Phlebotomy is the art of drawing blood for the purpose of laboratory testing and analysis.
A person that practices phlebotomy is also known as a phlebotomist.
Starting a career as a phlebotomist is the perfect choice for someone who wants to get into the healthcare field.
Further responsibilities of a phlebotomy technician besides drawing blood include storing, tracking, and disposing of blood specimens.
While not a requirement in some states, it is recommended to become certified.
Becoming certified involves passing the phlebotomy certification exam from an accredited program.
This will adequately prepare you with the skills necessary to pursue a career in phlebotomy, and also give you the upper hand when searching for a job at a medical facility.
The exam is straight forward and the questions are based on both general knowledge and practice.
It covers areas ranging from basic anatomy, interaction with patients, standard blood collection precautions, and various blood collection methods and techniques.
Here are some helpful tips to make sure you succeed at passing the exam and earn your phlebotomy technician certification.
1.
Prepare and organize your notes.
Keep them in the proper order so they are easy to reference.
Write down main points and train your mind to remember what they relate to.
2.
Check with your instructor about which material you should focus and concentrate on the most.
3.
If you have the extra income, invest in an additional study guide or book.
Try the library if your funds are low.
Use this book to focus on the technical and theoretical aspects of phlebotomy.
4.
Run through a mock drawing, or volunteer at a clinic to practice the actual skills of drawing blood.
Blood drives are a great place to go as they are usually looking for volunteers to help out.
5.
Use other websites such as YouTube to monitor other people performing venipunctures.
This will help with visualizing the procedure and help your mind recall the proper steps for effectively.
6.
Search online for a good practice exam.
Take a mock exam and see how you do.
Focus on the areas you are not strong in.
Prepare an area in your home that is quiet and similar to the area where you will be taking the exam.
Keep track of how much time you take on each part so you can better manage your time when taking the actual exam.
7.
If you feel like you are getting stuck, do the easier questions first to build your confidence back.
8.
Read the instructions of each section thoroughly to make sure you completely understand the questions.
9.
Prevent yourself from feeling rushed.
Manage your time effectively.
10.
When you are finished, take a deep breath and exhale.
Know you did your best and prepared adequately.
Utilize this advice to become better prepared for the phlebotomy certification exam.
Keep in mind this is not an exhaustive list of tips.
You know yourself better than anyone, so use this list as a guide to play to your strengths and weaknesses.
Spend more time on the elements you know you need to work on, and skip over certain sections that you are certain you have down.
One more tip, although this might be a given: get plenty of sleep the night before your exam, and eat a balanced meal the day before and the day of.
This extra rest and energy will help your brain stay focused and on track.
If you do not pass the exam after three tries, you must go back and complete the training program again.
It is critical to take the exam seriously so you can pass the first time, get your phlebotomy certification, and move on with your new career as a certified phlebotomy technician.
A person that practices phlebotomy is also known as a phlebotomist.
Starting a career as a phlebotomist is the perfect choice for someone who wants to get into the healthcare field.
Further responsibilities of a phlebotomy technician besides drawing blood include storing, tracking, and disposing of blood specimens.
While not a requirement in some states, it is recommended to become certified.
Becoming certified involves passing the phlebotomy certification exam from an accredited program.
This will adequately prepare you with the skills necessary to pursue a career in phlebotomy, and also give you the upper hand when searching for a job at a medical facility.
The exam is straight forward and the questions are based on both general knowledge and practice.
It covers areas ranging from basic anatomy, interaction with patients, standard blood collection precautions, and various blood collection methods and techniques.
Here are some helpful tips to make sure you succeed at passing the exam and earn your phlebotomy technician certification.
1.
Prepare and organize your notes.
Keep them in the proper order so they are easy to reference.
Write down main points and train your mind to remember what they relate to.
2.
Check with your instructor about which material you should focus and concentrate on the most.
3.
If you have the extra income, invest in an additional study guide or book.
Try the library if your funds are low.
Use this book to focus on the technical and theoretical aspects of phlebotomy.
4.
Run through a mock drawing, or volunteer at a clinic to practice the actual skills of drawing blood.
Blood drives are a great place to go as they are usually looking for volunteers to help out.
5.
Use other websites such as YouTube to monitor other people performing venipunctures.
This will help with visualizing the procedure and help your mind recall the proper steps for effectively.
6.
Search online for a good practice exam.
Take a mock exam and see how you do.
Focus on the areas you are not strong in.
Prepare an area in your home that is quiet and similar to the area where you will be taking the exam.
Keep track of how much time you take on each part so you can better manage your time when taking the actual exam.
7.
If you feel like you are getting stuck, do the easier questions first to build your confidence back.
8.
Read the instructions of each section thoroughly to make sure you completely understand the questions.
9.
Prevent yourself from feeling rushed.
Manage your time effectively.
10.
When you are finished, take a deep breath and exhale.
Know you did your best and prepared adequately.
Utilize this advice to become better prepared for the phlebotomy certification exam.
Keep in mind this is not an exhaustive list of tips.
You know yourself better than anyone, so use this list as a guide to play to your strengths and weaknesses.
Spend more time on the elements you know you need to work on, and skip over certain sections that you are certain you have down.
One more tip, although this might be a given: get plenty of sleep the night before your exam, and eat a balanced meal the day before and the day of.
This extra rest and energy will help your brain stay focused and on track.
If you do not pass the exam after three tries, you must go back and complete the training program again.
It is critical to take the exam seriously so you can pass the first time, get your phlebotomy certification, and move on with your new career as a certified phlebotomy technician.