According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, healthcare careers are expected to grow at a rate of 18% between 2016 and 2026- a much higher growth rate than most other careers. As the Baby Boomers age, the over-65 population is set to double by 2060, and about 75 percent of those older Americans will need medical care due to a chronic condition. If you want to make the most of this booming career field, you might consider a rewarding position of an EKG/phlebotomy technician. EKG/phlebotomy technicians are in high demand, and the training does not take very long to complete. Do you have what it takes to succeed in this kind of job? Read on to learn more about it.
- Five attributes that make you a great candidate for phlebotomy work:
- Good hand-eye coordination is important because you’ll be drawing blood from patients and blood donors. It’s crucial that you be able to focus and draw blood correctly on the first attempt so that you can avoid causing anxiety and pain for the patient.
- Compassion helps people who are afraid of needles to feel at ease. A good phlebotomist speaks gently to patients, reacting to them empathetically and reassuring them that they are in good hands. It’s easier to draw blood safely when the patients are calm.
- Attention to detail is vital for a phlebotomy technician. There are certain procedures that must be followed both during and after a blood draw so that the samples can get to the labs with no confusion or risk of misdiagnosis.
- Willingness to work as part of a team is important for a phlebotomist. Communication skills will help you work effectively with lab technicians, doctors, and other medical professionals, and cooperation will help your team to provide excellent care.
- Patience is definitely a requirement for the job. Some patients have a difficult time composing themselves or may get irritated during the process. The ability to stay calm even when a patient is not easy to get along with will help make you a good phlebotomist.
- Five skills that are necessary to work with EKG equipment:
- Caregiving skills are a must. EKG technicians work with patients who may be having a hard time, so it’s vital to develop patience and empathy, as well as the ability to control your own emotions.
- Attention to detail is important. As with phlebotomy, EKG work requires you to pay attention, so that you can get the right information to the doctors and other medical professionals.
- Communication skills are important in just about every health-related field. As an EKG technician, you’ll need to communicate well with patients, giving instructions, listening and asking follow-up questions to make sure they’re comfortable and understand what’s going on. You’ll also need to communicate clearly with the other medical professionals on your team.
- Recording skills are necessary, as EKG technicians record sensitive health information. A thorough recording of each test is necessary to assure the proper diagnosis and treatment of each patient.
- Technology skills are required when working with medical equipment. The technology you’ll use as an EKG technician is advanced and involves not only the EKG equipment but also advanced computer systems and software.
If you are already a certified nurse aide, you need only take this training at ABC to become certified as a patient care technician. Please call the admissions department for details at 718-364-6700.
Do you have think you have what it takes? If you’re interested in a career as a phlebotomy technician, ABC Training Center can provide the training you need. A healthcare training institute that NYC students trust, ABC Training Center been serving students in the New York City area since 1972. We provide high-quality, nationally certified programs that prepare students for meaningful work in any medical setting. Continue browsing to learn more about our medical training programs in New York, or call us at 718-618-5589.