A phlebotomist can be an ideal career choice if you are interested in a healthcare position requiring minimal training and immediate job placement. Drawing blood from patients can be demanding, especially in a few circumstances. Phlebotomists must use soft savvy skills to assuage their nervous discomfort and earn patients’ trust. This growing career field provides opportunities to move into supervisory positions and gain further training.
Job Description
A phlebotomist is at the forefront of patient treatment. A phlebotomist draws blood from patients for transfusions or further testing while working in medical offices, hospitals, labs, or clinics. In a few cases, a phlebotomist may prepare blood for examination or conduct urinalysis tests. It may seem like a regular job, but each interaction a phlebotomist has with a patient needs varied skill sets. For instance, you require people skills to calm a pediatric patient for a needle prick.
Similarly, confidence and patience are crucial when drawing blood from a dehydrated patient with smaller veins. Phlebotomists should be detail-specific. Once a blood draw is finished, the phlebotomist documents the test, marks the vial and ensures the sample is routed to the appropriate laboratory technician. In a clinical setting, phlebotomists generally work a typical business day. In an urgent-care setting or hospital, shifts may involve overnight hours and weekends.
Also Read: How to Become a Phlebotomist
Education Requirements
You can register for phlebotomy training through community colleges or independent programs that prepare students for certification if you are armed with a high school diploma. You can apply for free phlebotomy training if you are interested in working for the Red Cross. In some places, you will receive paid training. Most programs take 3 months, and you will have immediate placement upon successful completion. Courses include First Aid, CPR, physiology, anatomy, phlebotomy, and medical terminology. By working in a hospital setting under supervision or an internship setting at a laboratory, you gain practical experience.
How Much Do phlebotomists Make
Careers in the U. S:
The BLS reports the yearly median salary for phlebotomists was $35,510 or $17.07 per hour in 2019. Full-time positions include paid sick and vacation leave, health insurance, and retirement. Salary varies by certification, geographical location, role, and the organization that employs you. Large labs or companies pay slightly higher salaries than smaller clinics(1).
Many states do not require certification, but becoming certified will usually increase your pay by almost $3.00 per hour. Taking into account the cost of living, states that report the highest salaries for phlebotomists include Minnesota, Illinois, Wyoming, and Delaware. Maine, South Carolina, Hawaii, and South Dakota, pay the lowest pay for phlebotomists.
Years of Experience
Years of experience will increase your skill level and confidence as you learn the complexities of working as a phlebotomist. Becoming seasoned and expertly in phlebotomy is a gateway career to other roles. A phlebotomist specialist requires extensive experience and training, but it will increase your income and allow you to lead and train a team of phlebotomists. With some further training, other spin-off careers from phlebotomy include patient care technician, medical lab technician, or a histotechnologist, an expert who makes tissue samples for analysis.
Careers in Europe: An entry-level Phlebotomist with less than 1-year experience can expect to earn an average total compensation (includes bonus, tips, and overtime pay) of £8.68. An early career Phlebotomist with 1-5 years of experience earns an average total compensation of £8.61. A mid-career Phlebotomist with 5-10 years of experience earns an average total compensation of £9.00. An experienced Phlebotomist with 10-20 years of experience earns an average total compensation of £8.93. In their late-career (20 years and higher), employees earn an average total compensation of £10.
Careers in Asia: The average salary for a Phlebotomist in Singapore is S$30,000.
Job Growth Trend
Phlebotomists are most sought after technicians. The job market is expected to grow twenty-five percent from now until 2026. Technological innovations in medical testing and a growing population of aging adults needing health care have increased the need for phlebotomists.
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