Phlebotomy Certificate during Nursing School worth it?

blueskiesandsunshine.prn · May 18, 2020

I personally would focus more on getting a PCT/CNA certification, if you want healthcare experience while in school. Many facilities may cross-train PCT/CNAs to do venipuncture and you certainly will learn the skill in school as well.

Nawkole, CNA · May 19, 2020

I think that taking phlebotomy/and or CNA/PCT would be helpful. I work as a nursing assistant in a hospital and agree that the added experience will help to complements your learning process. I am also a PCT, which does include phlebotomy but do not use the skills in my present position. I was thinking about taking a refresher course and working per diem as a phlebotomist so that I would perfect my craft at drawing blood. I'm currently working on prerequisites towards Nursing and would not want to struggle with this later on in clinicals.

caliotter3 · May 19, 2020

Thoroughly investigate the phlebotomy program and what it provides you in terms of qualifications for employment. In my state, a phlebotomist certified by the state is subject to a three or four tier process of education and work experience for the "real deal", so to speak. Say, a given hospital system, may look for only those who hold the state certification. On the other hand, back when, I took a one semester course at a community college for the basics. Our instructor, on day one, made sure that we knew that this course would not make us state qualified phlebotomists. She showed us the state qualifications and how to find them on the state website. All in all, the course at minimum, will be good to introduce you to the basic skills, which will help, either in school or on the job. That is why I took the course. Employability is very narrow as far as openings are concerned. Don't depend on being able to get a job at all, or very quickly. Your better bet is to take the CNA or PCT course. If possible, during the course of your education, do both. Both will enhance your nursing background. HTH

Nawkole, CNA · May 20, 2020

I live in NYC. Some of our PCT’s that work in hospitals perform blood draws. I understand that this isn’t the case in some cities. The information that you’ve shared is very helpful.

danya · May 20, 2020

6 years of phlebotomy here, it's how I got interested in nursing. I found that I was getting paid 50-75% more than CNAs as a phlebotomist generally throughout my career. If the same holds true for your area, the higher paying job will serve you better while you work through school. School and state license cost around $1600, and I was making almost $50k annually in my last year in the lab.

Nawkole, CNA · May 21, 2020

23 hours ago, danya said:
6 years of phlebotomy here, it's how I got interested in nursing. I found that I was getting paid 50-75% more than CNAs as a phlebotomist generally throughout my career. If the same holds true for your area, the higher paying job will serve you better while you work through school. School and state license cost around $1600, and I was making almost $50k annually in my last year in the lab.

If you don’t mind me asking...what state do you live in?

danya · May 21, 2020

8 hours ago, Nawkole said:
If you don’t mind me asking...what state do you live in?

Licensed in CA, last job in OR at Kaiser. First job was at $12/hr in nonprofit, to be fair (I believe CNAs were making $8-$10 at the time). Moving on to RN now because Kaiser has the highest pay in the business and I'm too young to be maxed out on lifetime earnings.

ETA: re: licensing, I started with my state's list of accredited schools and then started calling the ones in my area for price and schedule, so that I'd get the best deal when they all result in the same license.

Nawkole, CNA · May 25, 2020

CNA’s make a bit more in NYC. I have to find out what the pay rate is for phlebotomists and if whether they are unionized.

danya · May 27, 2020

On 5/24/2020 at 10:43 PM, Nawkole said:
CNA’s make a bit more in NYC. I have to find out what the pay rate is for phlebotomists and if whether they are unionized.

I've been in SEIU as a phlebotomist no matter the state or clinic so far, fyi. That pay rate was pre-Fight for 15.

Nawkole, CNA · May 27, 2020

We get much more in the hospital. $23 with night-time diff.

Lizardqueen13 · Jun 1, 2020

On 5/17/2020 at 4:00 PM, marii1017 said:
Hi,
I am currently applying for a BSN program that would start in the fall. There is also a Phlebotomy program that would be during the Summer, and I wanted to know if it was even worth doing it? I do want to get more clinical experience (which I don't have at all) and want to get more comfortable at it. Also, I was thinking of working as a Phlebotomist while finishing the BSN. I also have a 1-year-old, so my life gets busy and he obviously needs me a lot!
I appreciate all your thoughts!
Thanks ?

I agree with the above comment. I’m a PCA and they trained me to do phlebotomy on the job (along with EKGs and other fun stuff). Being a PCA/PCT seems much more exciting to me than a phlebotomist, and it’s the best job someone interested in nursing could have prior to becoming one.