Tuesday, March 4, 2014

What is phlebotomy?




Phlebotomy is practiced when an individual skilled in the process draws blood from an individual using a needle. Once the blood has been drawn by the phlebotomist the blood is then studied by a technician or a medical professional to determine the health of the individual. Although blood is often drawn for testing, it can also be drawn for use in other people via a blood transfusion.

Once a student has successfully graduated from phlebotomy courses in Brooklyn there are a number of career directions that can be taken. As the phlebotomist can draw blood for collection, donation or testing there are several places where one may work.

Large employers of phlebotomists are hospitals. With the continued specialization in the medical field, phlebotomists do a great deal of the procedures that had previously been expected of nurses. Having a number of phlebotomists on the staff of a hospital can reduce the number of nurses that are assigned to each shift as the trained phlebotomist can also administer injections intramuscular and subcutaneous.

Graduates of phlebotomy courses in Brooklyn are also in demand in private physicians offices. Although the tasks are the same as in a hospital, the setting is different. A phlebotomist working in a private doctor’s office may be a certified medical assistant; this allows him or her to perform other duties which can relieve the demands on the nurses in the office.

Those people who wish to pursue a career as a phlebotomist can attend vocational schools or technical schools in their area. Although there are employers who offer OTJ training, in most instances an employer wants to hire an individual who has received the specialized education and training. The courses that the future phlebotomist takes include anatomy, psychology, lab safety and the various sampling procedures. In most cases, students also take a CPR course as well as get hands-on training in drawing blood and puncturing the skin with a needle.

The successful graduates from phlebotomy courses in Brooklyn will find themselves responsible for a number of tasks which include maintaining medical records, drawing blood, sterilizing equipment and sending blood to laboratories for study. The graduate of a two year course earns a diploma or certificate which is mandatory for certification.