Phlebotomy Technician Training
Phlebotomy is the practice of drawing blood from patients and taking the blood specimens to the laboratory to prepare for testing. Phlebotomists are skilled health care professionals who have been trained to collect, transport, handle and process blood and other specimens for laboratory analysis using venipuncture and micro-collection techniques.
​
Certification
Upon successful completion of the Pharmacy Technician healthcare vocational certificate course, students will receive a certificate of completion. Students are eligible to sit for the National Certification Exam.
Course Objective
1. Demonstrate disposal of biohazardous materials.
2. Use Standard Safety Precautions and safety rules in the classroom/lab.
3. Demonstrate putting on and removing protective clothing.
4. Demonstrate gathering appropriate equipment and supplies needed to collect blood.
5. Perform collection procedures with a butterfly or syringe with proper disposal.
6. Dramatize checking for working equipment and quality control measures.
7. Dramatize processing lab requisitions.
8. Locate proper tubes by color coding of vial tops and associated additives.
9. Perform “order of draw” technique when collecting multiple tubes.
10. Dramatize sensitivity to patient rights, rationale for procedure and proper identification.
11. Perform verification of fasting and other diet requirements.
12. Perform capillary punctures Perform patient preparation for venipuncture procedure.
14. Perform each step in the venipuncture procedure, label specimen tubes, designate status priorities and document.
​
JOB OUTLOOK
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects Employment of phlebotomists is projected to grow 22 percent from 2020 to 2030, much faster than the average for all occupations.
​
About 19,500 openings for phlebotomists are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
​
Job Duties
What does a phlebotomy technician do? More than just poking people. You’ll be a critical member of the medical team and play a vital role at the healthcare facilities you work in.
A typical day in your new life as a certified phlebotomy tech will probably include:
-
Drawing blood from patients and donors for tests, transfusions, donations, or research.
-
Calming people and perfecting the talent of inflicting more kindness and compassion than pain.
-
Verifying patient and donor identity to ensure proper labeling of drawn samples.
-
Labeling blood samples for testing and processing.
-
Entering patient information into the facility’s computer system.
-
Assembling and maintaining medical instruments, like needles, test tubes, and vials.
Pay Scale
The median annual wage for phlebotomists was $37,380 in May 2021. Pay will increase when employed through a private agency.