Scribe vs inpatient phlebotomy

[EricCartmanMD]

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For over six months I've been doing inpatient phlebotomy part time during a gap year. Recently I interviewed for a scribe position and they've offered me the job; however, they only want me if I can do full-time. It sounds like the scribe job will have a small portion of medical assistant type work secondary to scribing. The pay would be roughly the same hourly, but double the hours. Would it be better to continue the phlebotomy work, or switch to the scribe job?

 

[Goro]

For over six months I've been doing inpatient phlebotomy part time during a gap year. Recently I interviewed for a scribe position and they've offered me the job; however, they only want me if I can do full-time. It sounds like the scribe job will have a small portion of medical assistant type work secondary to scribing. The pay would be roughly the same hourly, but double the hours. Would it be better to continue the phlebotomy work, or switch to the scribe job?

Which interests you more?

 

[EricCartmanMD]

Which interests you more?

I think ophthalmology scribing would be more intellectually rewarding, and I think the perspective gained through scribing would be valuable. Phlebotomy itself can be a but mundane. Also, I think there is learning potential from physicians as colleagues rather than phlebotomists. My hesitation comes from the reduction in patient care. I've connected with a large number of patients in six months. Just the other day, I made sure to be the phlebotomist to draw the admission labs for a transplant patient I came to know during his previous hospital stay. During and afterward, we had a nice chat about the holidays and family and such. Reducing that degree of patient care would be unfortunate. It sounds like the patient care aspect of the new job would be more minimal, doing visual field tests and administering eye-drops and such.

What is your perspective on the issue from the admissions standpoint? Is there more that can be accomplished with scribing than from shadowing alone? Is scribing viewed as anything more valuable than glorified shadowing? Would you be concerned to see 6 months of one clinical job followed by a transition to another? I anticipate marking phlebotomy as a most meaningful over scribing..

 

[Goro]

I think ophthalmology scribing would be more intellectually rewarding, and I think the perspective gained through scribing would be valuable. Phlebotomy itself can be a but mundane. Also, I think there is learning potential from physicians as colleagues rather than phlebotomists. My hesitation comes from the reduction in patient care. I've connected with a large number of patients in six months. Just the other day, I made sure to be the phlebotomist to draw the admission labs for a transplant patient I came to know during his previous hospital stay. During and afterward, we had a nice chat about the holidays and family and such. Reducing that degree of patient care would be unfortunate. It sounds like the patient care aspect of the new job would be more minimal, doing visual field tests and administering eye-drops and such.

What is your perspective on the issue from the admissions standpoint? Is there more that can be accomplished with scribing than from shadowing alone? Is scribing viewed as anything more valuable than glorified shadowing? Would you be concerned to see 6 months of one clinical job followed by a transition to another? I anticipate marking phlebotomy as a most meaningful over scribing..

To me, scribing is plus because it's a job, and I'm all for employment history. But it's also glorified shadowing to me. I like the patient contact experience you get from phlebotomy more.

 

[EricCartmanMD]

To me, scribing is plus because it's a job, and I'm all for employment history. But it's also glorified shadowing to me. I like the patient contact experience you get from phlebotomy more.

Phlebotomy is paid employment as well, I've been doing it part-time for a little over 6 months now. Does this change your opinions?

 

[Goro]

Phlebotomy is paid employment as well, I've been doing it part-time for a little over 6 months now. Does this change your opinions?

True. Stick with phlebotomy. Shadow on your off-time.

 

[candbgirl]

I spent last week in the hospital. The scribes would follow the attendings in with their tablets and type away. Never interacting with me or my family. In fact never really looking at me. The phlebotomists , on the other hand, came in and talked with me,asked how I was , told me what they were doing etc.. Stick with the phlebotomist job.

 

[Lemons565]

I currently work full time as a phlebotomist and love it. I spent some time working in a plasma center to get more involved with undeserved populations as most of the donors we saw were extremely impoverished. We will see how it turns out this cycle as I am waiting for a decision on my three interviews.

 

[Insert Member Name Here]

@EricCartmanMD Both those jobs are fine for medical school. However, this is not so much the case if you are considering PA school as a backup option as many schools do not consider either of those jobs to fulfill their HCE requirements.

 

[doc05]

Nothing wrong with either job. Sounds like scribing will pay more.

Keep in mind that 6 months as a phlebotomist is plenty. Beyond that, there's nothing more to gain.

 

[Lemons565]

Nothing wrong with either job. Sounds like scribing will pay more.

Keep in mind that 6 months as a phlebotomist is plenty. Beyond that, there's nothing more to gain.

I agree with that. Love the patient time but the procedure grows old after awhile.

 

[aharr157]

I personally chose phlebotomy over scribing myself because I knew it would give me direct patient contact! Plus it’s a skill that most doctors and nurses don’t get to develop as well in school!