If you are thinking of pursuing career in the medical field, there has been no better time to reach those goals than right now. With our current rapidly aging population, medical field workers can look forward to many opportunities for growth in a variety of healthcare opportunities.

Phlebotomy, also referred to as venipuncture, is the science of drawing blood for medical purposes and provides an excellent opportunity for entry into the field of healthcare. Phlebotomists, or Phlebotomy Technicians, are specially trained to work in clinical laboratories, collecting blood for a multitude of purposes, including transfusions, and healthcare testing. A career in phlebotomy will include a variety of possible settings and duties, some of which may include:

• Working at blood drive stations to collect blood for blood banks for the purpose of transfusions.

• Working in blood banks facilities.

• Working in hospitals, to collect blood samples from patients.

• Working in clinics or doctors’ offices, to collect and test blood samples from patients.

• Testing blood in a variety of public and private laboratory settings.

• Working with infants and children using specialized strategies and instruments such as butterfly needles or heel sticks.

• Performance of a variety of blood collection strategies, such as venipuncture in order to collect large quantities of blood, and finger sticks when only small quantities are required.

• Specialized techniques such as drawing blood from capillaries or arteries near the wrist.

Phlebotomy is clearly an exciting and growing field which offers an abundance of career opportunities for those entering the healthcare field. If you feel phlebotomy may be the right career choice for you, take some time to consider all of the training options, in order to ensure you are fully prepared to enter into this exciting career.

While certification is not specifically required in all states, certified applicants will surely have an edge over those who have not pursued an education that qualifies for professional certification. There are many options in regards to phlebotomy training, so researching the topic and understanding your options is essential. Phlebotomy training is typically offered in trade schools, community colleges, and career centers, and generally requires students to meet a pre-requisite that requires attainment of a high-school diploma or GED.

Phlebotomy training can last anywhere from four months to just over one year depending on the program chosen. Most phlebotomy training programs will offer a wide array of course work that pertains to the practice of drawing blood from a variety of patient types, as well extensive classroom work which should include proper laboratory procedures. Students can expect to take courses that prepare them in the legalities of blood collection practices, safety in blood collection, communication (with patients, families, as well as other healthcare workers), as well as physiology, anatomy, blood composition, and laboratory methods, along with blood collection techniques and practical experience requirements.

When researching the phlebotomy program that best suits your needs, it is imperative to be sure that the program itself is accredited by one of the following agencies:

• The American Medical Technologists (AMT)

• The American Society of Clinical Pathologists (ASCP)

• The National Phlebotomy Association (NPA)

• The American Association of Medical Personnel (AAMP)

• The American Society of Phlebotomy Technicians (ASPT)

• The American Society of Clinical Pathologists (ASCP)

Taking a little extra time to make certain that the program you are interested in is recognized by at least one of these agencies will ensure that it meets the standards and requirements that potential employers will be looking for. A relatively small amount of research will certainly increase your employment opportunities upon completion of your phlebotomy training. It is also recommended that you verify the program you are interested in is recognized by the state where you are hoping to work. It is equally important to note that many of these accrediting agencies require members to attain a certain number of hours of continuing education, on a yearly basis, for re-training and to keep pace with new technologies, strategies and practices.

There is significantly more to phlebotomy than simply learning to draw blood from a patient. Some of the many subjects covered in an accredited phlebotomy training program will include:

• Processes required prior to drawing of blood

• Appropriate equipment and proper use for specific draws

• Labeling procedures

• Handling of laboratory requisitions

• Order of draw when using multiple tubes

• Site selection factors

• Recognizing the difference between veins, tendons and arteries by feel

• Patient care after draw completed

• Infection and safety control measures

• Quality assurance