Phlebotomy Certification

Helpful Phlebotomy Certification Tips

If you are considering becoming a phlebotomist, getting your phlebotomy certification is a smart move. It will vastly increase the number of job opportunities available, and will help you earn more money the day you are hired.

Not to be confused with a nursing assistant, those with a phlebotomy certification are solely responsible for drawing blood from a patients veins. The job pays well, is in high demand across the country, and requires a relatively short period of training in order to become certified (8-24 months).

Before explaining the phlebotomy certification process and the required qualifications and training, let’s learn more about the phlebotomy profession.

Simply put, phlebotomy (pronounced “flebotomy”)is the process of extracting blood from a patient’s body for further diagnosis and analysis. Drawing blood and transporting it to the clinic may appear relatively simple, but it is actually a rather complex process that requires skill and practice.

Phlebotomists must learn multiple blood drawing techniques, including:

- Venipuncture
- Capiliary puncture
- Arterial puncture
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Benefits Of Online Phlebotomy Certification

Phlebotomists are healthcare workers that draw blood samples for analysis. Doctors use the results as an important diagnostic tool. Phlebotomists are knowledgeable of human anatomy and physiology, especially of the cardiovascular system. They receive specialized training and many choose to become certified technicians.

There are many benefits to obtaining one’s phlebotomy certification. Certification of practicing phlebotomy technicians is not required by law in the United States, except in California and Louisiana. However, the many employers of phlebotomists (including hospitals, private healthcare clinics, laboratories, and blood banks) choose only to hire certified phlebotomists. Having offline or online phlebotomy certification demonstrates that the phlebotomist has a thorough understanding of blood collection standards and protocols set by the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Many phlebotomists acquire online phlebotomy certification.

Completing an online phlebotomy training program is not the equivalent of offline phlebotomy certification. To be eligible for offline and online phlebotomy certification, technicians must complete a phlebotomy training program. A program must be accredited to be recognized by certifying agencies and employers. Accreditation is awarded through the United States Department of Education, the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Standards (NAACLS), or similar. Good training programs use the materials and guidelines set by the CLSI. Like many other training programs, phlebotomy training is available in a traditional classroom setting as well as online. Traditional programs, offered through community colleges, medical facilities, and career or vocational colleges, provide hours of classroom and hands-on clinical instruction. Choosing an online program can give the student the freedom to set their own schedule, which is especially beneficial for those working part or full time. However, it is important to select an online program that also provides clinical instruction or helps students set up internships. Hands-on experience is necessary to qualify for certification exams.
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Phlebotomy Courses

Phlebotomy is a highly versatile and in-demand job. Every year in the state of Florida alone, approximately 236 jobs open up in the field of phlebotomy. However, many employers prefer to hire a certified phlebotomist with formal training, and like wise, a formal education in phlebotomy can become a highly desirable and profitable skill.

Phlebotomy is a highly versatile career. Phlebotomists have been known to find steady employment positions within hospitals, commercial laboratories, large medical offices, clinics, and blood banks. Occasionally, a phlebotomist may even have the opportunity to experience employment in a scientific field, such product development research, or marketing and sales of home care products.

However, to obtain the most highly desired positions as a phlebotomist, formal education is always an asset. Phlebotomy courses can vary in length of time depending on the preferences of the school, however, the training itself usually takes approximately between 150 to 230 hours. Courses may be available at local post-secondary schools, health facilities, trade or vocational schools, or community colleges.

Phlebotomy Curriculum

Curriculum’s for phlebotomy courses often include instruction on proper venipuncture techniques for both adults and babies, and other sample collection methods. Courses may also touch on proper bedside mannerisms and patient handling as well. Many courses for Phlebotomy are combined with training for additional specialized medical fields as well, such as Electrocardiogram, Lab or Ultrasound Technician training.

Phlebotomy training may also be included in training for other employment fields as well, such as nursing. Courses which may be included in phlebotomy training may include Anatomy and Physiology, Blood and cell composition, blood sampling procedures, laboratory safety, CPR, quality control, legal training, and computer training.

Choosing A Phlebotomy School

Once you have made the definite decision to enroll in a Phlebotomy Course, the next step is to choose which schooling institution you would like to attend and complete your course at.

When considering an institution, one should first think about its location. Take into consideration whether the school you would like to attend should be close to your current home or place of residence or if you would be open to the concept of relocation to find a better school. Also, time to completion should be taken into account as well. How long is the phlebotomy course you would like to attend, and consider how this length of time will affect your employment, or if you will have enough saved to live of without worrying about the length of the course.

Finally, the most important aspect of the course is the potential accreditation you will receive upon completion. Ensure that the eventual certification and accreditation you will receive will comply with the employment you intend to seek out once you have completed the course.

Becoming A Certified Phlebotomist’s Assistant

In today’s world, there are many medical careers that are available to people without the extensive funding needed to go to medical school. These positions in the medical field are just as important as the doctors and nurses, since they help a hospital to provide care to patients in need of assistance. If you are looking into becoming a certified phlebotomist assistant, you are already prepared to take an important step towards helping others in a hospital environment. There are many training options available for people that are interested in becoming a phlebotomist assistant.

What is a Certified Phlebotomist Assistant?

As a career title, a phlebotomist assistant is also known as a “Phlebotomist Technician” or a “Medical Assistant Phlebotomist”. Technically speaking, a phlebotomist is a person responsible for drawing and collecting blood from patients. This position was designated in order to reduce the overwhelming list of duties assigned to doctors and nurses in a hospital environment. Since the duties of a phlebotomist can sometimes also be quite time-consuming, assisting a phlebotomist has become the job of a phlebotomist technician. The phlebotomist assistant is responsible for a number of duties, which make the job of a phlebotomist much easier.

Duties of a Certified Phlebotomist Assistant

Like a certified phlebotomist, a phlebotomist assistant is trained to draw blood from patients. They are also required to be familiar with the proper procedures required in order to ensure that the blood drawing equipment and environment is completely sterile. In most cases, a phlebotomist assistant will also help with drawing blood, and ensuring that each blood sample is documented. If the samples are to be sent to the lab for testing, a phlebotomist assistant will often take care of that as well.

Certified Phlebotomist Assistant Training

There are many reputable training programs that can be used to train you to become a phlebotomist assistant. Depending on your schedule, you may choose to either do a physical training class with hands-on training, or an online training course. No matter what type of training course you use, be sure that it has been certified by the national medical association. If you are hoping to become a phlebotomist assistant at a specific hospital, it’s best if you contact the hospital for their requirements for certified phlebotomist technicians. They may suggest a specific training program for you, or may even provide you with training right at the hospital.

Benefits of Becoming a Phlebotomist Assistant

When you make the choice to become a phlebotomist assistant, you are engaging in a career that may help to save the lives of thousands of people. A phlebotomist assistant is sometimes a part of mobile blood drives, which travel around to collect blood from willing donors. This donated blood is then used for patients in need of a blood transfusion or other procedure. As a phlebotomist assistant, you will also be helping the phlebotomist to assist a larger number of patients each day. This allows the hospital that you work at to be more efficient, and to provide much-needed medical care.

Phlebotomist Duties

Before becoming a phlebotomist, it’s essential that you understand all of the duties that are involved in this occupation. Phlebotomy certification may not be for everyone, though some people may be attracted to this job by the relatively short certification time. Phlebotomists are responsible for a number of important duties in a hospital, each of which ensure that they are able to efficiently and correctly collect blood samples of patients. Here is a guide to some of the general duties expected of most phlebotomists employed by a hospital.

Venipuncture

Technically speaking, venipuncture is a phlebotomist’s main duty. Venipuncture refers to the act of withdrawing or extracting a blood sample from a patient, usually using a needle. This needle is inserted into a vein, upon which blood is extracted from the vein. This blood may be used to perform tests, or may be a blood donation from the patient.

Collection of Blood Samples

To collect a blood sample from a patient, a phlebotomist needs to first find a suitable vein to puncture with the needle. In most cases, a phlebotomist will choose to use the median cubital vein. This vein is located on the inner side of the forearm, just inside the fold of the elbow. This vein lies fairly close to the surface of the skin, and is also located in an area where there are not a large amount of nerves present. During the collection of the blood sample, it’s best if the patient remains absolutely still. If the phlebotomist is unable to obtain a good sample from the median cubital vein, they may attempt to find another suitable vein from which to collect blood.

Patient Care

Having blood drawn is often an uncomfortable and painful procedure for many patients. In addition to this, some people may have a fear of needles, which may make a phlebotomist’s job more challenging. In order to ensure that they are able to collect a good sample, a phlebotomist needs to be reassuring, patient and ready to answer any questions regarding the procedure.

Labeling of Blood Samples

In order to ensure that each blood sample is properly documented, the phlebotomist must accurately label each sample. This is true regardless of if the blood is for a donation, or is going to be submitted for laboratory testing. Improper labeling of a blood sample may cause incorrect results in laboratory tests, or mean that the sample needs to be taken from the patient again. Though this may seem like a small part of a phlebotomist’s duties, it is also one of the most important.

Sending Samples to the Laboratory

Once the blood sample has been obtained, documented and properly labeled, it is often sent to the laboratory for testing. A phlebotomist is responsible for ensuring that the correct blood sample is sent to the laboratory to receive the correct tests required for their patient. Laboratories may sometimes process a large volume of blood samples in a single day, so it’s essential that a phlebotomist is thorough in the required paperwork to have their sample tested.

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