Top Vocational Medical Careers Phlebotomist

A Phlebotomy technician holds a vital role in healthcare.  What is a phlebotomist?  A phlebotomist has the responsibility of drawing blood from patients for various testing or donation purposes.  That is the primary role of the phlebotomy technician, but there are other Duties As A Phlebotomist such as handling phone calls from patients and doctors for scheduling appointments.  This is especially true in a laboratory or clinic scenario.  Being in constant contact with doctors and nurses is another part of this job.  The communication between the phlebotomy technician and other healthcare professionals is crucial to proper record keeping and patient care.

Phlebotomist Job Description

Phlebotomist Job Description

Some of the other many Duties As A Phlebotomist include but are not limited to such things as record keeping, verifying patient information, verifying insurance information, giving instructions to a patient, data entry, and pick up or drop off specimens at an identified location.  A phlebotomist must also know the laws involving drug testing in order to give accurate instructions to the patient. 

Taking care to be safe when drawing specimens is another important part of the phlebotomist’s job.  Taking safety precautions during blood drawing or the handling of bodily fluids such as wearing approved rubber gloves as well as the storage, and transportation of these bodily fluids are also very important duties as a phlebotomist.  

Abiding by the laws regulating proper disposal of any tools used in the laboratory is a responsibility of all healthcare professionals including the phlebotomy technician.  Hospitals and laboratories rely on the phlebotomy technician to be thorough and take the Duties As A Phlebotomist seriously. 

Becoming A Phlebotomy Technician

A phlebotomy technician career can be obtained with the proper training courses and are offered online or on a physical campus at accredited colleges and vocational technical schools.  Many times, certification requires some on the job training before taking the exam.  For most jobs in this field, a certification is required by the hospital, lab, or clinic offering positions for phlebotomy technicians.

Salary Working In This Field

Depending on the venue and state, average salary expectations can run along the lines of $24,000 and up for new phlebotomists.  Naturally, as the phlebotomist gains more experience, the salary range moves up and even career advancement is available.  Management careers in phlebotomy are higher paying and average around $35,000 to start.

Top Vocational Medical Careers Pharmacy Technician

The role of a pharmacy technician is varied, and the responsibilities are determined by the pharmacy setting in which the technician practices. A pharmacy technician is a health professional who plays an integral role in the pharmacy. 

In all settings, a pharmacy technician assists the pharmacist in distributing medication to patients, whether working at a retail or hospital pharmacy.

A technician cannot dispense any medication without a pharmacist’s approval and may not consult any patient regarding their medications.

However, a pharmacy technician is vital in pharmacy operations.

In a retail or community setting such as a department store or chain drug store pharmacy, a pharmacy technician has many responsibilities.

But in general, the role of a pharmacy technician may include the following tasks: 

• inputting customer and prescription data into the computer
• filling and labeling a prescription bottle
• compounding specialty medications
• managing inventory
• receiving payments from customers for their prescriptions

Though the role of a pharmacy technician may sound simple, the technician has to be able to interpret written prescriptions, perform pharmacy calculations, and maintain efficiency and accuracy even when the pharmacy is very busy.

The technician is responsible for answering phone calls from customers or physicians, as well as resolving issues with insurance companies.

Depending on the state in which the pharmacy technician practices, the technician may also take new or refill prescription orders over the telephone. Though there are many duties and responsibilities, the main obligation is to provide good customer service through compassion and efficiency.

The Role of a Pharmacy Technician in Hospital Settings

The role of a pharmacy technician in an institutional or hospital setting may be slightly different than a retail technician. If working in an outpatient pharmacy where patients pick up their prescriptions to take home, the duties of a pharmacy technician are similar to those in retail.

Conversely, an inpatient pharmacy provides medicine to all the patients in the hospital, including those in the emergency room, operating room, or outpatient sites. The inpatient pharmacy has little direct contact with patients, but does most of its communication with the nurses or physicians on staff by telephone or electronically. Medication orders usually come to the pharmacy through a fax machine, pneumatic tube system, or more recently, electronically.

Some inpatient pharmacy facilities allow pharmacy technicians to input these orders, but all facilities require the pharmacy technician to fill medications for these orders. Technicians in these facilities also must be able to interpret medical orders and perform pharmacy calculations related to the job. Technology has played a huge role in the institutional pharmacy setting, so a pharmacy technician in this capacity will be trained to fill and troubleshoot the automated medication dispensers found in patient areas.

In inpatient pharmacy settings, pharmacy technicians are also required to make IVs, which requires special training in aseptic technique (a sterile method to prevent contamination of IVs) and clean room procedures. Simple billing and inventory is usually performed by pharmacy technicians, but another department takes care of insurance information.

In summary, the roles of a pharmacy technician is dependent on the type of pharmacy. To become a pharmacy technician, one would need to consult the State Board of Pharmacy of the state in which you intend to practice to determine any licensing or certification requirements.

2014 Top Vocational Medically Careers Dental Assistant

Dental assistants are primarily responsible for providing services related to patient care and must first sterilize and disinfect instruments and equipment to be used by the dentist. They must then prepare and lay out all instruments and materials needed to treat each patient. After obtaining and updating the patient's dental records, it is the dental assistant's duty to make sure the patient is comfortable for the procedure. Once the dental procedure begins, the dental assistant is responsible for handing items to dentist and suctioning the patient's mouth. Many dental assistants are also responsible for preparing materials for dental impressions and restorations, applying topical anesthetics on the gums and placing dental dams in the mouth before procedures, removing excess cement and surgery sutures from the mouth after procedures, placing and removing periodontal dressings, polishing the teeth to remove stains, and any other duty directed by a dentist or legally authorized in their state.
Many dental assistants are also hired to perform secondary duties in the laboratory and office in addition to patient care duties. In the office, secondary responsibilities may include scheduling and confirming appointments, receiving and seating patients in the treatment area, keeping treatment records, managing that dental assistants working in the laboratory may be responsible for include making stone and plaster teeth and mouth casts, fabricating temporary crowns, bridges and mouth guards, fabricating orthodontic retainers and exposing and developing X-rays.

• Some dental assistants may also be called on to provide patient and community education. These responsibilities may include providing personal oral care instructions and counseling, delivering dental- health presentations or setting-up and running health fair booths for the community, according to Boise, Idaho dentist, Dr. Guy M. Hanson.

	Lowest Pay	Median Pay	Highest Pay	Average Pay
Annual Salary	$23,550	$34,500	$47,580	$35,080
Hourly Wage	$11.32	$16.59	$22.87	$16.86

• Because different dentists have varying procedures, styles of doing things and requirements for employees, dental assistants are generally responsible for learning on-the-job skills once they are hired by a dentist whether or not they have recently completed a dental-assisting program or have experience as a dental assistant. Learning names of instruments and materials, how to perform daily duty requirements, how to interact with patients, how to manage files and patient records, and other office-specific information are some training responsibilities dental assistants may encounter.

2014 Top Vocational Medical Careers Dental Hygienist

A dental hygienist is a licensed dental professional who is registered with a dental association within their country of practice. They are a trained member who works alongside dentists and other dental professionals in a team to provide full dental care. They have the training and education that focus and specialise in the prevention and treatment of oral health and disease. They can choose to work in a range of dental settings from private practice, specialists practices to public sector; and can also work in residential aged care facilities.^[1][2]

Dental hygienists have a specific scope of clinical procedures they provide to their patients. They offer preventative and educational services to promote and maintain good oral health. The use of therapeutic methods assists their patients in controlling oral disease, while providing tailored treatment plans that implement the importance of behavioral changes .^[3] In most jurisdictions, hygienists work for a dentist or dental specialist, and some are licensed to administer local anesthesia and perform dental radiography.^[4] The major role of a dental hygienist is to perform periodontal therapy which includes things such periodontal charting, periodontal debridement (scaling and root planing), prophylaxis (cleaning) for patients with periodontal disease. In addition dental hygienists are able to perform examinations, make diagnosis, take intraoral radiographs, dental sealants, administer fluoride, and provide patient specific oral hygiene instruction.^[5] They are also able to work at an orthodontic clinic and can perform many tasks there. Such as selecting and sizing of orthodontic bands for dental braces, the removal of orthodontic appliances and are able to make dental impressions for the construction of study casts and mouthguards.^[3]

Dental hygienists work together with other dental professionals, with a higher number working at general practices withdentists, Dental therapists and oral health therapists. A smaller number work at specialist practices alongside orthodontistsand periodontists. They help with the contribution of an interdisciplinary approach, aiming to provide optimum oral health care to their patients. Dental hygienists also offer expertise in their field and can provide a dental hygiene diagnosis, which is an integral component of the comprehensive dental diagnosis.^[6]

Other areas that relate to dentistry that dental hygienists can be involved in are:

• Research: They can carry out clinical studies and trials alongside specialists in teaching institutions.

• Professional Education: They are able to provide education by teaching and training dental hygiene students and dental assistants. They can also choose to present research at a variety of different events and seminars within their industry.

• Community health: They provide assistance and group talks in community dental clinics, residential care, hospitals and nursing homes. For example: helping clients that suffer from medical and mental disorders.

• Australian Defence Force: They are able to provide dental services with the Army, Navy and Air.

• Marketing and Sales: They can promote dental products and services through dental companies as a dental company representative.

2014 Vocational Medical Careers LVN

A licensed vocational nurse, commonly abbreviated “LVN,” is a medical professional who provides basic patient care in settings like hospitals, doctor’s offices, and long-term care facilities. In some places, the term “licensed practical nurse” is more commonly used; “state enrolled nurse” is also a synonym, particularly in the United Kingdom. No matter what he or she is called, this person has an important role in the medical community and is a valued part of many healthcare teams. The specifics of these nurses' jobs are usually limited by local law in terms of how extensively they can be involved in direct services, but the work they do is often essential to making sure that each patient gets prompt and efficient care.

Personal Hygiene Care

• An LVN may assist or provide total personal hygiene care, such as bathing, dressing and/or oral care, to a person who is either incapable of doing this himself or needs help. This person may be ill or recuperating and not up to par yet. The patient needing care may be a patient with dementia or is either mentally or physically challenged.

Patient Teaching

• This type of nurse will assist the patient in learning about his condition. The LVN will show the patient how to better care for himself through proper nourishment, diabetic care and personal hygiene, including good oral care and/or learning when and how to take medications correctly on a daily basis.
  
  

  Wound Care

  • An LVN performs dressing changes on those who need it. The nurse will carry out the specified treatment as the physician has ordered it. The LVN will record a descriptive detail of the dressing change. This would include the discomfort level of the patient, what the wound looks like and any noted drainage.

  Medications

  • An LVN will administer medications to patients who are unable to physically or mentally take them by themselves. The medications are given as prescribed by the patient's physician.

  Transcribing Doctor's Orders

  • An LVN is working under the direction of the registered nurse (RN) and/or primary care physician. This nurse is able to take physician's orders either written or verbally and process them accordingly.

  Tender Loving Care

  • The LVN is the person who will reassure and comfort the patient when family or friends are not available. This type of nurse will perform hands-on care and offer a good listening ear to the patient. A gentle touch and a kind, sympathetic heart are necessary ingredients for LVNs to possess.

  Documentation

  • It is essential that an LVN record details of anything pertinent pertaining to a patient's care, either physically or mentally. Anything provided by the LVN should be documented. This includes the patient's eating habits, sleeping habits and any physical or mental abnormalities.

Top Medical Job of 2014 CNA

A certified nursing assistant, or CNA, helps patients or clients with healthcare needs under the supervision of a Registered Nurse (RN) or a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN). Also known as a Nursing Assistant (NA) a Patient Care Assistant (PCA) or a State Tested Nurse Aid (STNA), the individual who carries this title needs strong work ethic and ability, but issues of liability and legality prevent CNAs from performing certain procedures.

Role of the CNA

Your regular responsibilities as a nursing assistant will vary based on where you work or live. Nursing assistants can work in a wide variety of settings; nursing homes, hospitals, adult day care centers, personal homes and assisted living facilities all require nursing assistants to act as a helpful liaison between the RN or LPN and the patient. In many cases, the nursing assistant serves as the RN’s or LPN’s eyes and ears, and relays information between many patients and one or two RNs.

The nursing assistant fulfills basic quality-of-life needs for patients of any age, ethnicity or gender in residential nursing care facilities or outpatient clinics. Since nursing assistants have daily contact with patients, they are gatherers of vital information about the patients’ conditions, which they must then transmit to their supervisors. A CNA’s workload can become intense and fast-paced, but the human contact and ability to help those in medical need is a strong motivating factor. A desire to help people and compassion for patients can help a nurse’s assistant get through difficult days.

CNAs and the Nursing Industry

Because so many nurse’s aides want to move up into more involved medical careers, there is a high rate of turnover for CNA positions. This means it is fairly easy to find a job as a CNA, but many who start out in this career do not stay in it for life. The demand for CNAs is high, especially among those institutions that provide continuing care and assisted living for the elderly. Many health care facilities recognize the important role that a qualified and compassionate CNA can play in their quality of care offered. Additionally, a CNA can find support through organizations such as theNational Association of Health Care Assistants.

Part of the reason there is such high turnover in CNA jobs is that CNAs can relatively easily get the necessary education to become RNs. Taking classes online while continuing to work is easier than ever, and there are many associate’s degree and bachelor’s degree programs that CNAs can use to get qualified for better paying work in the medical industry.