Shortage of Butterfly Needle Gauge Across the U.S. Has Been Affecting Laboratories

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A butterfly needle, a winged infusion or scalp vein set, is a tiny needle designed for venipuncture. The needle has a small diameter attached to a thin, flexible tube designed to easily access veins to draw blood or administer IV medications and fluids. The needle owes its name because its plastic flaps on either side give it a winged appearance.

A butterfly needle is known for being thin, reaching hard-to-reach superficial veins, and lasting on the body for several days with minimal discomfort, making it a vital medical device widely used in laboratories and hospitals. However, there have been reports of its shortage since the pandemic across the U.S.

Why is this shortage, and how is it affecting the laboratories nationwide- we’ll discuss it in this article!

Shortage of Butterfly Needle Gauge Across the U.S.

The spike in the number of patients since the outburst of the pandemic caused a shortage of butterfly needle gauges. Why? Because butterfly needles were widely used to administer IV medication and fluids to millions of people, including children, adults, and the elderly, affected by the health crisis. In addition, COVID-19 also caused a prevalence of chronic diseases.

With more and more patients flooding the hospitals and laboratories, more butterfly needles have been used to draw blood for labs and give fluids and medications through veins. This caused a shortage of this device across the U.S. Many COVID patients with mild or severe symptoms needed IV fluids and medication infusions.

In addition, COVID-19 has caused a decline in the population’s overall health, causing a significant increase in the number of patients with chronic diseases who need long-term treatments. Many were hospitalized and needed intensive medical care, causing a significant increase in the use of butterfly needles, eventually causing a shortage.

And this shortage has also been observed in other medical devices, including syringes, blood specimen collection tubes, etc. A sharp spike in demand for these devices amid the pandemic resulted in supply disruption.

Butterfly needles and other medical supplies used for blood collection and administering medications are becoming scarce as their use has been more than usual in the past few years. The major reason is the manufacturing capacity, which is much lower than the demand for these devices.

The shortage can be a big challenge for the healthcare sector, and suppliers have already warned to limit the use of these devices. Otherwise, this shortage can halt many operations in laboratories and healthcare facilities.

What to Do?

To overcome the challenge of this shortage of butterfly needles and other medical supplies, FDA has published recommendations for healthcare professionals.

Healthcare providers must limit the use of these devices and dedicate them only to situations when needed. FDA calls for straight needles instead of butterfly needles. In addition, straight needles are more cost-effective, allowing multiple blood samples in a single shot.

Laboratories and medical facilities that want sufficient stocks of butterfly needles must seek private suppliers with more of these items in their inventory.

Phlebotomy Career Training is one of the medical institutes that realize the gravity of this issue and limit the use of butterfly needles only to venipunctures when it is required to access small veins.

Reach Out to the Phlebotomy Career Training Team to Enroll in a Medical Health Career of Your Choice!

Phlebotomy Career Training offers a wide range of medical career and certifications in-class and online and provides its students with a Virtual Simulation Kit (VSK) containing butterfly needles, straight needles, and different colored tubes, which they can use to practice venipunctures as much as they can and also meet the core clinical requirements of the course.

Register for your desired course today if you’re passionate about becoming a certified phlebotomist, IV technician, Medical Assistant, or more. Our graduates thrive in the medical field and have a high occupancy rate in top medical facilities nationwide.There are so many more choices to consider as you browse a wide range of courses available both online and in class in many different fields of healthcare. You can become a certified dialysis technician, a patient care technician, an electrocardiogram technician, or even a medical coding & billing professional.

Visit the NAPTP, the NTA and the NIVA to learn ore about guidelines and standard practices implemented and followed to ensure patient and employee safety comes first.

Call (734) 762-3220 or visit the website for more information!

Our Students’ Success Stories are What PCT is All About

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Phlebotomy Career Training–Our Students’ Success Stories are What PCT is All About

Phlebotomy Career Training is a leading healthcare institute in Michigan, offering students nationwide a wide range of medical health careers and certifications in class and online. At PCT, our goal is to provide our students with top-notch training through expert instructors who teach them one-on-one and interact with them in real-time. And in return, we get their appreciation, respect, and love. Our students’ success stories on our website and social media speak of our success.

Here’s what you need to know if you’re interested in registering for one of our courses to become a certified healthcare professional!

The Phlebotomy Career Training Students Share their Success Stories

The first thing students look for when they’re interested in seeking certification from any institute is what their students say about them. The Phlebotomy Career Training is recognized by its student’s success stories which they share with us on our website and social media platforms. Their success is what PCT is all about.

We welcome passionate students from Michigan and from all over the country so they can pursue their dream careers of becoming healthcare professionals and practice side by side with doctors. Our expert instructors and highly regarded courses are designed to develop the key skills our students need to become expert phlebotomists, IV technicians, medical assistants, and more.

We also offer a virtual alternative to all our Phlebotomy Technician and IV Technician students who cannot access internships in their area. Using the VSK (Virtual Simulation Kit), we offer with our courses allows students to practice as much as they want at home as a virtual internship online and complete their course’s clinical requirements.

Our students share their testimony, how they lived their training course within our institute, our pedagogical approach, and their successful careers in the medical field. They are the best witnesses to convey their experience with us and their feelings about our training.

Students speak of our exceptional instructors, who are very professional and passionate about the medical field, making learning easy and fun. Our small-sized classes for a more personalized experience, expertise, and the highest standard of education make us recognized and distinguished from others.

Another major appreciation we get is the standard of education offered at our institute, coupled with the flexibility and the ideal compromise to combine knowledge and experience.

Do You Want to Work Successfully in the Medical Field? Reach Out to the PCT Team!

Are you passionate about helping others and want to pursue a medical career to become a certified healthcare professional? Contact the Phlebotomy Career Training team and register for one of our courses.

You will find a wide range of courses available both online and in class in many different fields of healthcare. You can become a certified phlebotomist, a medical assistant, an IV technician, or even a medical coding & billing professional and work as an important part of medical administrative teams in healthcare facilities. Other options to look into are dialysis technician, patient care technician, telemetry technician and more!

Our programs  are supported by certifying bodies which means gaining a place ahead of others in a variety of frontline medical careers.  Visit the NAPTP, the NTA and the NIVA to learn ore about guidelines and standard practices implemented and followed to ensure patient and employee safety comes first.

Look for our students’ success stories on our website, sharing their good memories with our institute about how PCT allowed them to study more professionally and work as healthcare professionals in reputable hospitals and medical facilities. If you wish to work alongside surgeons and doctors, call 888-410-6416 or visit the website now!

Phlebotomy Career Training Offers a Great Online and In Class Support Team 

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Phlebotomy Career Training Offers a Great Online and In Class Support Team Aimed at Answering Students’ Questions and Helping Them Get Answers Quickly

Many students who dream of becoming healthcare professionals give up because their everyday responsibilities consume them. Their lives are at maximum capacity with a full-time jobs, family, and everyday tasks. Fortunately, Phlebotomy Career Training addresses this issue by offering students both online and in-class medical health careers and certifications. Students can pursue their dream careers and enter the medical field without compromising their current job and work-life balance.

Here’s what you need to know:

The Support Team at Phlebotomy Career Training

There’s a widespread belief that online medical certification classes are not as reliable as the in-class experience. However, it’s just a misconception, and in reality, online programs are no less than in-person programs. The online courses offered at the Phlebotomy Career Training (PCT) are led by expert instructors who welcome students and interact with them in real time.

Unlike e-learning and simple tutorials, the PCT allows you to benefit from strong interactivity with expert instructors and other learners. The support team at PCT is aimed at assisting both online and in-class students and answering all their questions and concerns rapidly.

Classes are small-sized, allowing instructors to spend quality time with students individually. The support team comprises BSNs, MSN-FNP, and medical students and educators with decades of experience to share their knowledge and expertise with students.

And the best part about these courses is that they are highly flexible and you can complete them at your own pace. You can access the courses and all course materials at any time from anywhere seamlessly. Our instructors interact through Zoom and other platforms, offering students real-time experience and providing them with feedback and answers to their questions.

Whether you want to become a phlebotomist, a medical assistant, or an IV technician, we offer multiple courses allowing students to enter the medical field regardless of their professional and educational background. The Phlebotomy Technician Course will allow you to become a phlebotomist and practice in healthcare facilities. It is a great alternative career for individuals passionate about helping others and becoming a healthcare professional.

PCT has been graduating students from Michigan as well as nationwide since 2009 in various frontline medical careers. Our online and in-class programs are supported by leading certifying bodies, such as American Medical Certification Association and National Center for Competency Testing.

Register Now to Become a Healthcare Professional!

If you are passionate about medical careers, we advise you to register now. Use your time wisely and embark on your journey to becoming a certified healthcare professional and get the opportunity to work abreast doctors and surgeons.

For more information and to register for one of our courses, call (734) 762-3220 or visit the website!

Your Medical Health Career has no Limits

Now that you know how supportive PCT is, also keep in mind that your career in healthcare has no limits. Other medical health careers to explore at Phlebotomy Career Training include pharmacy technician, medical assistant certifications, electrocardiogram technician, certified nurse’s aid and so much more. With courses available both online and in class you are sure to find a program that works with you!

To learn more about guidelines and standard practices in phlebotomy from the naptp, telemetry (NTA) and IV certifications (NIVA)call and speak to a program specialist today! Obtaining national training with certification from organizations such as these will keep you up to date on leading industry standards and will set you apart from the competition.

Why Is Being a Phlebotomist a Great Career?

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Is phlebotomy a promising career? The question is often asked due to skepticism rather than curiosity. However, this article will provide ample reasons to pursue phlebotomy regardless of your current stance.

Keep reading to find out more.

5 Reasons to Pursue Phlebotomy

Here are five reasons phlebotomy is a great career option for anyone interested in the medical field.

Highly Demanded Career

The Bureau of Labor and Statistics recently published the job outlook report for phlebotomists, which indicates that during 2021-30 the career will notice a 10% faster growth rate than other careers. This report indicates how in-demand phlebotomy is in today’s medical field. Hence, more medical facilities will demand phlebotomists on their professional teams. 

Stable Salary 

As the demand for phlebotomy grows, so will the salary. Therefore, the median pay of a phlebotomist is over $37K per year.

Moreover, the job’s location and years of experience also make a difference. Hence, a highly experienced phlebotomist practicing in a state with a high minimum wage will likely earn more than a novice phlebotomist.

Work in Various Medical Settings

A phlebotomist isn’t bound within the walls of hospitals. They can work in various medical settings, including laboratories, outpatient facilities, nursing homes, blood collection units, etc. Hence, phlebotomists can experience various medical settings and decide which one they want to pursue full-time.

Furthermore, currently, mobile phlebotomists are also in-demand. People who can’t reach medical facilities for blood tests ask for mobile phlebotomists. These skillful medical workers procure samples from the patient’s location. Hence, phlebotomy can suit your interests if you love outdoor work settings or traveling.

Flexible Work Hours

Since phlebotomists work in various settings, their work hours aren’t fixed either. If you’re working under an independent contractor, your work schedule will look quite different than a full-time hospital phlebotomist. Moreover, the weekly schedule of phlebotomists is also lighter than another medical staff member’s schedule.

Therefore, phlebotomists have more flexible schedules, allowing them to spend more time with their families and friends.

Fast Certification Program

Today’s world demands speed. That’s what you get if you pursue phlebotomy.

Various educational institutes offer phlebotomy courses that require less than eight months. However, the recent online courses allow students to set their pace and complete the course whenever feasible.

Moreover, there aren’t any prerequisites to enroll in a phlebotomy course except for a high school diploma. Therefore, people with no prior work experience can also register themselves.

Some institutes provide internship opportunities for students interested in hands-on work experience. However, some might offer virtual alternatives to students who cannot make time for internships.

Hence, phlebotomy certification isn’t only fast-paced but can also be customized.

Bottom Line

So, is phlebotomy a promising career? The answer to this question depends upon your interest. If you’re motivated to save people’s lives and want a successful career in the medical field, phlebotomy is a great career. Additionally, all the reasons mentioned in this post are worth keeping in mind when deciding to pursue phlebotomy.

If you’re interested in studying phlebotomy online, Phlebotomy Career Training’s certified courses are a great place to leap. Visit their website for more information.

Phlebotomy Career Training Has it All

Did you know hat PCT has everything you need to start a career in medical health? Courses and materials, National certifications, hands-on experience, and so much more. With so many course options and levels available, it’s up to you how far you want to take your career.

If you want a competitive edge and opportunity for a long term career, our national certifications are what you need.


Set yourself apart and above the competition with a national certification in phlebotomy. The NAPTP is committed to establishing guidelines, procedures and protocol that puts patient safety first, a top priority throughout the healthcare industry with phlebotomy as a leader. Check out the programs and certifications available here.

Did you know that PCT offers more than phlebotomy? Check out our online class choices as well as our in class options for a career path that speaks to you. Pharmacy certification, medical coding and billing, patient care technician are just a few examples.

Other programs and certifications that Phlebotomy Career Training is affiliated with that you should check out are the National IV Association and the National Telemetry Association. Obtaining national training with certification from organizations such as these will keep you up to date on leading industry standards making you a first choice.