Help!

I think your plan sounds good. Being a phlebotomist will give you some experience and help you with communicating with your patients and staff members.

Yes! Do it...some nurses don't do their own labs...so u MAY never learn...I would do it! Something healthcare related to add to your resume. Plus like prev post said you'll learn communication w md and rn.

Idk..but I've seen weekend day long courses for phlebotomy cert...in tx anyway

I'm currently doing my phlebotomy externship at the hospital this semester. It's GREAT experience! Our program is a full semester on campus and a half semester externship at the hospital. I'll be done on March 14th. Because it's an accredited program, we can apply for national certification once our externship is complete. What are the draw requirements for your program? We have to do a minimum of 120 venipuncture draws (vaccutainer, syringe or butterfly syringe) & 10 capillary draws (usually infant/child).

The hospital usually hires the externs if we do a good job. It's kind of like an 8 week interview! I'm making some great contacts in the hospital while I'm here. Once you get your foot in the door, it's easier to get hired if a position opens up. So, if I'm working as a Phlebotomy tech and I finish nursing school, I have a better chance of getting hired from within when a nursing position opens up. Plus, since I want to be a P.A. after getting my BSN, the phlebotomy counts for HCE hours, so it's a win-win all around.

It seems like every state has it's own requirements, so yours may be different. I think what you're doing is great! Just think of how much easier it's going to be when you learn to do IVs in nursing school. You'll already be a pro at finding veins & venipuncture

Do it!!! I am doing my externship right now and am starting nursing school in the fall. Going into the program already knowing skills of phlebotomy will be great :-)

I think that's a pretty good idea.