Phlebotomy is occasionally referred to as venipuncture since it is concerns the specific drawing of blood from patients to use the blood for blood tests and other blood collection. Phlebotomists will work in medical facilities such as labs and hospitals and often will work in conjunction with doctors and nurses who deal directly with the patients.
If you wish to pursue a career in phlebotomy you will need phlebotomy training and certification in the use of syringes, vacuum tubes and needles. In some states you will also need to be registered or licensed. You will find that phlebotomy programs will be accredited through either the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS), or the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP).
As a phlebotomist you will not only draw the blood of various patients and possible blood donors, but you will also be expected to carry out medically related routine laboratory responsibilities as well as some clerical tasks. For instance you may be told to enter the lab results into the computer provided at the lab.
As you will frequently be the sole contact with the medical laboratory for a patient, you will need excellent bedside manners. One frequent task that a phlebotomist finds is having to undertake the calming of a nervous and anxious patient, thus you will need to know how to make small talk to allay their fears as you perform, what is to them, a seemingly very unpleasant experience.
The drawing of blood is actually a delicate and intricate microsurgical procedure, thus phlebotomists need significant phlebotomist training in order to prepare them for this awesome responsibility. Phlebotomists need to work well with the utmost accuracy all the while under pressure. Because safety is essential, the phlebotomist will be obliged to take demanding precautions in order to prevent the possible transmission of any infectious diseases not only to their patients, but also to themselves.
The required phlebotomy programs for a phlebotomist career will take from 9 to 24 months. This is because the training is not just supervised practice but also covers theoretical training. The educational process will cover subjects such as data processing, personnel administration, general administration, immune mechanisms, donor processing, and collection and storage of components or whole blood.
Further, your phlebotomy program will educate you in blood groups, immunology and genetics. Personal qualities that are useful for phlebotomists to grasp are immense attention to minute details, first-rate hand-eye synchronization, and high-quality personal relations in dealing with patients as well as excellent organizational skills. The same restrictions, having to deal with patient confidentiality, that nurses and doctors adhere to are also required of phlebotomists, thus you must be exceedingly trustworthy.
Should you desire to become a blood bank technician, you will then be in charge of the entire blood bank group. You will register patients, greet them, and execute the necessary tangible phlebotomy procedures. You will further be handling the blood products, as well as being accountable for computerized and some office duties. In this case, you should love working with patients, as well as have strong multitasking personal qualities.
The US Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that employment of clinical laboratory workers such as Phlebotomy Technicians will grow immensely due to the following factors. First, the population is growing, as patients are living substantially longer. Secondly, the volume of laboratory tests have increased as medicine finds new types of tests to be done for the patient's benefit. It is further expected that the healthcare field will specifically grow even faster than the average through the year 2012.
Clinical laboratory technicians carry out complex chemical, bacteriological tests, as well performing microscopic, biological, immunologic, and hematological testing. As a laboratory technician you will conscientiously run tests on blood as well as other bodily fluids. Using a microscope you will examine blood, perform the analysis of body fluids, and even of tissues and cells.
As per your phlebotomist training, what you will be seeking is microorganisms, bacteria, and assorted parasites. Another portion of your duties will be to match the blood for blood transfusions and also you will test for drug levels in blood to ascertain how the patient is responding or not responding to various treatments.
Interestingly, you will use sophisticated, expensive instruments that will be capable of executing a great number of tests at the same time. You will undoubtedly also employ cell counters. Laboratory technicians are crucially important for their skills in performing the necessary laboratory tests that eventually help patients to obtain their results sooner, thus making the entire process much more professional. Thus, you will find that phlebotomy is extremely rewarding as a career.
With today's troubled job market, hundreds of thousands of people are searching for new careers. The surge in job searches has resulted in new levels of people seeking training for their new careers. Phlebotomist training has become much-sought-after in recent years, as people recognize the healthcare industry as one that will remain stable for years to come. Accredited [the website www.findphlebotomytraining.com cannot be found.] is the key to starting a new career as a phlebotomist in your area.
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