If you are interested in getting a phlebotomy certification, you don’t need to worry that you won’t find a job. A wide range of phlebotomy careers is available for you to choose from. Phlebotomists learn how to collect blood, be it for a donation or a blood test and their knowledge makes them qualified for many jobs. There are many places, and hospitals are of course among them, where a phlebotomist can practice his or her job.
Phlebotomy careers in hospitals are the most common because hospitals are the main employer in this field. A phlebotomist work in a hospital is nothing easy because he or she has to do a lot of things that were done by nurses a while ago. Besides the obvious task of collecting blood for testing, phlebotomists also making all kinds of injections. This greatly reduces the number of nurses that need to work on each shift.
Besides hospitals, phlebotomy careers are also available in physicians’ offices. The work is basically similar to that performed in a hospital: collecting blood and making injections. The difference is made by the atmosphere and some people might find it more pleasant to work in an office than in a hospital. Sometimes physicians look for phlebotomists that are also certified medical assistants because they will then be able to also fulfill the duties of nurses. This way the doctor only hires one person instead of two.
Mobile phlebotomy careers are also an option. Phlebotomist can also handle blood donations and mobile units that visit different areas in order to collect blood from volunteers are not at all rare. The only disadvantage of this type of work is the fact that it can become boring. You will be doing the same thing over and over again and you will most probably go to the same locations. However, such a job can be suitable for beginners because it will ensure them the experience they will need further in their careers.
Phlebotomy careers sometimes require for more advanced training. Things are easier if you have to perform a venipuncture, but collecting blood from arteries might need additional training because the pressure of the blood moving away from the heart is higher that the pressure of blood in veins. Therefore the procedure is different. Some phlebotomy careers also require that you have training in working with IV lines. Depending on the laws of each state, phlebotomists might also be allowed to make saline flushes and to give patients heparin under the supervision of a doctor. If you want to get a job in a state that allows this, your employer might require specific training in order to be able to handle such procedures.
Some phlebotomy careers imply the fact that the phlebotomists work as blood bank technicians or managers. Other phlebotomists decide to get certified as medical assistants in order to expand their abilities.
Phlebotomy careers are a good start for medical careers. After certifying as a phlebotomist, some people continue their studies and get a degree in laboratory technology. This opens new perspectives on their careers.