Phlebotomy or CNA?

[sorayah]

As the title asks. I'm having a hard time deciding between getting phlebotomy or CNA certification. Anyone have experience in doing either? How do you like it? What do you do? Thank you 🙂

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[Biscuitboy11]

FYI, our CNA’s ( in preop area and recovery room) draw blood for tests all the time. Might vary hospital to hospital. Also as CNA you are more a team member, while as a phlebotomist you’re more a loner, either in a room drawing blood from outpatients, or going room to room or dept. for inpatients. Depends what you see as a good fit.

 

[sorayah]

FYI, our CNA’s ( in preop area and recovery room) draw blood for tests all the time. Might vary hospital to hospital. Also as CNA you are more a team member, while as a phlebotomist you’re more a loner, either in a room drawing blood from outpatients, or going room to room or dept. for inpatients. Depends what you see as a good fit.

thank you so much!

 

[907914]

while as a phlebotomist you’re more a loner,

On this note, this is why I personally enjoyed phlebotomy so much. After the first few weeks when you start to get proficient, you don't even really pay attention to the fact that you are drawing blood (aside from a particularly hard stick). The entire job is literally just having 2-8 minute conversations with patients.

 

[OrthopedicNeurosurgeon99]

On this note, this is why I personally enjoyed phlebotomy so much. After the first few weeks when you start to get proficient, you don't even really pay attention to the fact that you are drawing blood (aside from a particularly hard stick). The entire job is literally just having 2-8 minute conversations with patients.

Wait, that sounds amazing I was thinking of doing this during my gap year for some nice clinical experience and the extra money to save for next year's app cycle. Off the top of your head do you remember how long and how much the certification class was?

 

[907914]

Wait, that sounds amazing I was thinking of doing this during my gap year for some nice clinical experience and the extra money to save for next year's app cycle. Off the top of your head do you remember how long and how much the certification class was?

This is going to vary greatly by state and employer. Mine cost me 18 months of my life and I got paid $34,000 to do it, but that was because mine was part of a military program 😆

If you have any other questions about the work itself, I will gladly help how I can.

 

[DocOrBust2019]

Wait, that sounds amazing I was thinking of doing this during my gap year for some nice clinical experience and the extra money to save for next year's app cycle. Off the top of your head do you remember how long and how much the certification class was?

It varies from state to state. I took a 3 month course in Florida back in 2012. There were also schools that offered it in a two week or even two day session.

 

[OrthopedicNeurosurgeon99]

It varies from state to state. I took a 3 month course in Florida back in 2012. There were also schools that offered it in a two week or even two day session.

Oh damn I live in FL! Would you mind PM'ing me which course you took and/or any courses you know of in FL that don't take a crazy amount of time to get certified?

 

[peregrino]

I'm having a hard time deciding between getting phlebotomy or CNA certification. Anyone have experience in doing either? How do you like it? What do you do? 🙂

FYI, our CNA’s ( in preop area and recovery room) draw blood for tests all the time. Might vary hospital to hospital. Also as CNA you are more a team member, while as a phlebotomist you’re more a loner, either in a room drawing blood from outpatients, or going room to room or dept. for inpatients. Depends what you see as a good fit.

I think you might be able to do both, but whether or not depends on your state's laws. CNAs tend to work hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, and home health. MAs are in clinics, and sometimes hospitals. I am an MA and phlebomist, among other things. In the past I have done hospital work as a CNA (but I am not currently licensed so not working as a CNA now) and MA but I could only draw blood as part of the MA role. That is still true today, although I am now in clinics outside of the hospital.

As far as time tio get certified, most CNA programs are only a month or so, plus the hands-on training and many are offered through both private colleges and community colleges. The MA program was 2 years, but it was through a community college.

 

[DocOrBust2019]

Oh damn I live in FL! Would you mind PM'ing me which course you took and/or any courses you know of in FL that don't take a crazy amount of time to get certified?

You should be able to find a 6-10 week, one day a week course somewhere nearby you. Just Google it. I live on the treasure coast so all the classes I've mentioned are local businesses.

 

[sorayah]

I think you might be able to do both, but whether or not depends on your state's laws. CNAs tend to work hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, and home health. MAs are in clinics, and sometimes hospitals. I am an MA and phlebomist, among other things. In the past I have done hospital work as a CNA (but I am not currently licensed so not working as a CNA now) and MA but I could only draw blood as part of the MA role. That is still true today, although I am now in clinics outside of the hospital.

As far as time tio get certified, most CNA programs are only a month or so, plus the hands-on training and many are offered through both private colleges and community colleges. The MA program was 2 years, but it was through a community college.

From the clinical training through these programs, does that count towards our med school applications as well like the patient contact experience/hours?

 

[DocOrBust2019]

just as a heads up in the State of Florida you can get hired at a hospital as a patient care tech without a CNA or phlebotomy license and they will train you to do the work of both. Whether or not you would get such a job is area dependent, but a license is not required. You'd still be better off getting one of the two certifications.

 

[peregrino]

From the clinical training through these programs, does that count towards our med school applications as well like the patient contact experience/hours?

I would assume so, becauset clinical training hours do put you in direct patient contact. But to be certain, perhaps check with AAMC? I never thought about clinical training hours as counting as patient contact. (If that were the case then my total hours would be bumped up by a lot as I have several certifications, each had hands-on patient-contact training.)

 

[907914]

From the clinical training through these programs, does that count towards our med school applications as well like the patient contact experience/hours?

Paid clinical training IS clinical hours. Training for volunteer gigs is iffy. But through a phleb/CNA/MA/scribe training period, most certainly.

 

[sorayah]

Thank you all so much 🙂