Phlebotomists are responsible for collecting blood and urine samples so they can be analyzed by laboratory professionals. This career requires training to ensure that new phlebotomists are capable of following universal precautions and collecting samples successfully. Phlebotomists need to be good at working with people and have the manual dexterity necessary to draw blood from the veins.
Significance
Phlebotomy training is important because it helps new phlebotomists learn the proper way to draw blood, handle blood specimens and prevent the transmission of infection in a laboratory setting. Without phlebotomy training programs, hospitals and clinics would have to shoulder the burden of training phlebotomists, which could increase medical care costs and make it difficult for small facilities to staff their phlebotomy departments.
Types
Phlebotomy training can be delivered in classroom and online formats. During classroom phlebotomy training, students learn from an experienced instructor. Classroom-based phlebotomy training programs usually have a hands-on training component, which allows students to get comfortable with drawing blood by practicing on each other or on plastic models. Online phlebotomy training can be synchronous or asynchronous. Synchronous training requires that students and instructors meet online at a scheduled time. Asynchronous training does not require that students meet with professors online. Instead, course content can be accessed at any time, allowing students to work at their own paces and accommodate work and family schedules. Phlebotomy training can be found at community colleges, technical schools and career centers.
Course Content
Phlebotomy training courses contain information that phlebotomists need to do their jobs properly. New students learn about the circulatory system and basic anatomy of the human body. Students also learn how to handle blood samples properly. The importance of hand washing, wearing gloves, cleaning a blood draw site properly and disposing of used needles properly is stressed. Once this basic information has been covered, students in classroom-based programs learn how to draw blood from veins. Common problems with drawing blood are discussed and students are provided with information that can help them prevent or solve these problems. Students in classroom-based programs may also learn how to use basic laboratory equipment such as a microscope and centrifuge.
Benefits
Phlebotomy training programs benefit students and their future employers. Medical facilities benefit because they can hire new phlebotomists who already have basic training. This greatly reduces the cost of hiring a new phlebotomist and significantly shortens the learning curve a phlebotomist will have in a new position. Phlebotomists who complete these training programs benefit because they learn a useful skill that can be applied in several professional settings.
Practical Applications
The skills learned in a phlebotomy training program can be used in a variety of medical settings. Hospitals, medical clinics, nursing homes and long-term care facilities hire phlebotomists to draw blood specimens. Phlebotomists may also be hired to visit people's homes and draw blood. This is done when someone is housebound and cannot get to a medical facility due to illness or injury. Someone who has completed a phlebotomy program can also find work with a blood bank.
