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'm a student so my response is based on that. But I'm about to go into my last semester and had only ONE chance to start an IV and unfortunately it popped out, so zero successful starts. In doing clinicals, I've run into more than one nurse who is fairly new or even within a year that admits they don't do many IV's, or "aren't good at them yet." I feel like as a nurse, you need this skill. So while being a CNA is more appropriate to the full skill set of nursing, phlebotomy will help solidify that skill and maybe you will be one of the hero nurses everyone calls because they have a hard IV (hmm... so maybe you don't want that - kidding, somewhat). I wish I had more experience. I considered taking a phlebotomy class but couldn't afford it and also have a child and work. I knew others that did and enjoyed it.
I'm a student so my response is based on that. But I'm about to go into my last semester and had only ONE chance to start an IV and unfortunately it popped out, so zero successful starts. In doing clinicals, I've run into more than one nurse who is fairly new or even within a year that admits they don't do many IV's, or "aren't good at them yet." I feel like as a nurse, you need this skill. So while being a CNA is more appropriate to the full skill set of nursing, phlebotomy will help solidify that skill and maybe you will be one of the hero nurses everyone calls because they have a hard IV (hmm... so maybe you don't want that - kidding, somewhat). I wish I had more experience. I considered taking a phlebotomy class but couldn't afford it and also have a child and work. I knew others that did and enjoyed it.
However, if you work in a hospital as w PCA/PCT, we do labs. I work night shift and have to collect everyone’s 4am labs and I’m a pro at this rate. We aren’t allowed to do IVs, just the nurses are (same for the phlebotomists – they strictly do blood). But I know, at least at my hospital, if you’re in nursing school you get some extra privileges and the nurses will let you practice or at least assist with certain things.
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.
@Danya, I'm so glad to have seen this! I am currently trying to figure out which course is between Phlebotomist and CNA while I am currently in nursing school because I need to pay for school and bills at the same time. I wanted something not hard on the body but in healthcare that would allow me the flexibility and decent pay. Are Phlebotomist jobs flexible ?
Vicki17, BSN
34 Posts
I'm a student so my response is based on that. But I'm about to go into my last semester and had only ONE chance to start an IV and unfortunately it popped out, so zero successful starts. In doing clinicals, I've run into more than one nurse who is fairly new or even within a year that admits they don't do many IV's, or "aren't good at them yet." I feel like as a nurse, you need this skill. So while being a CNA is more appropriate to the full skill set of nursing, phlebotomy will help solidify that skill and maybe you will be one of the hero nurses everyone calls because they have a hard IV (hmm... so maybe you don't want that - kidding, somewhat). I wish I had more experience. I considered taking a phlebotomy class but couldn't afford it and also have a child and work. I knew others that did and enjoyed it.