Work as a phlebotomist while studying...?

**Chick** · 31-07-2006, 06:15 PM

This is quite a random one- I wonder if anone knows, would it be possible to get trained up as a phlebotomist whilst studying medicine & get work during the term time/holidays doing this?

I think I read in one of the threads somewhere that taking blood is what some students do alongside studying- good experience for patient contact & of course earning some money.
I do realise that it takes a while to get trained up etc but I wondered if anyone on these boards has experience of training/working as a phlebotomist whilst studying medicine?

Thanks a lot, Chick.

**jonesy** · 31-07-2006, 07:02 PM

Yes it is possible Chick! A few of my friends at Med School do that...seems to be a very good way of getting some well needed practice, while earning some moolah too

All the best with it!

Michelle x

**thom5455** · 31-07-2006, 08:35 PM

I was a phlebotomist before I started medicine and I would say working as one during your degree is definately possible, and many people are suprised by just how unregulated the profession is. Anyone can do it with the appropriate training and background checks, there are no academic or qualification requirements, you are purely "trained up on the job". The only issue i can see at the moment is the current financial shambles the NHS is in - you may find that many of your local hospitals have recruitment freezes and/or compulory redundancies, if so, they are unlikely to be taking on new staff. However, there is certainly no harm in asking!

**mangowarrior** · 31-07-2006, 09:40 PM

hi! lots of my medic friends did it and even in their final year- depending on the hours you work (in their final year they just did early saturday mornings- good way to get you up to revise!) its easy to fit around uni work. I'm considering doing it when i start, at the hospital i used to work in most of the phlebos were medical students!

**Chick** · 01-08-2006, 09:50 AM

Hello everyone,
Thanks a lot for the feedback, definitely seems that phlebotomy is an option- I'd thought that it would be difficult to combine being trained up & studying at the same time.
Right, I'm going to get on and contact a few hospitals in the area and see what they have to say. Just trying to lay some groundwork for getting some regular employment once I am a student- also I think the patient contact/clinical skills learnt will be a bonus too.

Thanks! Chick