thinking of doing a phelbotomy course and wanted opinions

amoLucia · Mar 10, 2021

Phlebotomy school teaches skills to become a phlebotomist in some kind of agency that draws blood specimens - a lot of specimens. It is a skill quite a bit different than starting IVs.

Personally, I don't see it helpful for a nsg career. Yeah, it might LOOK impressive on a resume, but you'll most likely NEVER, EVER need to draw blood. Esp not as an LPN/LVN.

Now if you were interested in some kind of PHLEBOTOMIST position like in a hosp lab, or some blood bank, or commercial LabCorp/Quest lab, even home phlebotomy, then you'd get your money's worth recouped.

JMHO, but I don't think it's worth it. I could be wrong, but I don't recall ever reading/hearing from anybody who did that course where it benefitted them.

LoutusCNA.VT1983 · Mar 12, 2021

hmm you make a valid point I think I was considering it for right now cause it would open up new doors to other jobs.

don't know I still considering taking it. But eh that is just me being an odd ball. LOL

akulahawkRN, ADN, RN, EMT-P · Mar 12, 2021

Phlebotomy certification won't likely help you all that much outside the phlebotomy field. However, there is exactly one area that doing phlebotomy will help you with and that's learning how to find veins by feel because there are a LOT of people that have reasonably decent veins but you can't see them all that well, but they're palpable. The technique of accessing veins for blood draw and the technique of placing a peripheral IV are actually different. I've experienced first-hand. With a blood draw, all you really need to do is get the bevel into the vein. With an IV start, you have to get the bevel and the end of the catheter into the vein before you can thread the catheter into the vein. Just 2mm can make the difference between simply drawing blood and being able to place an IV.

Where I work, I have the luxury of having phlebotomists available so I don't usually have to do my own blood draws. On the other hand, I also have the ability to do ultrasound guided IVs which is a cross between doing peripheral IVs and a video game...

Anyway, the point is, if you're planning to do phlebotomy work, get the phlebotomy cert. Peripheral IV training will teach you much of the same mechanics but geared toward IV placement and the only benefit of phleb training is learning to feel veins if you're eventually going to start placing lines.

LoutusCNA.VT1983 · Mar 12, 2021

that also makes a very good point, I also think that by the time I am ready to take the course....I might be able to get finical assitance with being able to take the thing through some different programs in town...so might literally come at no cost to me.

Hell even right now I got word that I might be able to get my CNA cert covered by a program...and I figure learn as much as I possibly can.

it can't do any harm

amoLucia · Mar 12, 2021

akulahawk - very good point. Also it would facilitate one getting past that queasy, awkward feeling that occurs when one, particularly a newbie, has to do a stick.

In most of my positions, I didn't have an IV team. So after a short time, I became quite proficient. After so many sticks, I just do my pokes - no hesitation. :))

LoutusCNA.VT1983 · Mar 12, 2021

LOL this is true I am perfectly fine with hoyer lifts and doing physical transfers but I only owe that too working in home health care.

and it horrified me before hand...LOL well it still does...but I have anxiety issues now...I can at least psych myself up with telling myself.

I know I can do this, this cause you've done it before! helps so much more.