getting a job in phlebotomy

Ivonne in Reston, VA said: I would like to know how to get a job right out of school when everyone expects you to have 6 months yo 2 yrs experience. DON'T YOU HAVE TO START SOMEWHERE!!!
HELLO!!!!!!![/QUOTE

join the military ( Air Force) that will get you experience.

volunteer at your local red cross

Denine in Corona, California said: volunteer at your local red cross

I work for the red cross now I would only work as a phlebotmist if this was my only chance, let me explain myself working for them is very different you don't have to be certified there hours are very very flexible sometime you are working in the morning around 5:00 am the next day you are on very different shift my body can't take that kind of abuse for those who can go for it and good luck

Thanks but the red cross here is too far away from me.

If you live near Erie or Pittsburgh,have you tried the blood and plasma banks there?

sarah in Longmont, CO said:

I would like to go into the field of Phlebotomy, I have finish the course with a 84 average. Waiting to go to state board on July 19,2008. To take the state board . I feel like that i should not have to wait unil i take the test. I don't agree with the terms that you need 6 month to 1 year experiment before you can get a job in the field you went to school for.

the whole course is a rip off I am highly upset at the fact that we spend 3,000/4,000 for a course and we cant get a job. Im sick over that. we cram and study and cram and study and then we are told that we cant get a job??? how do they expect us to gain experience if we can not get a job? some one has to be able to open the door for us and let us in knowing that we have the desire and education to further our lives as well. It saddens me that the state health depeartment does not recognize the problem that is happening within this field.

mary in Abingdon, Maryland said:

I am in the same boat I finished my phlebotomy class pass the NPA with a 84 average I also work as a lab tech with the Red Cross I needed to work part time as a phlebotomy tech I can't find nothing with out some kind of experience but how can I get experience with no hires me

That has been the on going battle between new students and experienced lab techs. There was one time when my youngest daughter had a surgical procedure done and she need to not eat or drink for 36 hours. At this time she was only 5/6 years old. When a child is that young and does not eat or drink anything you can gaurantee that her veins will collapse during the process of finding a vein. The reason the veins do shrink down is due to dehydration. They had about 4 people try to come in and find a vein, finally after 5 attempts, and sticking her left and right, some one found a vein in hand at the proximal area of her thumb to wrist. It was the most painful attempt ever for her and she has been emotionally scared from it now. So to that note I can understand why they want some one that is experienced but at the same time, we as phlebotomist need to learn and there is no better way of learning then hands on. We will not get the education we need from a text book, but by a qualifed phlebotomist.

Before I entered a phlebotomy program I was told by someone "You know,you can go into any hospital and they will train you for it for free." I didn't really believe it but it turns out to be true in a lot of places (and not something I would recommend at ALL). So there goes the logic in any site insisting on "experience only" when they have done such a practice in the past,hired someone and gave them OTJ training. A few states can't get away with that anymore but the rest of them are still at it. What matters more than experience is knowing what you are doing. Maybe these phlebotomy programs need to extend clinicals so more "experience" is received.

AMEN to that honey AMEM

i really need a job but i have just left school and im not 16 untill aug can anyone help

Hey guys, I am finding a job as a phlebotomist but haven't found one...I have given my resume to 2-3 recruiters and also have applied online but nobody even replies. Can any1 suggest me how can i get a job or where can i try.

Hi everyone,
I just received my ccma, phlebotomy, and my ekg technician certification, and I still can't find a job. I don't have any experience in any of these fields. Does anyone have any advice on how I can get an entry-level position in any of these fields, I have tried eveything from posting my resume online to hand delevering resumes, and I haven't had any luck.
Thank you.

Alicia-Help me out with something here because I am confused: I don't know much about the NHA agency other than what you have been posting about. I did not know that for an additional amount of money,they will add in certificates for phlebotomy and EKG tech for the medical assistant exam. Their website is very vague,with no additional information about any "NHA approved program" or on any exam they offer. It also seems very costly-how many questions were on the exam you took? Were there separate parts for these 2 additional fields? On the RMA exam was approx. a dozen questions on phlebotomy and maybe 5 EKG ones,out of 200. In my MA program was VERY limited training in each. We were taught how to perform EKGs but not to read them. Now were you taught more? I was under the impression that to have the title of "EKG Technician" is to have completed a program in electrocardiography. I know for a fact that to become a certified phlebotomist is to have taken a separate exam from medical assisting. Hence my confusion.

My point is that unless it is a true certification in EKG technology,you may not be hired for that position. Cardiac units do not want MAs doing this procedure. Phlebotomy however is another story. Lots of places will hire someone on the spot and do OTJ training. Blood and plasma banks will hire many with no experience so you may want to start there.

How long have you been looking for a job? Are you making follow-up calls? From what I have read,most don't do that. You also have to remember that about 70% of all sites are not going to advertise a position. When something becomes available,they either fill it by having the exiting MA refer someone,or they ask around to other offices who can they refer. Of course this was not something they warned us about in MA school,which by the way should be helping you in your job search. Are they?

Hi lC,
The NHA is very vague. They led me to believe that I was certified as an ekg tech, and a phlebotomist under one certificate, ccma. Now they tell me I have to pay 20 dollars for my CET (certified ekg tech) certificate, and 20 dollars for my CPT (certified phlebotomist tech) certificate. I'm very confused about the certification because if the ccma certificate is for ekg and phleb then why are there seperate exams for both?

I have been sending my resume to every job opening on craigslist, and on various hospital websites. I haven't been doing follow-up calls. I have been searching for a job for about 1 year.

In my MA program, I was tought how to read ekg's, which I have since forgotten because I haven't been working in this field since I graduated.

The ccma test that I took through the NHA had 200 question. There were seperate questions for ekg and phlebotomy. In my MA school, we had to have 200 blood draws to pass the class, and I had to send proof of that to the NHA before I took the test. The NHA also wants me to pay extra for my continuing education classes. Does everyone have to pay for their CE classes? I was under the impression that it was free. I'm so confused. It seems like it doesn't matter what certification that I have, they still want 2 years experience.

I have been on other websites for different career paths, and I see that everyone is struggling to find a job. It seems like all of these "recession proof" jobs like the medical field, and the education field are being over saturated with graduates, which leaves everybody fighting for the same job. Even though these jobs won't be outsourced, it doesn't make it any easier to gain employment.

AMEN

Alicia-CEUs are not free and are mandatory to keep your certification. Frankly,I think it is baloney. If you are working you don't need the refreshers,you know the stuff,and if you are not working you don't have the money for these units and have also found out by then that having certification didn't automatically help you find a job. You have to remember that the name of the game for many medical programs and agencies is money. Someone along the line discovered that MA programs are a gold mine,that they can make a lot of money off of a lot of people who may wind up with nothing but a big loan to pay off for years. I see the same trend with phlebotomy programs,that there is a big interest in the field so many will be trained and then wonder where are all the jobs at that they were convinced were out there.

Have you tried looking into paramedical examiner companies? I haven't had much luck with them but was told that you are more likely to be hired if you own a centrifuge. I have had luck with health screening companies, particularly "Health Fitness".

how does someone go about getting a job in phlebotomy if no one wil give you a chance,it is so frustrating.Help.

let me tell you it is very hard first getting a job it took me two years to land one. then 7 months have passed and i was working for a mobile company then i was laid off because i was told the state came in and had said i needed i drivers licnes but to be honest what does a drivers licnes have to do with drawing a persons blood. i was getting all my work done i was paried up with someone elese and acutally we got things done faster. so to answer your question it is very hard to land a job. sinces i was laud off i have been looking for another one for a year and yet we have to pay to re-new our things ok thats fine but if no one will give us a chance to me it is a waste of time and money i for one know i don't have to waste.

alicia said: Hi everyone,
I just received my ccma, phlebotomy, and my ekg technician certification, and I still can't find a job. I don't have any experience in any of these fields. Does anyone have any advice on how I can get an entry-level position in any of these fields, I have tried eveything from posting my resume online to hand delevering resumes, and I haven't had any luck.
Thank you.

You need to read my post that I did for discussion. Help me and I can help you

sarah in Longmont, CO said:

go to discussion forms and read my discussion

go to the post colum I did for every one pass it on to all you know.

Denine in Corona, California said: the whole course is a rip off I am highly upset at the fact that we spend 3,000/4,000 for a course and we cant get a job. Im sick over that. we cram and study and cram and study and then we are told that we cant get a job??? how do they expect us to gain experience if we can not get a job? some one has to be able to open the door for us and let us in knowing that we have the desire and education to further our lives as well. It saddens me that the state health depeartment does not recognize the problem that is happening within this field.

The problem with this statement is that you are expecting that just because you paid for school someone is obligated to give you a job. You paid 3k -4k for school right? What about the people that are paying 30k - 50k per year for school and can't get a job out of school. It's all about how we apply ourselves to getting a job and selling ourselves to the potential employers. I am a supervisor of phlebotomy with a staff of 25 phlebotomists, some whom have been with this hospital for 45 years, some right out of school. Because you have been doing it a long time does not mean you are the best person for the job. You were in class right, I know I was, and we all went through the ... I'm not letting that one touch me phase. If you like what you are doing you will be able to sell yourself better to the potential employer. If you go into it with a ho hum attitude and the world needs to give me this because I dished out 3k on school, you in for a rude awakining.

I have applied at every single hosptial, every single blood bank and every single blood you name it and I am told left and right if you havent had one years experience we can not hire you, its a risk we would rather hold out for some one that has experience. I am not going into this with a ho hum attitude, i am going in there with other medical experiences myself, BUT beacause I have not worked on neo-nats or geriatrics I do not have the realative experience that they want. So on that note how do I break their minds and sell myself as you say over come that hurdle as well as the other 248 people because its not just me that is getting rejected.

i am stressing out, why do every college website i go to never tell me the requirements in college? like what classes am i going to have to take? how long? what grades do i have to get? i have not found any answers to my questions since i have started looking for colleges to attend. if someone knows alot about phlebotomy please help me!

A community college website should be posting the curriculum of their phlebotomy program. Programs vary from school to school. Mine lasted 2 semesters,with classes in anatomy and physiology,medical terminology,first aid and safety,clinical lab science technology,basic lab techniques,interpersonal communications, and then the clinicals,which were 8 weeks long. You need to be certified in CPR before entering and keep a C average to pass. There was a waiting list of a year.

If you will set up a career builder.com in your computer.Then typer what job you are looking for then it will alert you when a job come opening. My e-mail is jg450@bellsouth.net I hope his will help people a job in the field they are looking for.

LC in Cleveland, Ohio said: Before I entered a phlebotomy program I was told by someone "You know,you can go into any hospital and they will train you for it for free." I didn't really believe it but it turns out to be true in a lot of places (and not something I would recommend at ALL). So there goes the logic in any site insisting on "experience only" when they have done such a practice in the past,hired someone and gave them OTJ training. A few states can't get away with that anymore but the rest of them are still at it. What matters more than experience is knowing what you are doing. Maybe these phlebotomy programs need to extend clinicals so more "experience" is received.

You mean you can actually work in a hospital and physically draw blood from someone w/o any traning whatsoever? I am thinking of taking a phlebotomy course this August. Not sure yet though. I have found this forum very helpful. I called my local hospital today and talked to a lab tech to see if they even needed phleb(because of everyone saying they're are no jobs) and she told me that they can't keep phlebs there-they are always leaving (she said cuz they are young and such and don't show up for work)She also said they just hired 6 people and are still looking for one more 3rd shifter. So sounds like jobs are plentiful around here. I do have a question though...How hard is the test and what types of questions? I am in OHIO.

Thanks!

There are still places that will hire just anyone-but you got to know the right people to get in. The training is flimsy,like a weekend session, and then more OTJ training. If the patients knew that the person drawing their blood was recently trained this way I am pretty sure they would object.

Jobs are hard to come by in ANY field in this state. In phlebotomy a lot of clinicals don't allow the student to get in as much hospital experience as future job interviewers will want. You could be turned down for a job just for that reason. Pick a real busy hospital to do your clinicals at and do as much as you can including pediatric draws.

A lot of the exam questions will be on lab science. If you get adequate training then they won't be too hard.

LC, can you continue to practice as a phlebotomist without ever getting cerified? Because when I talked to the lab tech at the hospital she said they may hire me and train me there and never even have to go to school? But you still have to take test.right?

Thanks

Not in the state of California they want you to have one years experience and be state and nationally certified. I cant get job any where in this state, because 90% of the hosptials want me to be bilingual. It is a growing problem where I live. I am not bilingual. I get passed over all the time even for girls that know very little, as long as they are bilingual they will get in first not me.

Tracy in Geneva, Ohio said: LC, can you continue to practice as a phlebotomist without ever getting cerified? Because when I talked to the lab tech at the hospital she said they may hire me and train me there and never even have to go to school? But you still have to take test.right?

Thanks

Nope,not in Ohio. Which hospital are you talking about? I am wondering why they are passing over those that are already trained and certified to hire in kids they can show what to do for a few days and then hand them a needle,which is what more or less occurs. Those are the ones that are definitely not going to last. For one thing they are going to keep making mistakes. And I bet this is a hospital that states in their job ads that a phlebotomist applying HAS to have one year of experience.

LC, The hospital is Ashtabula County Medical. The lab tech on the phone said they just hired 6 people and I'm not sure if they were certified or not. Seems very scary to me that someone can stick a needle in you and not have any theory at all about what they're doing. I just want to make sure that if I do go to school that there are jobs available in my area to work that's why I called in the first place. I'm going to call the local Red Cross today and see what there "phlebotomist turnover rate" is.

Tracy,please post what you are told by the local main chapter of the Red Cross,which would be Cleveland. On another thread I wrote of being told twice by them that they cover 19 counties in this area and they gave me the impression that I would be expected to,which of course is impossible.

LC..sure I'll post what info they give me. I have called twice and left message but no one has gotten back to me.

Thanks. If you are calling your local branch,they may tell you that you have to start out doing the blood drives first before you can work at their main building,unless they have changed that. If you are calling Cleveland and you get that "We cover 19 counties" bit,you might want to ask how is that humanly possible. I was almost hired until I was told that,twice,by the head of HR. Not once was I told it would be working in just neighboring counties.

Ivonne in Reston, VA said: I would like to know how to get a job right out of school when everyone expects you to have 6 months yo 2 yrs experience. DON'T YOU HAVE TO START SOMEWHERE!!!
HELLO!!!!!!!

Alot of hospitals will hire right out of school

cant find the expieriance they require you to have. Should I suggest that the colleges that offer the Phlebotomy courses Please be honest with the next students you enroll and fill their mindswith afalse picture of their future liklyhood of actually getting a position in this field of study? What discouragement to your students. In deed the program structure has many flaws and the faults that fall also inthe entire field from the colleges to those who are on large commities nationwide for this field of study....... How many Doctors and Hospitals Would need to close their doors if the bloodwork was not done? You highly uderestimate the value of the Phlebotomists you now ignore. Think about it. No blood drawn, no test results, no treatments, NO need for drugs, doctors, nurses Pharmacies Etc. The little Nobody Phlebotomist you underestimate makes the health care industry alot of money.................

LC, Hey I finally talked to someone in HR at The Red Cross. She said they do cover 19 counties but they try real hard to keep you not more than 1 1/2 miles from where you live. I asked if they were hiring and she said they were caught up with all the people they need right now but that I could send in a resume @(wlehr@usa.redcross.org). She also said they won't even look at my resume if I am not cerified.

Interesting,and thanks. I wonder if the person I was in contact with has since left because she told me twice that it would be expected to drive A LOT of miles.
I'm not sure about the being certified bit. Seems to me they will hire and train without anything prior to it,like LifeShare will.

LC..I meant 1 1/2 hours not miles *L* sorry

I figured you did. That is the limit,or 2 hours,that I am willing to drive for Health Fitness,for their screenings. This is a company,by the way ,who will hire any kind of health professional for their screenings,including CNAs and physical fitness experts.

wow, i am so discouraged!

i was thinking of signing up for the pbt1 class at the local uscolleges in my area, but i am now rethinking. but....

is it really that hard? will the volunteer work at the red cross and kaiser help me? will knowing people help me? will knowing how to spell help me?

i am not bilingual, and i live in so cal, so i may have problems (at least denine says i will) but i really want to remain positive. i think if i work really, really hard things will happen for me. i have no medical experience, but tons of customer service experience (20+ years). i like to think/hope that that, combined with certification and kicking ass in my externship will help me.

i have always, my entire life, wanted to work in the medical field. i give blood every 8 weeks like clockwork. i am literate. i love people. i am positive.

i think all of these things will help me.

i really want this. i am willing to work my ass off for it. i'll get back to you in a few months and let you know how it turns out.

if nothing else, i can spell correctly on my resume. lol.

I Have a Full Time 40 hour day Phlebotomy position open. Location: Cambridge, Massachusetts.

I BEEN APPLYING ON LINE FOR ALMOST TWO MONTHS,NO LUCK SO FAR.....
DOES ANY ONE KNOW HOW I CAN GET AJOB AS PHLEBOTOMIST??????

I finished phlebotomy school in April '08. I've had two job offers and had to leave one recently at a plasma center. The people donating touched my heart. I found it sad that they would get stuck with a 16 gauge for $20.00. On the job training does not give you compassion and motivation, especially only making $8.00/ hour. I cried when I left. I'm certified also, I just want a professional opportunity to help people and use my training.

B in Riverside, California said: I BEEN APPLYING ON LINE FOR ALMOST TWO MONTHS,NO LUCK SO FAR.....
DOES ANY ONE KNOW HOW I CAN GET AJOB AS PHLEBOTOMIST??????

Don't just apply online,go into the labs and meet with the director. They have the final say in the hirings,not HR. Sell yourself,don't say "By any chance,are you hiring?" but rather "I would really like to work here and was hoping you would consider hiring me" and then tell them why they should. Hopefully,you can impress them with extensive hospital clinicals,volunteering,etc.

WHAT REALLY MAKES ME ANGRY....

They are more than willing to teach you how to become a phlebotomist, but what they don't tell you, is how to get a job after you have jumped through all the hoops, especially the part about, "Oh by the way" we are looking for someone who has at least 1 year experience or more. Well, that is really nice and all but the clock is ticking in the meantime, as far as your certification is concerned and the fact that you became Nationally Certified to boot and still are having the problem finding a job.
Please, if you aren't going to hire students once that they have completed the course, then stop offering the course. It happens to be a waste of time and money if you can't use it! Also, what about the so called need that the health institutions are in need of all fields of healthcare individuals,so they keep saying. I thought I had researched this field fairly well before I went to school for phlebotomy. The problem is what they don't tell you that hurts you! What they don't realize also, is how it makes you feel when you go to apply and are alway's turned down because you have no experience... This happened to me as a manicurist twenty years ago and I just ended up walking away from the field because I was totally fed-up with the same line over abd over. MUST HAVE EXPERIENCE