Blood banks collect and store blood and plasma for transfusions. Blood bank management involves overseeing staff, coordinating operations, and ensuring safety and hygiene. Certification and experience as a medical technologist or lab technician are required, and entry-level positions can lead to supervisory roles.
Blood banks collect blood and plasma given to those who require transfusions due to illness or injury. Many people receive additional blood matched to their blood type and screened for safety during surgery or after an accident. Blood banks can operate as a non-profit organization that collects blood from volunteers, or they can be a for-profit business that pays people to donate blood to sell it to hospitals in need. Generally, to work in blood bank management, you first need to earn regional certification, allowing you to work in the field. Once certified and gained experience in the field, many blood banks require that you have experience in some type of supervisory position before you qualify for blood bank management.
Blood bank management involves supervising the blood bank staff and coordinating the operations of the office itself. At a blood bank, people come in to donate blood and sit in a waiting room, waiting their turn. Blood banks often have rooms with couches and medical equipment where blood is drawn and donors can relax during the process. Once collected, the blood is safely stored until it is picked up by a transport truck that takes it to a hospital or clinic, where it will be stored or used later. Blood bank managers may be responsible for overseeing this entire process, including coordinating collection and delivery in some cases.
In addition to being responsible for managing the blood bank, you may also be responsible for hiring and training employees. Most regions require individuals working in a blood bank to be certified as a medical technologist or laboratory technician. Other permissible certification types may include nursing and phlebotomy. Blood bank management is generally responsible for ensuring that all staff have the necessary certification and that safety and hygiene are always considered.
In order to work in blood bank management, you usually first need to receive one of the types of certifications required to work there in general. You can usually get certified at local community colleges. Many jobs require you to first gain years of experience working as a medical technologist specifically at a blood bank. Some blood banks are large-scale branches of a national company, while others are local clinics. One way to get into blood bank administration is to work first as an entry-level lab technician, working your way up to a supervisory position.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
