Emma+C


 * Phlebotomist **

Summary:
Phlebotomists collect blood and/or other body samples from patients for laboratory testing or for blood banks.

Skills and knowlege:
Chemistry and biology are the two main subjects you should take at school if you want to be a Phlebotomist.
 * knowledge of the anatomy of the arm and blood-taking techniques
 * the ability to take a variety of other bodily samples
 * knowledge of safety and hygiene
 * skills in reassuring patients and donors.

Personal requirments:
They should not be squeamish, as their work involves body samples. They also need the ability to deal sensitively with a wide range of people. Phlebotomists need to be reasonably fit and healthy, as they are standing most of the day. They also need to have good hand-eye co-ordination for finding veins when taking blood samples.
 * responsible
 * tolerant, patient and gentle
 * able to inspire confidence in patients and put them at ease
 * practical, and able to pay attention to detail
 * able to follow procedures and instructions
 * organised
 * good communicators with good listening skills.

Task/Duties:

 * reassure patients and blood donors and check their personal details and referrals from doctors
 * take blood and other samples including skin and nails, and throat or wound swabs
 * look after patients if they have an adverse reaction
 * label samples
 * travel to collect samples from patients in hospitals, rest homes or private homes
 * test for allergies
 * maintain machinery and order supplies

About the job e.g pay and working conditions:
Phlebotomists usually earn about 40K-52K a year. Pay for phlebotomists varies depending on where they work, their experience, and the shifts they work.


 * usually do shift work and may be required to work weekends
 * are likely to work part time, in the mornings, if they work for community medical laboratories
 * work in hospital laboratories or community medical laboratories, donor centres or mobile collection units
 * may travel locally to take samples at doctors' surgeries, hospitals, rest homes, patients' homes and workplaces.
 * You increase your chances of getting a job if you are willing to do part-time work in the mornings – when there is the most demand for tests.

Question 1: Is this job easy to get into?
Employers prefer to employ phlebotomists with New Zealand qualifications. However, demand for phlebotomists is expected to remain good because:
 * registered phlebotomists may shift into medical laboratory technician work to get full-time hours
 * the population of New Zealand is ageing, meaning more people with health problems requiring tests
 * health promotion programmes run by health services are creating increasing demand for tests
 * the phlebotomist workforce is ageing, so when they retire there will be a shortage of workers.

Question 2: What are some related jobs and useful experience?

 * work in laboratories, particularly in the specimen reception area
 * training and working as a nurse or nurse aide
 * work in hospitals (particularly medical laboratories).

Nursing and Laboratory Technolgy are the two realted jobs.

Question 3: What qualifications do i need and does it invovle university?
Usually Phlebotomists need up to about 2 years of training before they beome fully qualifiied. You can train on the job for 2 years or if you have a qualification/diploma then you only have to do 1 year of training. You can go to polytech for a year and pas the exam. Chances of getting a job as a trainee phlebotomist are poor for unqualified people, but good for those with New Zealand qualifications.

Soucres I used to help me find information:
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Conclusion:
I think i would really enjoy this job. I would enjoy this job because I like helping people and I would meet new people. I think I would be intersested in the whole blood testing side of things because you would come across stuff that wouldnt even know existed and it would be a pretty cruisy job and you wouldnt have pressure on your shoulders. The thing I won't like about this job is collecting and testing other people body samples but I would get used to it over time. At this stage I am very interested in this job. Being a Phlebotomist would suit me more than all the other jobs. Theses days you have to do very well in school and go to university to get a decent job. I don't want to go to university and since I'm not exceptionally well at maths I want a job that doesnt involve much of it. The main subjects I have to stick with at school are English and two scienecs which are Biology and Chemistry. I think I would be good at this job because I am a very responsible and organised person and I'm not real squirmish. To deveop skills and knowlege for this job I need to pay attention in science. For my training I am going to attend polytech for a year and do some more training on the job. A few of out family friends worked as a Phlebotmoist so I can ask them for more details. I think I will stck to this job amd do as much training as possble as it could lead me to more challenging jobs in medical experience.