Phlebotomist

OFO No: 

CLICK HERE

Youtube clip – Phlebotomy – A Career Choice

For training options in South Africa – scroll down

What is a Phlebotomist? –  (pronounced flee-bot-o-mist)

Phlebotomy is a medical job. A Phlebotomist is a trained and skilled healthcare assistant/technician.  It’s a very responsible job. Their main job is to collect blood (and other fluids) from patients for testing in laboratories. These tests will provide valuable information to help doctors and other medical practitioners to diagnose and help patients. 

Other reasons why blood is taken:

• Phlebotomists may also draw blood from donors for blood banks. This blood is used in blood transfusions.
• Blood is used for research

Phlebotomists are people friendly and collect blood in safe and pain-free manner. The blood may not be contaminated in any way. They need to be careful and responsible and follow strict, professional standards and codes of practice.

Phlebotomists may work for pathology companies, hospitals, clinics, pharmacies etc.

What does a Phlebotomist do?

• greets and makes sure patient is comfortable and relaxed (some patients are scared of needles)
• makes sure all equipment is sterilised and organised
• puts on gloves
• uses equipment like tourniquets, syringes, gauze etc
• labels all blood samples very carefully
• sends samples off to laboratory
• follows strict medical procedures very carefully
• captures patient data etc on a computer

Are you . . . ?

• interested in working in the medical industry?
• caring?
• good with your hands?
• very responsible and careful?
• detail orientated?
• a person who can work accurately?
• a person who can follow strict procedures?
• friendly and positive?
• a person with good communication skills?

How do I become a Phlebotomist?

A lot of Phlebotomists train through a learnership in South Africa.

Examples of companies that often offer learnerships:

• Pathcare  CLICK HERE
  
• Clicks
• Dischem
• Ampath Pathology
• South African National Blood Services (SANBS)
• Etc

LEARNERSHIPS

Career Planet loads new opportunities every week. Check our learnership section often. You might be lucky and find a Phlebotomy Learnership in your area. Make sure you match ALL the requirements 100%. 

• CLICK HERE to visit our website for Learnerships advertise at present

• SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY (SAQA)

For more information about this career choice.

CLICK ON: http://regqs.saqa.org.za/showQualification.php?id=59345

Basically, you will need to get an FET (TVET) Certificate: Phlebotomy Techniques Level 4

Minimum requirements:

Mathematics Literacy at NQF Level 3
Communications (Languages) at NQF level 3

PLEASE NOTE:

Some companies have much higher requirements for learnerships. Make sure you read each advert carefully. ONLY apply if you match ALL their requirements 100%.

• HEALTH PROFESSIONS COUNCIL OF SOUTH AFRICA (HPCSA)

http://www.hpcsa.co.za/

OTHER CAREERS TO CONSIDER: Dental Assistant or Clinical Laboratory Technologist

Is becoming a Phlebotomist the right career choice for me?