One of the lucrative fields to find a job is the healthcare sector in general and medical field in particular, primarily because of the perennial demand for jobs in that evergreen sector. Thanks to the advancement in technology and strides of innovation in patient care facilities, the demand for qualified professionals in the field, not just nurses and doctors, is on the rise, and projections reveal that the demand will continue to rise further in the coming years and decades.
Becoming a phlebotomy technician in a laboratory setting is one of the career options in medical field with some special features. What are the special features of a phlebotomy technician? While your desire to be associated with the medical field and helping patients will be fulfilled, in most cases, you need not work in shift basis. You can opt to work in the general shift, or the typical 9 to 5 job, as is the case with other jobs. Finding a job in the medical field with the typical 9 to 5 office timings is what I mentioned as the salient feature of phlebotomy technician job.
If you can get a certification for the same, it would be very advantageous as many employers are demanding this certification though it is not compulsory or mandatory in most of the States across the U.S.
Becoming a phlebotomy technician is a relatively easy means to enter into the medical field. The art and skill of extracting blood from a patient, as per the instruction of the doctor or a registered nurse, preserving it, recording it correctly and following it up for appropriate diagnosis and analysis in the laboratory is the primary responsibility of a phlebotomist.
With a minimum qualification of a high school diploma, one can join the training course on phlebotomy. He or she will be taught the basic aspects of extracting blood, the components used in extracting blood, the procedure that needs to be adopted for extraction of blood and a thorough understanding of the human anatomy, as locating the veins or arteries for blood extraction is the most challenging part in phlebotomy training.
A student can get adequate knowledge and required practical training under the supervision of a trained phlebotomist in less than six months, thus paving for recognition as a phlebotomy technician.
After getting recognized as a phlebotomy technician, one can apply to the appropriate authorities to get certification for phlebotomy training. In the U.S., the associations responsible for granting certification include the Association of Phlebotomy Technicians, the National Phlebotomy Association and the American Society for Clinical Pathology.
Each of these associations, authorized to grant Certification, stipulate specific conditions to be met to become eligible for Phlebotomy Technician Certification. All the associations insist on hands-on practical experience and independent collection of blood samples, as well as thorough knowledge on the safety aspects, precautions, interaction with the patient and other professional attitudes in addition to expertise and skill in the job as the criteria for awarding Certification. It could take less than a year for a Phlebotomy Technician to apply and successfully get Certification. Once he or she gets the Certification, the prospects for increased salary and better prospects open up the window of opportunities.