Fast-track your career into healthcare

An increasing demand for skilled healthcare professionals has led to a shortage of allied healthcare workers, especially phlebotomists. They are the skilled healthcare professionals who take blood.

Demand is high within hospitals as well as many clinics and surgeries and offers an opportunity for career change. If you have good people skills, good manual dexterity and like the idea of working in a busy hospital or clinic, a phlebotomist job may be just the right job for you.

Many people enter this profession when they are looking for a career change or a fresh start. Phlebotomists often work part time (mornings) but some do work full time as well as weekends and holidays. Blood samples are usually collected in the mornings and then analysed in the path labs in the afternoon.

“We train people from all walks of life and all ages,” explained Tasmin, office manager. “We’ve had shop assistants, receptionists, beauticians and dental nurses, as well as telesales staff, unemployed, school leavers and the retired.”

Once on the healthcare career ladder, ambition often drives people to progress to working in the labs and to other specialised departments. Internal promotion is much easier once you are ‘on the ladder’ and have some experience. Many Geopace trainees are now working as phlebotomists and a few have even chosen to work abroad where there is often a shortage and growing demand for this specialised skill.

Training takes place over two full days and culminates in the award of a nationally recognised certificate, accredited at Level 5 (advanced level) in Ireland.

“We practice on artificial arms,” said Tasmin. “And all our students have a lot of fun learning. We get a great deal of satisfaction when we later learn that they are working in their local hospital or medical facility.”

The next course in Cork is scheduled for Monday 18 and Tuesday 19 September. If you would like to know more about phlebotomy as a career or to book a place on the September course visit Geopace Training’s website at www.geopace.com.