Frequently Asked Questions About Becoming a Phlebotomy Tech
Medical workers, specifically phlebotomy techs, are doing a great job at taking care of the needs of patients everywhere. Phlebotomy Technicians spend their days drawing blood, transferring samples, taking care of lab equipment, and handling clerical work such and managing data or a front desk. The way to become a phlebotomy technician and the duties that come with it can raise many questions. Is it hard? How long does it take? Is it worth it to become a phlebotomy tech? Where can I even work? Decisions, options, and issues may rise but we are here to give you all the answers you need and more. Reassurance. Below are a list of frequently asked questions that come when deciding if you should become a phlebotomy tech.
How Do You Become a Phlebotomy Technician?
One way to become a successful phlebotomy tech is to get into a credible school that will give you the training you need to start your career. A program and certification is necessary to become a phlebotomy tech because the job primarily involves using needles and penetrating a patient's skin. The job can be dangerous for a technician who is not certified and it can lead to severe issues and even death for patients who are under the care of someone who is not properly trained. It’s crucial to get the hands on experience to become a phlebotomy technician. If the patient gets into grave danger, the facility you work in can probably expect a lawsuit on their hands which will not look good for you or your employment record. Most programs take about a few months and they are highly attainable no matter your financial situation.
How Do I Go To School To Be a Phlebotomy Tech?
As stated above, having the proper training is not negotiable on the path to becoming a phlebotomy tech. To find a program that provides you this, you need to look into what their program specifically entails. It is important to find a school with not just written work, but hands on training and teachers that excel in providing you with the tools you need to succeed. The way to find a great school is to do some brief research online. Once you find a place you think may suit you, you need to do some further digging. Pick up the phone and call that number! Once you reach the front desk of that school you will probably be linked to an admissions officer. Here they will have a brief conversation with you and learn about what information you need to join and make sure you are a good fit. Even further than that, you will have to go in and meet with this admissions officer in person. Once you meet in person, you will take your interview further and get down to the bottom of things. A tour will obviously be necessary so you can walk around and get a feel for the campus you will be studying in. A lot of the time, the main questions people have is how they will end up paying for it. During your in person meeting with admissions, find out if you can chat about your financial options. Whether your questions will be answered via the financial aid department or admissions, you will get all the options you need to join. There is always one way or another especially with loans, grants, scholarships, and even payment plans.
What Kind of Classes Can You Expect in Your Education?
Phlebotomy techs do not just spend their days taking blood samples from patients. The job requires specific characteristics such as communication, coordination, organization, and cooperation. These characteristics can be learned via the classes you will be taking at the credible institution you choose. Some courses include CPR, First Aid, Phlebotomy, Anatomy, Physiology, and many more classes that help you succeed. As a phlebotomy tech in various situations you will need to learn the fine art of putting your patient at ease while acting out the duties you need to get doctors what they need. Whether this is checking vitals, filing papers, managing data, or the important duty of drawing blood, you will need to do it with the utmost care and experience. Another aspect of schools many don’t expect is what to do after. A lot of programs give phlebotomy techs the tools to do a great job, but sometimes not the tools to prove they do a good job. Ensure there is some sort of resume training, mentorship, internship program or a career services department that can provide you with all of these things. These types of career services department whether they are a separate entity or managed by the teachers themselves can help you get the job you need and the stable pay you deserve. It’s one thing to know what to do, but it’s another to prove it.
Where Can A Phlebotomy Tech Work?
When you start focusing on getting a job, it’s always good to know what your options are. With your resume all set and your practice all finished, you will be ready to begin your search. Where you can work as a phlebotomy tech will probably put you in an optimistic place since the options are bountiful once you are certified. A short list of options can have you working at places like a blood donor center, hospital, lab, diagnostics center, doctors office, urgent care, rehab centers, mental health facilities and anywhere else that needs a strong employee to draw blood samples from patients. Briefly mentioned above, it’s good to find a school that will give you some sort of externship where you can get the professional experience you deserve. An externship program is when schools form partnerships with local facilities and get you temporary positions at these employers in return for school hours. This brief experience working with real patients can be treated like a class. A very important class where the stakes are a bit higher than a passing or failing grade, but instead involve real life emotions of your boss and patients. The great news is, sometimes if you prove you are a good fit, these temporary positions can become permanent.