Are you considering a career in the medical field? Are you interested in a rewarding career in which you work directly with medical providers to help patients? Have you ever considered a career as a Laboratory Assistant? If you are interested in a clinical healthcare career in which you work directly with doctors and nurses to provide a high level of professional care, then a career as a Lab Assistant might be the right choice for you! Read on to discover 5 great reasons to pursue this rewarding medical career.
- Lab Assistants are in High Demand
The Healthcare industry in the United States is booming, and with an aging population, and ever increasing demand for healthcare services and the professionals that provide them, Laboratory Assistants are in demand more than ever. Medical Laboratory Assistants work in diagnostic labs, hospitals, clinics and medical practices in every town, every city, and every part of the country. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics, employment in healthcare occupations such as Lab Assistants is projected to grow 18 percent from 2016 to 2026, adding about 2.4 million new jobs, much faster than the average for all occupations.
- Lab Assistants are an Important Part of a Medical Team
Lab Assistants are a type of Allied Health Professional, and they work directly alongside doctors, physicians, and other medical providers to provide patients with the highest level of care. A Laboratory Assistant is an important member of a medical team, and play a vital role in healthcare. Lab Assistants are the medical professionals responsible for performing tests and procedures that physicians and other healthcare providers order.
- Lab Assistants Perform Vital Healthcare Tasks
Lab Assistants perform the tests and procedures that physicians and other healthcare providers order; these tests are most often used for the diagnosis of disease. Besides running routine and specialized lab tests, Medical Laboratory Assistants typically have duties that include preparing and planting microbiology specimens, preparing and staining slides for analysis, and recording testing information. Lab Assistants are also responsible for cleaning and restocking the lab facility, keeping inventory, and ordering lab supplies.
- Lab Assistants Help Patients
Because Lab Assistants are the individuals primarily responsible for conducting tests and reporting results, they provide a critical aspect of a patient’s medical care. However, Lab Assistants are also hands-on health workers, working directly with patients. Lab Assistants may work with patients during sensitive and critical times, and may at times accompany patients through difficult processes. Despite a patient’s fears or nerves, Lab Assistants must carefully and professionally conduct tests or draw blood from patients in delicate states. A tolerant and patient manner is critically important for these workers.
- IBT can train you to be a Lab Assistant in just 9 months!
Unlike becoming a nurse or a doctor, you can train to be a Lab Assistant in months, not years. IBT’s Lab Assistant/EKG Technician/Phlebotomist program teaches students to perform important laboratory procedures for hematology, bacteriology, urinalysis, electrocardiography, and phlebotomy. Students also develop the communication and interpersonal skills that are necessary for patient care. IBT’s program includes an externship, a hands-on work experience which allows students to get practical field training while supervised by medical professionals. IBT's program is industry-recognized, and accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC). Graduates will be prepared to test for the California Phlebotomy Technician (CPT1) certification from the State of California. With training from IBT, you can enter the medical field as a Lab Assistant in as few as 9 months!
Are you ready to take the next step towards becoming a Lab Assistant with IBT? Call IBT at 800-915-3562 today! Our friendly and helpful Admissions Representatives are waiting to answer any questions you have about the Institute for Business and Technology (IBT) and our programs. Contact us today to schedule a tour of our modern Santa Clara campus, or begin the application process. What are you waiting for? You can make your goals a reality - Make it happen with IBT!