EMT or Phlebotomist

[JohnIV]

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Just looking for some solid advice from the community about which job I should pursue during my gap year. I'm stuck between phlebotomy and becoming an EMT. Which job would be viewed more favorable when applying to medical school? Thanks!

 

[AM508]

I was an EMT for 3 years and then a Paramedic for 7 years, call me biased but I would say EMT would be a better choice. As an EMT, you get to practice doing patient assessments and get to see a fairly wide range of pathology depending on the system you work in. As a phlebotomist, you do the same thing over and over. If you want to learn vascular access you could consider doing EMT-I or paramedic as then you would learn how to start AND use IV access. Overall, I think EMS has a lot more going for it, especially if you work in a robust EMS system, but as I said, I am biased towards it.

 

[medickdb]

I was an EMT for 3 years and then a Paramedic for 7 years, call me biased but I would say EMT would be a better choice. As an EMT, you get to practice doing patient assessments and get to see a fairly wide range of pathology depending on the system you work in. As a phlebotomist, you do the same thing over and over. If you want to learn vascular access you could consider doing EMT-I or paramedic as then you would learn how to start AND use IV access. Overall, I think EMS has a lot more going for it, especially if you work in a robust EMS system, but as I said, I am biased towards it.

+1

Just looking for some solid advice from the community about which job I should pursue during my gap year. I'm stuck between phlebotomy and becoming an EMT. Which job would be viewed more favorable when applying to medical school? Thanks!

Working as an EMT will help you in the long run as well, beyond simply what one thinks is viewed more favorably by adcoms.

Honestly, I'm sure premeds with an EMT or phelbotomy cert are a dime a dozen. I know EMTs are because I've also been in the business both as an EMS provider (paramedic) and educator for almost the same amount of time as the second poster. Therefore, which one looks more favorably in the end? Doesn't matter. The committees usually just like to see exposure to healthcare. It probably won't make you stand out any more or less picking one over the other.

 

[Deranged Medic]

I was an EMT for 3 years and then a Paramedic for 7 years, call me biased but I would say EMT would be a better choice. As an EMT, you get to practice doing patient assessments and get to see a fairly wide range of pathology depending on the system you work in. As a phlebotomist, you do the same thing over and over. If you want to learn vascular access you could consider doing EMT-I or paramedic as then you would learn how to start AND use IV access. Overall, I think EMS has a lot more going for it, especially if you work in a robust EMS system, but as I said, I am biased towards it.

I completely agree. It has been my time in EMS that has made me want to pursue medicine. However, there is plenty of advice on this website saying becoming an EMT to get into medical school is not a good idea. If you want to do it because you think it sounds awesome (which it is), then by all means go for it. If you want to do it just to get into medical school, your time could be better spent elsewhere.

 

[LChristmas]

Which has a higher cost of training, training length, and rate of pay? These are important things to think about too.

 

[DocWinter]

Neither will be more beneficial than the other as far as your attractiveness of application is concerned. I am an EMT (still certified) and was a volunteer firefighter. I also was a phlebotomist(medical assistant) for 2 years. Both if them were helpful, but they are also very common in the pre med ring. Do what you like, what you want, and speak passionately about it at your interviews. I preferred ems, but that's just me. Do what you want

 

[pericardium]

As an EMT for the past 2.5 years, I agree with just about everything posted above.

 

[keels99]

Out of the two jobs, I think an EMT is a better choice since you will be exposed to a variety of medical conditions and in turn learn more. However, if you have a scribe job available in your area that might be something you would like as well as it doesn't require training. Just a suggestion 🙂

 

[AlbinoHawk DO]

Do whatever is shortest and easier because the truth is neither will be seen superior as the other and medical school will fully train you to be the best physician you can be.

 

[RoadNurse33]

Are you taking a gap year because you need to improve your academic record or MCAT? If so, then I would say neither. Find a 9-5 job that won't distract you from studying, and volunteer for a couple of hours per week in a medical setting. Trying to study after a busy 24 hour shift, or four straight 12 hour shifts, would add unnecessary strain.

If you need to boost your clinical experiences, either will work. Like others above, fire and EMS has been my career; I have a total of 14 years combined volunteer/paid experience that ranges from rural and suburban 911, to ground and rotor-wing critical care. Maybe I was slow to the party, but I didn't get the big picture, nor appreciate varying pathology, during my first year as an EMT. Even now, I'm really just more cognizant of how little I actually know. Except the NVGs...I know those are awesome.

 

[CUNYguy]

As every premed in the entire continent will tell you, they are an EMT (half of the doctors I work for became an EMT before going to MD/DO school).

I've been doing it for a year now and I believe that @LChristmas has a point. As far as I know, solely phlebotomy is about $400-650, whereas an EMT cert is about $1000-1250 (all costs included for both).

Phlebotomy is very vanilla, poke, collect, seal, send to blood bank. EMT is a rollercoaster, sometimes, you have call outs, other times, you're getting ready, or just sitting around.

What interests you the most is what's important because you need to explain your reasoning of why you went that route and if it influenced your decision in going to med school. I'd say one year experience in either field would suffice

 

[Deranged Medic]

Trying to study after a busy 24 hour shift, or four straight 12 hour shifts, would add unnecessary strain.

I got through college studying during my 12, 24, and 36 hour shifts. I do agree trying to study after work would be rough.

 

[Prncssbuttercup]

Welllll... Both will be helpful. Being skilled at phlebotomy will help you start IVs and draw blood when you're looked at to do it, unfortunately, you will be out of practice by the time you need to use it! As others have said being an EMT will be helpful as well.

Honestly, look in your area and see what jobs are available for either position and go from there. They will both add to your application.

 

[Spirit of the Student Doc]

No one respects the phlebs they take a ton of ridicule and have minimal respect. Though they see more of the hospital, except in the cases where the nurses draw the floors. The phlebs don't have as much down time as the nurses either.

Understand how the hospital works = Phleb
Better experience, save your back = EMT

Pay, requirements = Not all that for either.

----- Depending on where you're at one job may actually turn out to be a nightmare.

The answer depends on what your goals are for your gap year.

 

[cBlock420]

No one respects the phlebs they take a ton of ridicule and have minimal respect. Though they see more of the hospital, except in the cases where the nurses draw the floors. The phlebs don't have as much down time as the nurses either.

Understand how the hospital works = Phleb
Better experience, save your back = EMT

Pay, requirements = Not all that for either.

----- Depending on where you're at one job may actually turn out to be a nightmare.

The answer depends on what your goals are for your gap year.

+1.

I worked as a phlebotomist for 10 months during the app cycle. It's a good opportunity to interact with patients and as spirit said, learn how the hospital works.

But yeah, no respect whatsoever. There was a large majority of nurses at my hospital that were sub-par, and there were 2 different occasions where I caught their mistakes before something bad happened. In one instance, the hospitalist thanked me and apologized for the nurses attitudes. Aside from that 1 time, I got pretty hardcore attitude from everyone but CNAs and maintenance staff.

I did use my experiences interacting with patients to my advantage during secondaries and interviews.

Still - EMT > Phlebotomist.

 

[Spirit of the Student Doc]

+1.

I worked as a phlebotomist for 10 months during the app cycle. It's a good opportunity to interact with patients and as spirit said, learn how the hospital works.

But yeah, no respect whatsoever. There was a large majority of nurses at my hospital that were sub-par, and there were 2 different occasions where I caught their mistakes before something bad happened. In one instance, the hospitalist thanked me and apologized for the nurses attitudes. Aside from that 1 time, I got pretty hardcore attitude from everyone but CNAs and maintenance staff.

I did use my experiences interacting with patients to my advantage during secondaries and interviews.

Still - EMT > Phlebotomist.

As a tech I always make a point of being as kind as possible to the phlebs. In fact today I'll be bringing in food for 'em. It's best to keep your co-workers happy. I would hope the techs you worked with weren't complete aszholes to you (but plenty are). Anyhow, thanks for a job well done...

 

[cBlock420]

As a tech I always make a point of being as kind as possible to the phlebs. In fact today I'll be bringing in food for 'em. It's best to keep your co-workers happy. I would hope the techs you worked with weren't complete aszholes to you (but plenty are). Anyhow, thanks for a job well done...

Techs from the ER were usually pretty cool. Most on the floor were so/so.

Being a phleb isn't that bad of a job if you're willing to put up with attitude. Getting sticks is fun, especially when it's a hard one or when a patient codes and you have to perform under pressure. It was always gratifying to see people making 10x more than me an hour who had more trouble working under pressure.

In a way you're helping provide an important service involved in patient care, it's just nowhere near the level of an EMT.

 

[Spirit of the Student Doc]

Techs from the ER were usually pretty cool. Most on the floor were so/so.

Being a phleb isn't that bad of a job if you're willing to put up with attitude. Getting sticks is fun, especially when it's a hard one or when a patient codes and you have to perform under pressure. It was always gratifying to see people making 10x more than me an hour who had more trouble working under pressure.

In a way you're helping provide an important service involved in patient care, it's just nowhere near the level of an EMT.

Ahem..... I meant lab tech. Yeah, my day goes so much better when I have a good phleb working with me. Otherwise, I have to draw and run the labs. Especially in a trauma (or code)... and doing ABGs and venous blood blows. When you guys do your jobs everyone wins.

 

[midweststudent1]

Just looking for some solid advice from the community about which job I should pursue during my gap year. I'm stuck between phlebotomy and becoming an EMT. Which job would be viewed more favorable when applying to medical school? Thanks!

Whichever can make you the most money with the most flexibility for interviews

 

[Spirit of the Student Doc]

Ahem..... I meant lab tech. Yeah, my day goes so much better when I have a good phleb working with me. Otherwise, I have to draw and run the labs. Especially in a trauma (or code)... and doing ABGs and venous blood blows. When you guys do your jobs everyone wins.

God Da_n it! Seriously karma every time! Horrible phleb today.... basic errors in technique would not take any advice! Why do I say things I know will come back to haunt me? Started the day with no phleb, then horrible I don't really get it phleb.... but I did end the day on a good note.............. Thank god for the good pleb that came in. Everyone from the E.R. doc to the scribe (and me in the lab🙂) were happy. Sometimes it takes someone not doing their job for us to notice the ones doing an exemplary job.😉

 

[cBlock420]

God Da_n it! Seriously karma every time! Horrible phleb today.... basic errors in technique would not take any advice! Why do I say things I know will come back to haunt me? Started the day with no phleb, then horrible I don't really get it phleb.... but I did end the day on a good note.............. Thank god for the good pleb that came in. Everyone from the E.R. doc to the scribe (and me in the lab🙂) were happy. Sometimes it takes someone not doing their job for us to notice the ones doing an exemplary job.😉

I'd like to see what the set-up is like at your hospital. We would have 2-4 stickers on the floor. We carried a mobi, box, and printer, and would pretty much roam around getting sticks. The most I ever got in an 8 hour shift was 53. Busy day.
Either way, it's a good opportunity to be in the hospital and seeing how important every role is to overall patient care. Having finished the first semester of med school and seeing there was only like 1 other
classmate that was a phlebotomist, makes me glad I did it.

 

[j4pac]

How could you consider EMT and phlebotomy, but not janitorial services?