Fresh out of phlebotomy school, your next goal would be to join a hospital, private practice or lab with a name that would add weight to your resume. However, while you may have excelled at school and gotten great grades there, no one is likely to hire you without any working experience. Like in any other field, finding phlebotomy jobs with no experience is not an easy task. Now this doesn’t mean that you should worry about the end of your career before it even started. There is a silver lining in this dark cloud: there are other ways of getting the experience you need to get your first job.The following two are the best and most convenient for phlebotomy students starting their career.
Probably the easiest way to gain some real life experience is by volunteer in a medical facility. This way you will learn first hand what it’s like to work as a phlebotomist.
Phlebotomy Volunteer Programs
Aside from enrolling in a training course, you can always volunteer for free. Many public health agencies are understaffed these days and may need a phlebotomist but can’t afford one. By offering your services to these, you can easily gain enough experience to work at your dream workplace. If you’re interested in volunteering, you can try applying at these two.
- Red Cross – The Red Cross offers the Blood Drive Volunteers program, allowing you to become part of blood drives and conduct different tests. The non-profit organization also provides a Hospital Volunteer program where you can work at Veterans Administration and military hospitals for free.
- VA Medical Centers – VA medical centers and hospitals are open to volunteering phlebotomists. To apply for this program or get more details, head to the US Department of Veterans Affairs followed by Health Care and VA Voluntary Service. Fill the second form to volunteer at a facility and you’ll get a response in two or more business days. However, you can always head to your nearest VA medical center’s VA Voluntary Service Office to volunteer in person and save your time.
Malpractice insurance when you volunteer – are you covered?
If you choose to volunteer your services, one thing you must do before you start is to protect yourself against malpractice suits. In addition to being clear while communicating with patients and following protocols, you need to purchase your own liability insurance. The least you need is general liability insurance as it will cover bodily injury, personal injury, and property damage. You can ask your insurance provider whether they offer this type of insurance, which can cost you an average of $40 depending on its clauses.
So don’t worry about not having working experience. Take your life in your own hands and get some before you move on to better institutions and a highly paying job.
Phlebotomy Training Programs
Some educational centers offer training programs where phlebotomists can gain hands-on experience in their field. For instance, Pima Medical Institute (PMI) offers a three-month phlebotomy technician certification program. Through it, you can learn how to obtain blood samples via venipuncture and micro-collection techniques.
You will also learn how to collect and process other types of clinical samples, making you a catch for all hospitals, private practices, and independent labs. The course entails 70 hours of lab work, which are supervised by professionals and documented in the certificate you get by the end of the course.
What to read next:
- Find out what exactly you are going to do as a phlebotomist: Phlebotomist Job Description. What does a phlebotomist do
- Increase your chances to find a good job by protecting your online presence
- Need phlebotomy certification? Find a phlebotomy certification institution in our list
- Read our In-Depth Phlebotomy Jobs article
