Whether a hospital is in the middle of a significant world health event or working with typical patient volumes, the phlebotomists are one of the many sets of personnel that keep them running smoothly. Phlebotomists take and process blood, which is one of the critical sources of information that helps doctors and their teams to do their work. Too little bloodwork severely restricts diagnoses and treatment. When there aren't enough phlebotomists, these delays in bloodwork can impact the entire hospital, making it harder to treat patients in the ways they need most.

Here are just a few ways in which phlebotomists are part of the life's blood of hospitals.

Nursing is an excellent example of a field where a general, far-reaching curriculum creates the foundation for the career. However, many nurses choose a role where they rely on a subset of their skills most of the time. Perhaps they are working with patients frequently who need specific procedures done but don't require blood draws or IVs as often.  After all, some healthcare settings have dedicated phlebotomists specializing in blood draws and other similar skills.

However, as a nurse, you may eventually want to move up or move on to a different setting, and knowing what will make you most attractive as a candidate for advancement or a new, in-demand role can be difficult. Nurses can distinguish themselves with phlebotomist certification, such as Portland Community College's phlebotomy technician program.

You may imagine a 'career in healthcare' beginning with a decade of schooling and interning with a hospital, plus years in residency. However, there are many different roles within a hospital or clinical setting. It turns out that even for long-term, well-paid work, you can often receive training and certification within a year or two, and phlebotomy is a great example.

Oregon and Washington have recently dealt with shortages of phlebotomists who provide necessary services in almost any clinical setting you can imagine. Studying to become a phlebotomy technician at Portland Community College is a great way to start an entry career in phlebotomy. From there, you can grow your skills and experience and enter your ideal work setting.

Entry-level healthcare careers help open the doors of opportunity while preparing individuals for the industry. These support roles are instrumental in ensuring clinicians can provide the best care for patients. Our technician programs in pharmacy, phlebotomy and sterile can provide aspiring healthcare professionals with a strong foundation for the future. Here is an overview of each program:

Fall registration is now open! Visit our website or peruse this blog to learn what's coming up this Fall, and what you may expect in upcoming terms.

The PCC Institute for Health Professionals offers several orientations in the next month to help you determine the program that may be best for you and your interests. Two examples include entry-level certificate programs help you acquire valuable training for jobs that come with good hourly rates - and many of these potential jobs offer great healthcare and savings benefits, too. Don't hesitate to contact us for more information. 

Not all healthcare jobs require years of expensive training. As a phlebotomist (or phlebotomy technician), you can gain an entry-level position in the medical field. You can start a fast-paced, detail-oriented career in phlebotomy where you spend time caring for patients, helping them receive the right care for their needs. These jobs, like other healthcare positions, offer strong job security, good benefits and good pay. Learn more about opportunities offered from the PCC Institute for Health Professionals. 

Frank Brislawn enrolled in PCC during the Fall of 2015 for Phlebotomy. He writes about the role PCC played in his recent career success.