Phlebotomist before nursing school?

AlwaysLearning247, BSN · Dec 28, 2015

In my opinion I would go straight for nursing, unless you really need the money. I have friends that are phlebotomists and one only makes $12/hr (in MA). When I was a nursing assistant in a hospital while in nursing school I made $15/hour. Good luck!

direw0lf, BSN · Dec 28, 2015

Unemployment may pay for some phlebotomy teaching institutions fyi.

Bumex, DNP, NP · Dec 29, 2015

I actually was a phlebotomist prior to being a RN and loved the experience. I had to do it to support myself during the first few years of undergrad and it really helped me learn a lot about the laboratory aspect to healthcare- which is very valuable knowledge. Plus, I've been an ace with IVs since med surg 1 in nursing school!

KThurmond · Dec 29, 2015

Doing phlebotomy will give you confidence with starting IVs and drawing your own labs.

Grumble88 · Dec 29, 2015

I was a phlebotomist/lab assistant for two years prior to nursing school. It's great experience, but I recommend you hunt around for a place that will train you for free, you won't get a piece of paper saying your certified most likely, but who cares? $1,800 and 12 weeks for something that can be learned on the job is a huge expense and that certification won't matter once you're an RN.

Bumex, DNP, NP · Dec 29, 2015

I agree with Grumble88, hunt for one that will train you. I got trained on the job and never had to pay anything! I doubt getting the actual certificate will make any difference to a future RN interview, they will just care about the experience.

graceRN680 · Aug 11, 2016

I was a phlebotomist/lab assistant for two years prior to nursing school. It's great experience, but I recommend you hunt around for a place that will train you for free, you won't get a piece of paper saying your certified most likely, but who cares? $1,800 and 12 weeks for something that can be learned on the job is a huge expense and that certification won't matter once you're an RN.

Hi Grumble88!, if you don't mind me asking, how did you obtain a position as a phlebotomist without being certified? I'm currently on the hunt for experience in the medical setting in order to gain experience before applying to nursing school and I don't have the time or money to spend on becoming certified!

A situation like yours is a dream to me right now! Would love to hear back from you :)

NICUismylife, ADN, BSN, RN · Aug 11, 2016

Also depends on your area. There is no market for phlebotomists in my area (even corrections isn't hiring!!), so it would be money and time wasted. If you are in an under-served area though, then it might be a good option as long as they will work around your school hours.

KThurmond · Aug 11, 2016

I can't get a job and I'm ASCP certified. Everybody wants experience but I can't get any without a job. And the employeers who don't require experience go with "more qualified candidates".

MEH2016 · Aug 11, 2016

How is the job market to be a phlebotomist? When I was a phlebotomist, for about a year I had to work for a Phlebotomy temp agency to get experiences before finding a full-time job at a hospital.

With that said ... would it be worth becoming one?

Good luck with Nursing school!

Grumble88 · Aug 12, 2016

Hi Sublee, I was looking for work and just happened upon the position. Technically I was a "lab assistant." My work trained me, but I never actually received a certification. There are hospitals that will train and certify you, call around to local hospitals, especially places that have their own in-house lab. The place I worked at was a rehab hospital.