Thursday, August 19, 2010

Phlebotomy Vs. Nursing - How To Get Started

Getting to be a phlebotomist is a enjoyable vocation. Phlebotomists are really expert clinical staff who interact with people without having the stresses associated with being a doctor or registered nurse. Phlebotomists take blood for evaluation, the results of which doctors utilize as an essential diagnostic tool. Just like most healthcare employees, learning to be a phlebotomist requires a strong education. Being a phlebotomist requires studying and understanding human anatomy and physiology, blood taking skills, safety protocols, first aid and CPR.

Getting to be a phlebotomist starts off with high school. Phlebotomists will have to have a high school diploma or equivalent. Phlebotomists then undertake a phlebotomy training program. Phlebotomy programs are generally made available by training colleges, most hospitals, online, occupational and vocational schools. There are three choices of phlebotomy courses: certification, associate, and bachelor's degrees. Certification training courses are the most popular among students with the intention of becoming a phlebotomist. Certification courses last 12 weeks on up to one year and can cost $1500 to $3000 to complete. Associate and bachelorÔøΩs degrees will need two to four years and run up to ten times more than certificate programs. People interested in becoming a phlebotomist will have to be certain to find a program that has been acknowledged by the United states Department of Education, the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Standards (NAACLS), or similar agencies. Recognized or accredited courses match the standards and guidelines set by 2 very important institutes, the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).

Becoming a phlebotomist does not finish upon graduating from a study course. Accreditation will be the next step in learning to be a phlebotomist. While not required by law for professional phlebotomists, except in California and Louisiana, the majority of companies would not use non-certified phlebotomists. Possession of certification says that the phlebotomist is totally knowledgeable with collection methods and techniques as well as safety procedures and protocols. Accreditation is given through ten nationally accepted certifying organizations. These agencies include the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP), the National Center for Competency Testing (NCCT), and the National Phlebotomy Association (NPA). Phlebotomists will need to make an application for certification (which often can be submitted on the internet) then successfully pass a standardized test.

Individuals attracted to being in the healthcare industry really should consider becoming a phlebotomist. At this time there is definitely huge demand, because the health care industry is continually growing caused by an aging general public. The fact is that, the US Bureau of Labor predicts a 14% increase in job prospects from 2006 to 2016. Phlebotomists earn an average hourly wage of $12.84 and an normal yearly income of $26,710. A lot of companies provide employee benefits to phlebotomists, including vacation, paid sick days and access to health care and pension plans.

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