phlebotomy training, certification and knowledge

At one time in health care, the doctor and/or nurse were totally responsible for taking blood from patients. Over the years it became clear that it was better for others to do this so that the physicians and nurses could attend to their many other duties. The role of the phlebotomist has gained a great deal of importance and become a good career move for many who want to enter the health care field.

What is Phlebotomy?

It is the act of procuring blood from individuals for testing, transfusion, or for blood storage for future use. Although doctors are skilled in this practice, someone trained in this field only deals with blood issues, which allows other medical professionals to spend more of their time in life saving roles. Additionally, the trained professional is responsible for getting blood samples to the places they need to go and following up on testing and reporting.

Not all blood procurement is done in clinics and hospitals. Blood mobiles travel around the area for donations from willing suppliers. There are also other traveling jobs (domiciliary service) that require stopping in nursing homes to get blood for tests, and this may also include in-home blood taking.

What is Venipuncture?

When receiving blood from a patient or individual giving blood, venipuncture is the primary way of accessing a vein that is large enough to easily draw the blood. The most common place for taking blood is the median cubital vein, which lies inside the crook of the arm opposite the elbow. The vein does not have a large supply of nerves around it and lies close to the surface.

Certain individuals have collapsed veins and may need to have blood taken from different areas of the body. The trained technician knows what the secondary choices might be for drawing blood.

Phlebotomy Training Courses

For the individual who is interested in this field, it is very easy to find training. Utilizing online training programs, it only takes a short time to train for this important career move. There are many places to receive instruction on how to take blood, but it is important to find a certified training program so your education will be acceptable when you apply for a job position. The Center for Phlebotomy Education can help put you on the right track to get your certification and become a phlebotomist.

Training takes from two months to one year, depending on where the course of study takes place and what other instruction might be offered in conjunction with it. Online courses may take up to four months with some on location instruction necessary for certification.

Phlebotomy Certification

Training for taking blood is only the first step in establishing yourself in the world of health care. There are many people who know the steps for taking blood but they don’t have certification, which means they can’t find gainful employment in this line of work. If this is a line of work that you are interested in, be sure to get your instruction from a source that will give you an opportunity to be in the medical field, certified as a health care professional.

Phlebotomy Salaries

Salaries vary based on location and experience, as well as how much demand there is in a particular area for people to take blood. The best thing about getting into this line of work is that there is a demand in most areas for certified phlebotomists. In some areas, there is a need for people twenty-four hours per day, while in other places there may not be much demand, but technicians have to be on call around the clock.

Full time annual salaries can be expected in a range of $30 to $40 thousand, but this is subject to cost of living and demand based on location, so salaries may be higher or lower. Based on the cost required for training and certification, the salary is very good.

Phlebotomy Books and Other Resources

There is a wealth of information for those aspiring to enter the phlebotomy field. Much of this information is free, but to reach certification it will be necessary to find recommended books on the subject. If you are considering an online course, be sure to find out what the required agenda is for your particular instruction.