Where Can a Phlebotomist Tech Work?

Phlebotomy involves drawing blood from a patient and using that sample to send to a lab to receive test results. This process can be tricky since many have a fear of needles and getting blood drawn. Like a Certified Nurse Assistant, A phlebotomist is trained in putting patients at ease and making sure the process goes as smoothly as possible. You may be thinking: where can a phlebotomy tech work? Well, the first guess that comes to mind is a doctor's office then many tend to draw a blank. Actually, phlebotomists have a wide array of options when it comes to their career once they are certified.

Phlebotomists Can Work in a Doctor’s Office

It’s probably easy to start with the first guess. A doctor's office can range from general care to a specialized office like a foot doctor or a cardiologist office. The bottom line is, this setting for a phlebotomist is fairly normal. When phlebotomy techs end up in a doctor’s office, they may take up some duties that a medical assistant may handle. This would require phlebotomy techs to get the hang of front and back office work. Although the job is very skilled, that does not mean people are waiting to get their blood drawn every second of the day so that leftover time must be filled. Phlebotomists that work in a doctor's office get a decent pay and are treated like a valuable member of the office staff just like their peers. If you’re looking for a stable position and career a doctor’s office gives you a solid family to work with while being under close supervision of the main doctor.

Working at a Blood Donor Center

If you’re looking for a more immediate stream of hands on work, a blood donor center may be your fit. At blood donor centers, the main goal is to use philanthropy and healthcare to get blood samples from others and give them to people in need. Phlebotomy techs that work at blood donor centers don’t only draw blood but they may assist in verifying eligibility, intaking donors, checking vitals, and making sure donors are safe before they depart after their donation. This check in often involves looking over donors to make sure they are not faint after donating and maybe even assisting them with eating a snack to feel better. Donating blood saves many people's lives so working at a blood donor center is a fulfilling setting.

Phlebotomists Can Work at a Hospital

Another setting a phlebotomy tech can work in is a hospital. Since hospitals are so large, there is often a sector dedicated to getting tests done. If blood is not drawn by their immediate doctor, oftentimes people are sent to a location in the hospital to get their blood drawn by a phlebotomy tech. This is so that the healthcare we receive is compartmentalized and organized and each department can be the best at what they do. Sometimes phlebotomy techs work side by side with lab techs in hospitals managing and working with all of their samples. The only difference between lab techs and phlebotomy techs is that phlebotomists only deal with blood but lab techs can do that and handle other bodily fluids.