Phlebotomy while waiting to enter school?

[ZoeK]

Does anyone have any advice on whether phlebotomy is a good job to have while waiting to attend and/or attending nursing school?

I have found phlebotomy classes at Phoenix College and at Pima Medical Institute. Some posts here (from other states) noted that hospitals and blood banks trained phlebotomists for free as they needed the workers. I haven't heard of that here, however.

I am curious about what phlebotomists make around here, if they get any benefits, and if they find their management works with them as they attend school, etc.

Thank you!:monkeydance:

[catmania]

If you do go for phlebotomy, I would suggest going through Phoenix College instead of Pima, just because of the cost involved. Most of the postings I've seen for phlebotomists want you to be already trained - I haven't heard of any hospitals who will train you. (Not that that means there aren't any out there.) When I was looking into it a couple of years ago, it seemed that around 9.50 or so was the starting pay. Banner has oodles of phlebotomy listings and they have pretty good benefits.

Health Unit Coordinator is another good one that gets you in the hospital. Gateway Community College is the only one with an actual HUC course, but you don't necessarily have to have formal education to get into that kind of position.

Hope that helps and good luck!

[Cursed Irishman]

A second to the Phoenix College program. While I have no info about the Pima program, I went through the PC program last spring and found it quite informational and enjoyable. The instructors were great, although the clinical rotation was a little rough. The most blood draws at the hospital i went to was in the morning and they started at 3am. You need a hundred successful blood draws before you complete the program, no real time limit.

I never worked as a phleb, but like you said Banner has loads of openings for Sonora and pay was 11-15. The phleb class gave me a leg up for when I took the na class over the summer, it also exposed me to some of the lab tests that i'm sure will be useful in actual nursing program. Another benefit to being a phleb, not only higher pay, but you also don't have to clean up poop.

[boomerfriend]

You're right! You get to clean up poop when you get to block 1....