Home Health Aide or Phelebotomy

[Blue Robin]

I am a pre-nursing student hoping to get started in the Fall or Spring but instead of sitting around the house and doing nothing. I want to take any healthcare courses during the summer, I am torn between doing the Home Health Aide Program, Phelebotomy and EMT program.

Here is the scoop

• Home Health Aide --Of course work as caregiver in someone's home. On the job training, it is free and about 3 weeks of training. The only downside is low pay, and fill time positions is what they need. As a nursing school student, don't think it will mesh together.
  
• Phelebotomy- cheap priced program at a good community college, training is about a couple months but generally Phelebotomist get slightly better pay and can work in the hospitals.
  
• EMT--affordable program, full time classes are filled, it is only part time evening classes. It runs throughout the summer.
  

Which one do you think I should do during the summer.

[EmmReeCPT]

I did EMT during most of my prereqs and am now a working phlebotomist while going through nursing school.

Here's the scoop.

Home health aid sucks in my opinion. I know some people live and die by thinking everyone should be some sort of CNA at some point prior to nursing, but I personally wouldn't want my entire job to be cleaning a persons bodily functions. I understand that's a part of nursing, but I didn't decide on nursing so I could clean poop for a full 12 hour shift. I have utmost respect for those people but I just personally couldn't do that as my main job function. Also, most CNAs I've met during my prereqs have absolutely hated their job.

I wholeheartedly think EMT was extremely beneficial. You have loads of time on your hands (depending on your company) for studying and relaxing outside of class because you don't always have a patient. Most companies have such a large work force that you can swap or give away shifts somewhat easily when necessary. There are options as far as 10-12-24 hour shifts which is helpful for school as well. Most jobs don't offer that kind of flexibility and I really enjoyed that. Plus, as you're learning physiology, it's really cool to be able to think through why your sickle cell patient is exhibiting X or why your dialysis pt has chest pain but low BP. I was able to attribute certain meds to certain medical history as well as what meds are given for what medical emergency which has helped a bit for my pharmacology class. It's just kind of cool to have the prehospital experience since you want to be in "phase 2" aka hospital. Most companies have CCT(critical care transport) programs where you work directly with a nurse. Most nurses are willing to impart knowledge and help you out if they know you want to be a nurse. Also, if you're very lucky(very, very, very lucky) you can work as an ER tech alongside nurses and get some good experience that way.

I'm currently a phlebotomist. I chose it simply for the higher pay and possibility of increasing my chances of becoming an ER tech. I work as just a phlebotomist and I honestly think it's pretty dull after having worked for a very busy, very prominent 911 company in LA county. I now have no variety and I'm drawing the same patients a couple times a day for their entire hospital stay. I'm still looking for a tech job because I want to get back into patient care and learning skills rather than just drawing blood all day. Given, I can find a vein like a mother** compared to some nurses but that would've been learned pretty quick in nursing school anyway.

Also, CNAs make minimum wage, EMTs make slightly more than minimum wage and phlebotomists make the most. Obviously depending on where you live as well. Check out the job market in your area as well, that should be a factor.

See if you can find accelerated classes. My phlebotomy class was only 4 weeks. I can't imagine what they'd be teaching over the course of a few months. Same with EMT. Mine was 3 weeks but that is NOT the norm. Generally, the 6-8 week programs are sufficient and get the job done. Entire semester programs just seem superfluous.

TLDR; EMTs get the good experience, CNA...I wouldn't. Phlebotomists make the moolah. Take an accelerated class, if you're cut out for nursing, it should be a fair challenge.