Does working as a phlebotomist count as clinical?

[JAaronP]

---

Members do not see this ad.

I am currently not a matriculated student, and I won't be until September, so the advisors aren't being very helpful.

I am a slightly non-traditional student, starting my undergrad at 24. My questions is about clinical hours. A friend of mine, who recently graduated from the school I will be attending, has told me he can set me up with a job at the local plasma center. I was told by a friend that working there would count for my clinical hours. Is this true?

 

[Ismet]

The age-old LizzyM adage: If you can smell patients, it's clinical experience.

You'll be working with patients, so yes it is clinical exposure. Just be sure to shadow some doctors or volunteer where you can interact with patients as well as the healthcare team so that you get an understanding of the profession you are aiming for.

 

[quiltlady]

Once you get experience at the plasma center, try to get a hospital position, where you will see a diversity of patients.

 

[Catalystik]

I am currently not a matriculated student, and I won't be until September, so the advisors aren't being very helpful.

I am a slightly non-traditional student, starting my undergrad at 24. My questions is about clinical hours. A friend of mine, who recently graduated from the school I will be attending, has told me he can set me up with a job at the local plasma center. I was told by a friend that working there would count for my clinical hours. Is this true?

It depends on the job you get. Working with medical records does not provide active clinical experience. Interacting with clients who are donating, like assisting them with filling out a history form or with the technical end of the donation, eg phlebotomy, would fit the expectation. However, "sick people" are likely to be scarce in this environment, so you'd probably want to broaden your experience with some active patient interaction elsewhere, whether by employment or volunteering.

 

[JAaronP]

Thank you. That's great to hear. I've already started shadowing at the local hospital, in the ER and the Clinic. I'm holding hope to get into a behavior center, however, as my plan is psychiatry.

 

[Geebeejay]

I am currently not a matriculated student, and I won't be until September, so the advisors aren't being very helpful.

I am a slightly non-traditional student, starting my undergrad at 24. My questions is about clinical hours. A friend of mine, who recently graduated from the school I will be attending, has told me he can set me up with a job at the local plasma center. I was told by a friend that working there would count for my clinical hours. Is this true?

Well if the job is that of a phlebomomist, then yes. If you're drawing blood samples from patients, how could it not be considered "clinical experience?"

 

[civic4982]

I think it is! You're working with patients, being confidential about the things you learn/hear/see, performing procedures or working with material that is very hard to come by and often is key in assessment of patients.

Lots and LOTS of folks I've known in medical training have worked in all different and interesting parts of medicine to get the experience they need to learn more about the long road ahead of the profession they're looking to be apart of.

Good luck!