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Phlebotomy: Drawing Life (blood, that is)
What Is a Phlebotomist?
Typically, when talking about phlebotomists, the first thing people ask is "What is a phlebotomist?" It's not the most regular-looking word. Phlebotomists (the "phle" part is pronounced "flay") are the men and women in the medical field whose specialty is drawing blood. Working in clinics, blood donation centers, blood laboratories, and hospitals throughout the country, phlebotomists are pros at finding a vein, sticking it with a needle, and drawing blood from it, while at the same time making sure the patient/donor is as comfortable as possible.
Phlebotomist Training
Working with needles is a delicate business. If you want to become a phlebotomist, going to a phlebotomist school and getting phlebotomist training is a must. Phlebotomist jobs require a dedicated individual who is very attentive to detail and very careful with their work. In the US, some states require certification to become a phlebotomist, others allow on-the-job training, but all highly recommend going to a phlebotomist school to obtain your phlebotomist training. Phlebotomist training takes a mere 1-6 months, depending on the program, and hospitals, clinics, and blood donation centers prefer someone who is already trained.
Working As a Phlebotomist
As a certified phlebotomist, you won't have trouble finding work. Job opportunities are expected to continue growing quickly at least through 2012. As the world's population continues to grow, so does it's need for emergency blood and blood testing, and thus so does its need for phlebotomists. Perhaps the greatest thing about becoming a phlebotomist is simply the knowledge that what you are doing is helping to ease the pain of those who are suffering.
Sources:
US Bureau of Labor Statistics
Wikipedia.org
