How to Become a Travel Phlebotomist
Jul 07, 2023
Imagine fulfilling your dream job while also getting the chance to travel. For those exploring careers in phlebotomy, the option to become a traveling phlebotomist opens up exciting possibilities. This role not only offers unique advantages in itself but may also pave the way for significant career advancements.
If you're considering stepping into the world of a mobile phlebotomist, this guide is designed to provide insights into the requirements for becoming a phlebotomist and shed light on the perks associated with the role.
Table of Contents
- What is a travel phlebotomist?
- How to become a traveling phlebotomist?
- Skills needed to become a traveling phlebotomist
- Job opportunities for travel phlebotomist
- Pros and cons of becoming a traveling phlebotomist
- Average salary of a traveling phlebotomist
What is a travel phlebotomist?
Like typical phlebotomists, mobile phlebotomists will primarily be tasked with drawing blood samples from patients, as well as other bodily fluids to help fellow colleagues in finding a diagnosis for the patient. The difference between the two is that a normal phlebotomist will operate in one particular setting, whereas traveling phlebotomists will operate in different settings regularly.
> Job duties of a traveling phlebotomist
Do the job duties vary with a mobile phlebotomist? While the role itself is fairly similar in responsibilities to a regular phlebotomist, there may be some additional responsibilities that relate to the travel aspect of the job. Here are the job duties that you'd expect to find when seeking out mobile phlebotomist jobs:
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Provide mobile phlebotomy services to home-bound clients and clients situated in a variety of healthcare facilities
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Complete medical examinations of the patient; vital signs, urine collection, etc.
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Collect samples for transportation to laboratories
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Drawing blood from patients following relevant standards and requirements
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Observing all health protocols in place and ensuring the client's safety and privacy
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Enter and maintain patient information within healthcare systems
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Determining specimen requirements based on the patient's individual care needs
How to become a traveling phlebotomist?
If you're looking at how to become a traveling phlebotomist, then it's important to understand what skills and education you'll need to secure a job in this profession. There are plenty of job openings for phlebotomists but ensuring you're equipped with all the must-haves will help secure a position in this career field.
Skills needed to become a traveling phlebotomist
What skills do you need for traveling phlebotomists? When you're looking at how to become a traveling phlebotomist, there will be certain skills you need to have. Some are skills you can build from scratch, while others might be rooted within your personality and who you are as an individual. Here's what you might find in a typical job description for this role.
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People skills and patience with nervous patients
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Ability to multi-task when scheduling your working week
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Punctuality and reliability to show up at the right times for patient appointments
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Detail for cleaning and sanitizing areas, as well as the transportation vehicle used
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Ability to store and transport blood samples safely
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Comfortable in patients' homes and other healthcare facilities
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Talented at building relationships with doctors and other healthcare professionals
Job opportunities for travel phlebotomist
What makes a mobile phlebotomist such a sought-after position within the healthcare industry? When we compare a phlebotomist vs lab technician, a phlebotomist can end up being a stepping stone into the career of a lab technician. However, for phlebotomists, there's no shortage of job openings available.
In fact, according to the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics, the job market looks to grow by 10% between now and 2031. That's faster than average and faster than many other healthcare professions.
Pros and cons of becoming a traveling phlebotomist
Pros
Cons
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Flexible schedules
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A steady and regular income
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Job security
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Helping diagnosis and making patients better
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You'll be in demand
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Low training costs
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Exposure to pathogens
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Long working hours
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You may encounter rude or aggressive patients
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A low margin for error
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Can be a stressful job
If you're looking for more variety in your role, then it might be worth looking at the role of a phlebotomist vs medical assistant, a similar but different career path to go down.
Average salary of a traveling phlebotomist
For traveling phlebotomy jobs, the average salary depends on whether you're going into an entry-level position or you're more experienced in the field. It also depends on the work location you're at. Work includes nursing homes, patient homes, hospital environments, organizations like the Red Cross, and private clinics.
An average phlebotomist salary in the US currently stands at $49,844.
