Gaining Phlebotomy Skills in High School is a Win-Win

By: Monica K. Dansack, public relations coordinator at Penta Career Center

Photo Credits: Brant Baker, Adult-Post Secondary coordinator at Penta Career Center & Monica K. Dansack

High school students studying healthcare programs at Penta Career Center in Perrysburg, Ohio are getting the best of both worlds through a unique educational partnership with the school’s Adult Postsecondary division. During the past few years, Penta has provided tuition-free phlebotomy courses during the second semester of the school year for high school students.

“Phlebotomy has always been a popular course for area adults, but recently, more of our high school students are taking advantage of the opportunity to take the course while still in high school,” said Phil Stockwell, supervisor of workforce development/regional programs at Penta Career Center. “During our current semester we had so much interest that we added an additional section so we now have two instructors.”

This semester, 22 high school students are taking the phlebotomy course and seven adults are also enrolled. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (March, 2024), phlebotomy employment is expected to grow eight percent within the next decade, which verifies that there continues to be high demand.

Penta’s high school students are pleased with the program because it’s a win-win scenario for them. Not only are students earning a career passport, industry-credentials, and a high school diploma upon completing their healthcare programs, but they are also gaining an industry-recognized credential in phlebotomy. The students will become Certified Phlebotomy Technicians (CPTs) through the National Healthcareer Association (NHA) once they complete the 100-hour course.

Students realize that the course offers tremendous opportunities, critical skills, preparation for college, and cost savings.

“Phlebotomy is going to give me hands-on experience and more skills,” said Kaitlyn Ingle, a senior from Swanton, Ohio. “Plus, the course has saved me money and it’s preparing me for nursing school.”

Other students such as Tristan Thompson, a senior from Maumee, Ohio, is hoping phlebotomy will land him a job while he’s on a gap year from college. “I want to get a job right after this class is completed so I can get immediate experience in a hospital or clinical setting,” Thompson said.

Convenience is another important benefit the students receive by taking phlebotomy. The course is offered at a convenient time, two evenings per week after their high school classes are completed for the day. The students really like that the course takes place in their own school building and in their own classroom.

“Phlebotomy is a good opportunity to get a new certification,” said Eona Janto, a senior from Perrysburg, Ohio. “It’s very convenient to have the course after school and in the Penta building.”

Teaching the course for both high school students and adults in a combined class has been a good experience, according to Dina Retske, instructor, who also works as a lab technician assistant for Mercy Health-St. Anne Hospital in Toledo.

“The high school students learn a lot from the adults and the adults learn important study skills from the students,” said Retske. “They really are all on the same level and it’s a very humbling experience.”

Throughout the course, students have regular classwork and clinical training. Not only do they practice venipunctures and capillary sticks, but they also learn how to perform blood cultures.

Although the students are juggling many deadlines and assignments by taking another course after school hours, they believe it helps them create better balance in their school and personal life.

“You need to practice good time management,” said Oluwafeyikemi Adeyemo, a senior from Maumee, Ohio. “It’s hectic and packed with material, but I’m able to balance both my high school medical technologies class and phlebotomy at the same time. In the end, I’ll be success ready.”