Finding your niche in life is a wonderful thing. We do not always know which way life will turn out and there are such a range of jobs available that we do not know the one that suits us best until we actually find it. The area of phlebotomy may not be a natural choice of profession that springs to mind but it has lots of merits.
As well as giving the opportunity to help people in a nursing field, it tests the ingenuity of the phlebotomy technician. Problem-solving is an everyday occurrence in this job. Working with a wide range of people for a number of different reasons is also a key area. You not only work with patients and people who are uncertain or even frightened of the procedure, you will also work with medically trained professionals of all calibers. Therefore, it is necessary to be professional at all times and to be able to relate to a wide field of differing intelligences.
A phlebotomist technician draws on a range of skills, from humor to accuracy and everything in-between. Being able to work well under pressure is something that is necessary as there may be certain events that require the immediate skill and nerve of a phlebotomy technician. Being able to put people at their ease is a key skill and should be top of your list if you are thinking of phlebotomy technician training or re-training in this field.
Working to accuracy is very important too. Missing out a step such as confirming a patient’s details could have dire consequences, especially if you are working in an area or situation where there are two patients with similar names and they have different needs or blood types. This could have disastrous consequences for one or both.
The first step on the ladder of a phlebotomy technician’s job is to receive great training followed by certification. Training starts after the age of 18. You must also have a good standard of education to be able to apply for the training. There is a fee attached to the training process, and this can vary from state to state. It may be worth your while re-locating to get the best training. If you already have some medical training or nursing experience, then you may be able to transfer within your department and have your course funded, particularly if it is part of a process of promotion. If in doubt, always ask, you could just save yourself a few thousand dollars in education fees.
The training itself will vary from school to college, so it is important to find out what is involved in the training module of the schools you are considering for phlebotomy technician training. The most important aspect is that the training has a practical aspect to it. This will ensure you can apply to be licensed without having to undergo additional training.
It is extremely important for phlebotomy technician certification to be recognized and there are a few licensed bodies for a phlebotomy technician, but one of the best is the American Society of Phlebotomy Technicians. It has been in existence for almost 30 years and is dedicated to its membership. Uniquely, it has a mandatory program of continuing education, which is excellent as it allows its members to keep abreast of all recent and new technology. This not only increases knowledge and makes procedures easier; it also gives the phlebotomist technician an edge when applying for other positions.
In addition, the American Society of Phlebotomy Technicians offers medical liability insurance. It is also looking to add a range of cross-training programs to allow a phlebotomist technician the ability to update and add to their skills.
A phlebotomy technician salary can vary according to age, skills, state and length of service. However, a good starting salary for a newly trained phlebotomy technician is around $21,000. This is an area of growing health concerns and there is always a wealth of positions available. The higher your education the more opportunity there is. Therefore, if you are a graduate and have decided to turn to the area of phlebotomy, you can be very sure your skills and education will be appreciated.
Not all phlebotomy technicians work in hospitals, in fact there are phlebotomy technician jobs in a variety of areas and situations. There is a need for research in this area and your skills may be more suited to this end of the operation. Clinical experience will certainly help in this field and if you enjoy intense concentration, you will definitely enjoy this.
Additionally, there is always a need for blood collection to be used as part of emergency medical procedures or operations. Therefore, a blood bank is in operation where people regularly donate blood. This is also an area where a phlebotomy technician may use his or her skills to their best advantage.
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