Choosing the right phlebotomy courses is important for a successful career. Basic courses teach venipuncture and finger-stick techniques, while advanced courses teach arterial blood extraction, injections, and other skills. Pursuing an associate degree or certification can lead to more career opportunities.
It is necessary to determine a long-term career path in order to choose the best phlebotomy courses. There are many directions a career in phlebotomy can go, and choosing the right mix of classes can make your job search and career advancement much easier. At its most basic level, phlebotomy is the practice of drawing blood.
Phlebotomists may work in the hospital or mobile environment. They collect blood, either for testing or for blood donation. A phlebotomist who has only taken basic courses in phlebotomy will draw blood from a vein using a technique called venipuncture. If only a small amount of blood is needed, they can use a small lancet to get blood by sticking their finger.
There are more advanced techniques in phlebotomy, and carefully choosing phlebotomy courses that teach these skills provides more career options. Some phlebotomists receive specialized training to extract blood from arteries. Arteries, which carry blood away from the heart, put much more pressure on them than veins, and when an artery is compromised, blood is released with great force. Phlebotomists who take special courses learn to safely draw blood from the arteries located around the wrists.
Phlebotomists can give both intramuscular and subcutaneous injections. For a phlebotomist who hopes to work in the hospital environment or in the doctor’s office, these skills are invaluable. The ability to administer injections reduces the workload of higher paid doctors and nurses, which saves the facility money. Taking phlebotomy courses that teach the proper injection protocol can be very valuable.
Regulations vary, but some states allow phlebotomists to perform saline flushes and administer heparin. Again, these are valuable skills that reduce costs for the employer, making people with this training more valuable. If you move from a state where phlebotomists are not allowed to perform these tasks, to one where they are, continuing education phlebotomy courses that cover these skills make a good investment.
While some career centers offer two- to four-month certificate programs in phlebotomy, many phlebotomists choose to pursue an associate degree. Community colleges usually offer a two-year program of phlebotomy courses that combine phlebotomy skills with other related subjects. At the end of two years, the graduate is trained as a clinical laboratory technician. Such training opens up many more career opportunities for the phlebotomist, as does certification by the American Society of Clinical Pathologists, American Association of Medical Personnel, National Phlebotomy Association, or other variety of accrediting agencies in the healthcare field.
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