phlebotomists complete a formal phlebotomy | | | | workers, employment is expected to grow faster in |
| education program, which typically lasts four to eight | | | | offices of physicians, medical and diagnostic |
| months. Some states require laboratory personnel to | | | | laboratories, and other community health care centers. |
| be registered or licensed. Requirements vary by state | | | | If you're looking for a dynamic career that shows real |
| and specialty, but licensure of technologists often | | | | growth potential, phlebotomy may be just the thing for |
| requires a bachelor's degree and the passing of an | | | | you! Here's how to get started. Go online to a |
| exam. Once on the job, phlebotomists usually work | | | | reputable Internet college directory. Search for medical |
| under the supervision of a medical laboratory scientist, | | | | technology or phlebotomy programs near you. |
| physician, or lead phlebotomy technician in the clinical | | | | Compare colleges and programs. Get the information |
| lab area of a hospital, clinic, medical office, or blood | | | | you need, then apply to the college or career school |
| donation center. | | | | that is best for you. In less time than you think, you |
| You can check out the many phlebotomy and medical | | | | may be prepared for a rewarding new career. |