*Are you a former student of Simone's that would like to share your phlebotomy story? We are collecting testimonials from former students. In the interest of reaching as many people as possible, we would also like to record your story in a non-English language if we can. If you speak Korean, Urdu, Russian, Ukrainian, Tagalog, Vietnamese, Khmer, Chinese, Hindi or any other language, we would like to share your story in any language you feel comfortable speaking.
Here are some testimonials by students who have successfully completed the RTC Phlebotomy Program and gone on the find employment. You can listen to the students tell their stories in their own words. (Some are video and some are just stills of class visits, but the overall message is the same: Simone's "tough-love" policy can get you a job in 12 weeks!)
Thank you all for sharing your struggles, your fears and your triumphs!
Hey Simone and John!!!
It's Eri from fall 2012 class!! How are you guys?! Hope you both had a wonderful holiday and new years!
I just wanted to update you on how things are going along with the job search.
Well, I recently got hired for Paclab! I'm kind of a "float" where I go to different Paclab clinics around the Renton area. This is only a temp position but they said they like to promote within so I'm just hoping for a permanent position to open up! Its a full time position, 40 hours a week! and starting pays for $13.65, not a lot, but good enough for me!
I just want to thank you guys for all you've done to teach me and I will never forget our time together!!
Eri Gacud
P.S. I have pictures of us attached from our last day of class! :)
Way to go Eri! Simone will be sending a new group of students your way soon!
A former student named Yiing wrote from Taiwan... January 2013 Dear Simone: Happy new year! Wow, I just realized it has been 5 years since I took your class in the winter of 2008. How are you? You may be wondering who is Yiing? I was in your phlebotomy class the winter of 2008, and while I was in your class I was also enrolled in the MLT class. Because of our MLT schedules, you had to work out our Phlebotomy clinical rotation into a longer period of time! And, I went to Overlake Hospital for my clinical rotation and got excellent feedback. Does that ring a bell? ^_^ I came back to Taiwan after graduting from the MLT class and have been working for almost two years in a cord blood bank. Although I don't draw blood anymore, what you taught is really helpful in my work. Because I realized I still like to work in the healthcare facilities and there is so much to learn, I decided to pursue a graduate degree in public health-related field. Thank you and have a Happy new year!! Sincerely, Yiing
Jinyi (Fall 2012) "I am hired."
Hi Miss Terrell and Mr. Falconer:
How was your Christmas?
I
think you might want to know that I got hired! It was confirmed before Christmas. And I will be
attending training from January 7th to about 2 months' length. (The
whole training is paid, same as working, yeah!)
Sincerely,
Jinyi
Zoey (Fall 2012) wrote after an exciting event took place at her clinical externship. She remained graceful under pressure and had the skills and confidence she needed to stay cool, calm and collected during a real-life medical emergency!
Way to go Zoey!!!!
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| From TESTIMONIALS -- ZOEY (11062012) |
Hey Simone! Just thought I'd let you know everything is going perfect at my clinic. I don't think it's possible for me to have a better experience anywhere else, the drive is well worth it. I'm meeting such nice people here, they're having me draw on my own now, which feels great to have their trust! Today someone had a heart attack and was a "rapid" draw and they saw me on the floor and called me over from the end of the hallway, I had to run there to do a draw from them, I was so nervous at first but as I was drawing her with eight other people in the room working on her too, and I tuned everyone out and heard your voice reminding me of everything I needed to do! I think I'm doing very well here and I just wanted to say thank you again for teaching me everything I needed to know to get me through a draw I didn't even know I was ready for! -Zoey
We heard recently from Landing, a student originally from Africa, who came through the Spring 2012 program and found work in August at Evergreen Hospital in Kirkland.
"It's been a while since our graduation on August 2nd 2012, but I hope you are fine and doing well and of course, enjoying your summer holidays before "fall quarter commences" in next few weeks. Well, as I always tell you that, I personally appreciate all that you've done for us as your students, both you and Mr. John Falconer went above and beyond by giving us all the tools we needed to be successful, and I will forever be faithful to you both.
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Finally, I wish to inform you two that I started working full-time for Evergreen Hospital Medical Center in Kirkland as "clinical lab assistant 1" in the main laboratory. I wish all my fellow classmates the same opportunity in obtaining employment, sooner than later,"Ameen".
Terry Ann also wrote recently to say the following: I secured a full-time administrative position with Group Health and a part-time weekend Phlebotomy position with Lab Corp. ...Please let Simone and the students know that Lab Corp's hiring process takes a long time and to not give up with them. I applied to over 20+ positions with them over a three month period before I got my first interview. Also, by the time they called me, I was in the process of securing full-time administrative work and when my interview arrived, my needs changed from full-time phlebotomy work to part-time.
...I am so thankful that God may a way for me to do Phlebotomy." Now on to the important information that the students want to know ...how much am I getting paid... My base wage is $14+ with 5% to compensate for no benefits +$2 for working on the weekend from 6am to 2:30pm. Total compensation is $17+ per hour.
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| e-mail Testimonial from TERRY ANN!!! |
Maryna wrote to tell us the following: "This is Maryna, now I am working at Labcorp. I am so happy and I love this job. I have good benefits and they pay me so good/" ($15+/hour)
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| e-mail Testimonial from MARYNA!!! |
Russ Byrne stopped by the lab today and offered a few words of support to students just starting out. (The sound quality is a little bit low, but it's worth listening to.) Thank you for your candor and your insights, Russ!
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| e-mail Testimonial from TARA!!! |
This is Tara from the March 2010 class.
I just wanted to say thanks for all your help. I love my job. I love my coworkers. I'm making more money than I ever have before and I have 100% paid benefits. Life is good! =)
Good luck to all the students going job hunting. I hope they don't give up after externships. I didn't get hired at my externship site, but I did get an excellent letter of recommendation that I feel pretty certain landed me 3 job offers. HOWEVER it wasn't until 5 months after I graduated.So make sure to tell those students I said to keep up on their draws.
Sincerely,
Tara
Leshmi studied in the phlebotomy program with Simone 12 years ago (2000)! She quit the class after the first day, but Simone convinced her not to and to keep trying. 12 years and thousands of sticks later, Leshmi is taking her phlebotomy career to the next level. She will be returning to school to study forensic medicine and will work with King County, scouring blood specimens for evidence of crime! What's more, the hospital she works for will be paying ALL OF HER EXPENSES! She had nice words of encouragement for our phlebotomy newbies. One important one is "Don't Give Up!" Thank you Leshmi!
Kaylee joined the phlebotomy program straight out of high school with the running start program a couple of years ago and has been a full-time equivalent at an area hospital since being hired right out of her externship! She is already well on her way to becoming a nurse. Way to go Kaylee! Keep on doing what you do!
Jaycee joined the class with three children (one an infant) and worked really hard to pull herself up. She has been working full-time equivalent (minimum 16 hours per week guaranteed, but she was always able to work 40). She really impressed the people at a local hospital and she is now working "full-time full-time," with benefits. Listen to her moving story.
Diana studied with Simone many years ago (2004) and still enjoys working as a phlebotomist. She (finally!) convinced her husband, Omar, to study phlebotomy too and he will be joining the class in the spring of 2012. (Omar is now a Nationally Certified Phlebotomist and hopefully, he too, will soon be gainfully employed!!))
Kristi stopped by in January to get some paperwork for her new employee packet and was good enough to encourage the class. She offered insights into clinical experience, how to prepare for exams and she talked about her wages and hours. Thank you Kristi!
John was making a mid-life career change and came to phlebotomy to see if Allied Health/Nursing would be a good fit. Simone provided initial training and assistance that convinced him it would be. John was pinned as an RN in the spring of 2011! Congratulations!
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