Phlebotomist
Take blood samples from people in hospital so their illness can be diagnosed and they can be treated.
About the job
Salary
Source: National Careers Service
Weekly
£423
Entry level
£538
Experienced
Monthly
£1,833
Entry level
£2,333
Experienced
Yearly
£22,000
Entry level
£28,000
Experienced
42,700
people are currently employed
High growth
2,600 more jobs in 5 years
These figures refer to this job and similar ones with comparable skills and qualifications. They only apply to Scotland. Source: Oxford Economics
What it's like
You would take blood samples from people in hospital so their illness can be diagnosed and they can be treated.
You'd need to have a calm and friendly manner to put people at their ease when they may be nervous and distressed.
The samples you'd take would be important for diagnosing illness. As a phlebotomist you'd need to label the samples correctly and send them for analysis and testing in a laboratory.
You would:
Explain the procedure to patients
Reassure patients if they are nervous or distressed
Insert a hypodermic needle into the vein and draw off the blood into a tube
Apply a dressing to the puncture made by the needle
Label the blood sample
Deliver the sample to the correct laboratory within required timescales
Complete records and enter data on a computer
At all stages you would follow set procedures carefully so that samples are not contaminated or mixed up.
You could work with babies, adults and older people, with a wide range of conditions. You would need to follow the appropriate procedure for each type of patient you work with.
You can see more about the role on the phlebotomist page on the NHS Careers website.
Hours
Environment
Explore more information about this job
Here are some useful links to learn more about this career:
Like the sound of this career?
Browse courses in Scotland related to 'Phlebotomist'
Select qualification level(s)
Other careers that you might like
Healthcare assistant Occupational therapy support worker Physiotherapy assistant Decontamination technician
Related industries
Many jobs can be done in lots of different industries. We've highlighted the ones we think are most important for this job.
Life sciences Healthcare
Top skills
Skills are things you're good at. Whether you know what yours are or not, everyone has them!
It's useful to learn which ones are important in a job so you know the areas you need to brush up on. It can also help you work out if you're suited to a career.
Here are some of the skills you'll need to do this job:
- taking responsibility
- making decisions
- developing a plan
- social conscience
- empathising
- verbal communication
- listening
- supporting
- resilience
- positive attitude
Your skills are important
Our unique skillsets are what make us stand out from the crowd. Learn about each skill in depth and discover what employers look for in your applications and interviews.
Getting in
Explore the sections shown for more information about getting into this career.
You might have qualifications which are not shown here but will allow you access to a course. You can compare your qualifications by looking at their SCQF Level. For more information about this, check out the SCQF website.
Always contact the college, university or training provider to check exactly what you'll need.
Colleges and universities will list subjects you'll need for entry to a course. Some useful subjects include:
Biology
Care
Human Biology
Foundation Apprenticeship: Social Services and Healthcare
You can get a head start in this career by doing a Foundation Apprenticeship in S5 and S6.
You'll get an SCQF level 6 qualification which is the same level as a Higher. You'll also learn new skills and gain valuable experience in a work environment.
Discover what's on offer at your school on Apprenticeships.scot.
Most employers value a good general education qualifications at SCQF levels 4 to 6; or relevant work-based qualifications such as a Scottish Vocational Qualification in Healthcare Support (SVQ level 2/3).
Qualifications that show a strong interest in health and wellbeing and science such as Laboratory Science (SCQF level 5).A driving licence can also be helpful.
To be approved for membership of the Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) Scheme run by Disclosure Scotland.
Explore over 22,000 courses in Scotland
Find the perfect course to boost your career.
