Education Helped Sacramento Phlebotomist Exceed Expectations

Ricky Andrade enjoys working at the prestigious Sutter Health in Sacramento as a clinical laboratory assistant/ phlebotomist, after having earned his medical assistant/Phlebotomy degree from MTI College In Sacramento just last year. He says, "I never thought I would learn so much in so little time!"

The length of time to complete the program was a total of 220 clock hours. During this time, Andrade says, "I was able to continue to volunteer in the labs at MTI until I received my license and was then sent to Sutter through MTI's Career Services office."

This was perfect timing for Andrade, "Because now that I have been at Sutter for over a year, my wife and I have just found out we are expecting our first child in June 2015."

The work of a phlebotomist requires great caution and extreme care because of the potential exposure in working with bodily fluids. But if you ask him about it, Andrade will say, "Not really. I was trained to do procedures not only correctly, but also to ensure safety, starting in my classes at MTI, and through my training at Sutter."

The recent graduate brings up a great point often missed in the planning to select a program and school before career take-off, "Even to this day, if I have a question I can go to the instructors, directors or the president of the school to get a question answered."

Another benefit of having schooled locally is that the education can be geared more succinctly with what the candidate's future employer may really need, "My education helped me to exceed the expectations of my new employer."

Andrade's thoughts on success in this occupation? "Make a difference and bring a smile to a person's day," he suggests. "Being detail-oriented is important in the medical field, while still having patience and understanding on some of the worst days of a patient's life. Be happy and if you enjoy what you do, you will be the best at what you do. Learn from those who want to teach you, and share your knowledge."

Karen Hansen M.S. Earth Sciences, has been an educator and consultant who is currently an analyst regarding land and other public information records. She lives and works in Sacramento, CA. She has been writing about earth and the environmental sciences for Examiner.com since May of 2010. Find her work in several sections of the publication. You can find her work at SF Solar Energy Examiner, SF Environmental News Examiner and Environmental News Examiner