Phlebotomy or Health Unit Coordinator

U.S.A. Arizona

Published

I am considering taking one of these programs in the fall. Just not sure which one will give me a better "one up" on nursing. I was thinking of Phlebotomy because it gives you exposure to labs, you get more comfortable with patients and should help with IV skills in the future but I have been told you can also benefit by being an HUC. Any positive advice?

Thanks;)

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Im assuming you've narrowed it down to the two choices because the programs are very short in duration? Why not CNA? I think that would be an excellent way to see what nurses do, get on the floor, do patient care and I believe you actually make a little more than the other positions. I think if you had experience int he other two fields you's make more but if it's just going to used as a stepping stone, I'd go CNA. It's hard, grungy work though. Maybe that's why you hadn't gone that route.....I drew blood for awhile but as an M.A and it's a no brainer, but you do have those patients who are real hard to get. Health unit coordinators I know, work right on the floor with nurses although at a whole different capacity. I know you are routing phone calls, making phone calls to different departments......I think in the long run you just have to decide which you's be more interested in getting into......have you decided not to do the LPN? That'd be your best way to get your foot in the door!

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Im assuming you've narrowed it down to the two choices because the programs are very short in duration? Why not CNA? I think that would be an excellent way to see what nurses do, get on the floor, do patient care and I believe you actually make a little more than the other positions. I think if you had experience int he other two fields you's make more but if it's just going to used as a stepping stone, I'd go CNA. It's hard, grungy work though. Maybe that's why you hadn't gone that route.....I drew blood for awhile but as an M.A and it's a no brainer, but you do have those patients who are real hard to get. Health unit coordinators I know, work right on the floor with nurses although at a whole different capacity. I know you are routing phone calls, making phone calls to different departments......I think in the long run you just have to decide which you's be more interested in getting into......have you decided not to do the LPN? That'd be your best way to get your foot in the door!

I think being a CNA would out run it's skill building after a couple of months and I would get bored and want more hands on (sorry if the comment is taken the wrong way). I did narrow it down to those two because they are short and both are being offered in the fall semester. I also got a call for an interview for a registrar position that I am really excited about so I may not have to do either. The position would work out perfectly with school. But if that doesn't work out I am leaning more toward phlebotomy. I have decided to put the Skill Center on hold. I really want to focus on applying for the banner fellowship this fall and finishing up any co-req's I have. If I can get a job at a hospital or get the fellowship I don't have to worry about loans as I would if I went through the LPN program. I figured I have a handful of things I can do while waiting for nursing school so until I get impatient with waiting I should be good. After I turn my application in I still have Bio 202 and 205 to do. Also I would like to take Patho :rolleyes:.

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Anybody?....:icon_roll:wink2:

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Specializes in Cardiac.
I think being a CNA would out run it's skill building after a couple of months and I would get bored and want more hands on (sorry if the comment is taken the wrong way). .

It may run its course, but not in your timeframe. I was a PCT for 10 years and still ldid new stuff, still learned something new about nursing everyday, and quite frankly, it was the best possible experience for me for nursing.

If you had to choose between phlebo and unit clerk, I'd pick phlembotomy. get pt care experience any way you can.

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Out of those two choices, I would say HUC. As a HUC, I have found that it has helped in learning something about charting (a major part of nursing) and it gives you an opportunity to really work with the nurses of your unit. As a phlebotomist, while the patient care is more enhanced, you don't have as much day to day contact with the same nurses. I am, however, looking to work as a PCT after I finish my first semester (6 more weeks!). While your scope of care as a PCT is limited dependent on the facility, you will have a lot of opportunities to observe the nurses doing specialty care. That'll be a boon to your nursing education and many nurses enjoy teaching.

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It may run its course, but not in your timeframe. I was a PCT for 10 years and still ldid new stuff, still learned something new about nursing everyday, and quite frankly, it was the best possible experience for me for nursing.

If you had to choose between phlebo and unit clerk, I'd pick phlembotomy. get pt care experience any way you can.

Thanks!

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CardiacRN2006 and SarasotaRn2b:

Do you have to be a CNA first in order to become a PCT? PCT sounds like an upgraded CNA so to speak and I may be interested in it.

Thanks

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Specializes in Cardiac.

Yep. A pct is a NA + extra skills (I did phlebotomy and unit clerking as part of the PCT role, in addition to a lot of other stuff). Now if you can land a PCT job, you will really have some hands on experience!

Some hospitals train people to be PCTs.

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