Should You Consider Becoming a Phlebotomy Technician?

Choosing a career is not only one of the hardest decisions you will ever make in your life, but it is also one of most the important. Your career path will affect the entirety of your life, so it makes sense that you would want to educate yourself fully before making such a decision. For those who have already started the process of deciding on a career, or for those who are considering a change from their current profession, it would be wise to consider becoming a Phlebotomy Technician.

Many of you may be sitting there wondering what a Phlebotomy Technician does. It is quite simple, really. They are in charge of obtaining blood samples from patients and then analyzing the samples in a laboratory setting. It requires both patient interaction as well as clinical lab work. The following are listed as requirements for the job by the National Phlebotomy Association.

• Interviewing patients
• Obtaining blood samples
• Measuring vital signs
• Using venipuncture and micro collection to collect blood samples
• Prepping samples for analysis
• Testing samples and recording results

If you're interested in the health field, but can't decide between patient work and lab work, this job is a perfect place to start. It offers the perfect blend of the two worlds and can be a great jumping off point for you to discover which is your true preference, or to discover that you enjoy both equally!

Breaking Into The Field

Acquiring the training needed to become a Phlebotomy Tech can be done in a myriad of ways. Typically you need either an associate degree or a certificate in Phlebotomy or closely related field like nursing. Areas of the Midwest, like Toledo OH, Okmulgee OK, and Chicago IL have plenty of opportunities for certificate degree programs. As far as finding a job in the field, you should no trouble once you are qualified. The need for clinical lab testing is only going to grow in the coming years, and the demand for new lab technicians will continue to grow on pace with the develop of new technologies. It has been estimated that clinical lab technicians may experience as much as a 14% job growth.

Benefits Of The Job

Depending on the specific position you fill you may have more or less duties than others, and salary is dependent on responsibility. Phlebotomy techs can expect an average yearly salary of about $28,000-$40,000. There are examples of salaries both higher and lower than this range, but these are for the average majority. Geographic location is a factor to salary as well. For example, a Phlebotomist in Toledo OH can expect to make a little over $30,000 per year, where as the same position in Tennessee only receives an average yearly salary of around $27,000. Most positions, regardless of location, can expect other benefits to come with the job as well, such as insurance and retirement plans.

The question isn't whether you should consider becoming a Phlebotomy Tech. The question should be, why wouldn't you consider it?

Begin your nursing education at Athena Career Academy today. Find us online at http://www.athenacareers.edu/, visit us in Toledo, OH at 5203 Airport Highway or in Middleburg Heights, OH at 7285 Old Oak Blvd. (Suite 123) or call us at (419) 329-4075 (Toledo) or (440) 891-7672 (Middleburg Heights).