Most commonly reported Work Activities

• Assisting and Caring for Others Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.
• Getting Information Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
• Interacting With Computers Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
• Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
• Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
• Processing Information Compiling, coding, categorising, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
• Making Decisions and Solving Problems Analysing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
• Documenting/Recording Information Entering, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
• Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
• Organising, Planning, and Prioritising Work Developing specific goals and plans to prioritise, organise, and accomplish your work.

The Work

Phlebotomists collect blood samples from patients in clinics and hospitals. These blood samples are used by medical staff to diagnose and treat illnesses so it is imperative that each sample is handled with the utmost care. The sample must be collected, labeled and transported hygienically and safely to ensure that no contamination is possible.  
 
The phlebotomist is responsible for ensuring that the sample arrives at the right laboratory in the required time.  
 
Depending on the work load the job may be combined with other, more general, MLA duties.

Most commonly reported Work Tasks

• Dispose of contaminated sharps, in accordance with applicable laws, standards, and policies.
• Organise or clean blood-drawing trays, ensuring that all instruments are sterile and all needles, syringes, or related items are of first-time use.
• Draw blood from veins by vacuum tube, syringe, or butterfly venipuncture methods.
• Match laboratory requisition forms to specimen tubes.
• Dispose of blood or other biohasard fluids or tissue, in accordance with applicable laws, standards, or policies.
• Conduct standards tests, such as blood alcohol, blood culture, oral glucose tolerance, glucose screening, blood smears, or peak and trough drug levels tests.
• Collect specimens at specific time intervals for tests, such as those assessing therapeutic drug levels.
• Process blood or other fluid samples for further analysis by other medical professionals.
• Provide sample analysis results to physicians to assist diagnosis.
• Enter patient, specimen, insurance, or billing information into computer.

Further Information

• Phlebotomist - from: N.C.S. [UK]

This occupation is typically suited for people with the following Career Interests:

Investigative

The Investigative person will usually find a particular area of science to be of interest. They are inclined toward intellectual and analytical activities and enjoy observation and theory. They may prefer thought to action, and enjoy the challenge of solving problems with sophiscticated technology. These types prefer mentally stimulating environments and often pay close attention to developments in their chosen field.

Administrative

Administrative people are interested in work that offers security and a sense of being part of a larger process. They may be at their most productive under supervisors who give clear guidelines and while performing routine tasks in a methodical and reliable way.

They tend to enjoy clerical and most forms of office work, where they perform essential administrative duties. They often form the backbone of large and small organisations alike. They may enjoy being in charge of office filing systems, and using computers and other office equipment to keep things running smoothly. They usually like routine work hours and prefer comfortable indoor workplaces.

To work as an Entry grade Phlebotomist, you will require registration with CORU as a healthcare professional. Normally via Nursing or allied healthcare courses at NFQ level 5-6 in Further education and training, or NFQ levels 6-8 in Higher education Institutions.  

Training & Development 

FET Centre Traineeship Healthcare support NFQ level 5 Search FET courses

FET PLC Courses Healthcare Assitant, Nursing Studies, Nursing Studies - Healthcare Support, Nursing / Midwifery Studies, Pre-Nursing, Veterinary Nursing, Healthcare Support NFQ level 5 & 6 Search FET PLC courses

Apprenticeship Healthcare Apprenticeship NFQ level 6 Search Apprenticeships

HSE Criterion Hold a qualification in Phlebotomy on the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ) maintained by Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) at Level 6 or higher

or

Hold the Certificate in Phlebotomy from TUD/DCU/National Ambulance Service College or equivalent Phlebotomy qualification

OR

Be registered as a Nurse or Midwife on the active register maintained by an Bord Altranais agus Cnáimhseachais na hÉireann (Nursing & Midwifery Board of Ireland) or be entitled to be so registered. OR (iv) Be currently employed as a Phlebotomist with a minimum of two years’ experience in an acute Hospital (general or Specialist).

Nurse/Midwife Phlebotomists must maintain live annual registration in the general division of the Nurses & Midwives Register maintained by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland [NMBI] (Bord Altranais agus Cnáimhseachais na hÉireann). AND (ii) Nurse/Midwife Phlebotomists must confirm annual registration with NMBI to the HSE by way of the annual Patient Safety Assurance Certificate (PSAC).

Senior Grade Phlebotomist

Hold a qualification in Phlebotomy on the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ) maintained by Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) at Level 6 or higher and have a minimum of three years full-time or an aggregate of three years fulltime current and relevant experience as a phlebotomist.

OR

(ii) Hold the Certificate in Phlebotomy from DIT/DCU/National Ambulance Service College or equivalent Phlebotomy qualification and have a minimum of three years full-time or an aggregate of three years fulltime current and relevant experience as a phlebotomist

OR

(iii) Be registered as a nurse or midwife on the active register maintained by an Bord Altranais agus Cnáimhseachais na hÉireann (Nursing & Midwifery Board of Ireland) or be entitled to be so registered and have a minimum of three years full-time or an aggregate of three years fulltime current and relevant experience as a phlebotomist.

OR (iv) Effective to 30th April 2022; be currently employed as a Phlebotomist without satisfying (i), (ii) or (iii) above in an acute Hospital (general or Specialist) and have a minimum of three years full-time or an aggregate of three years full-time current and relevant experience as a Phlebotomist. 

Phlebomotist Association of Ireland  

Last Updated: April, 2023

Salary Range (thousands per year)* €26k - €51k

Salaries vary based on employer, location, experience, duties, and role.

Data Source(s):
HSE/ Indeed

Last Updated: July, 2024

* The lower figures typically reflect starting salaries. Higher salaries are awarded to those with greater experience and responsibility. Positions in Dublin sometimes command higher salaries.

View Salary information from Indeed.ie
Note: data not aways available

This information has been derived from the Solas National Skills Bulletin (2023).

Employment growth was strong for this occupation, particularly between 2021 and 2022. Census data shows that employment grew across all roles in this group between 2016 and 2022, with the strongest growth for pharmaceutical technicans.

The number of online job adverts for pharmaceutical technicians grew strongly in 2022 (+14%); skills in demand included, among others pharmaceutical knowledge, the ability to provide customer service & advice, and business skills, such as product sales.

A small number of employment permits were issued in 2022 for cardiac physiologists and paramedics. The available data sources do not signal any issues in relation to supply and demand for health associate professional occupations; however, if employment was to continue to increase, recruitment issues may emerge.

Scientists

The annual employment growth rate over the five-year period was above average for this occupation, with employment increasing by almost 2,000 persons between 2021 and 2022. Almost a third of employment was in industry with the remainder spread across many sectors. The number of new employment permits issued grew from 164 to 506 between 2021 and 2022, with two fifths of permits issued for roles in the manufacturing of chemicals/pharma sub-sector for scientists and analysts (e.g. quality control, chemists); other roles include medical scientists/technologists, microbiologists, process development and R&D scientists.

In June 2022, medical scientists were moved to the Critical Skills Employment Permit List due to issues with sourcing suitable candidates; in Summer 2023, the Government announced plans to expand the number of training places for medical scientists by 20 places. The Recruitment Agency Survey identified difficult-to-fill vacancy mentions for analytical and process scientists. Online job adverts for this occupation grew slightly in 2022, almost all related to posts for R&D managers. This was the most frequently occurring occupation in online job adverts in 2022. With employment levels increasing and demand still evident, shortages are expected to persist for this occupation, particularly in the chemical/pharmaceutical manufacturing sector, for those with experience and/or in niche areas.

The recent decline in the value of pharmaceutical exports in Ireland is unlikely to have a significant impact on the demand for skills as, in addition to being in strong demand in the pharma & biopharma processing industry, they are much sought after elsewhere in both the life sciences sector (e.g. medical devices) and other manufacturing (e.g. food & beverage); in addition, Government focus (and investment) on research and innovation will also sustain the already strong demand for these skills37. Shortag

• Health Service Executive (HSE)

  • Dr Steevens' Hospital, Steevens Lane, Dublin, 8
  • 041 685 0300
  • Click Here

• Medical Laboratory Scientists Association (MLSA)

  • 5th Floor Liberty Hall, Dublin 1
  • (01) 858 6472
  • Click Here

• National Association of Phlebotomists

  • 12 Coldbath Square, London EC1R 5HL, UK
  • + 44 20 7833 8784
  • [email protected]
  • Click Here