Phlebotomy Technician
What Is A Phlebotomy Technician?
Do you have the heart to enter the field of healthcare? Are you responsible and sensitive to the needs of others? If you are up to the challenges of entering the healthcare industry, consider becoming a Phlebotomy Technician.
Phlebotomy Technician is a member of the healthcare team skillfully trained to take blood and urine samples and even throat cultures from patients who are required to undergo laboratory tests. A phlebotomy technician is part of the clinical laboratory team working under the direct supervision of a department manager or medical technologist. Furthermore, they handle responsibilities such as clerical tasks, client services and visits to home-based patients for specimen collection.
An experienced phlebotomy technician can manually operate automated machines to analyze blood cultures and other specimens. Other related functions include proper preservation and handling, correct labeling and transport to required locations. A well-trained phlebotomy technician can work under pressure within the hospital, health centers, hospices, research centers and pharmaceutical companies with other healthcare practitioners.
Becoming a phlebotomy technician requires manual dexterity, proper attitude and willingness to learn both the theoretical aspect, which includes anatomy and physiology of the circulatory system, as well as the proper techniques in obtaining specimens from patients across all ages. It should be understood that a phlebotomy technician who can obtain a good specimen increases the quality of laboratory tests being done thereby gaining accurate results.
Phlebotomy Technician Programs are available in various institutions and can be completed within a period of 6 months to a year. One who is interested to study and become a phlebotomy technician should choose an institution that is accredited by healthcare boards within the area where one intends to practice. Certification can be obtained after proper credentialing, endorsement and completion of required trainings. Being a phlebotomy technician entails not just an innate skill and knowledge but compassion to care for others as well.
