phlebotomist

emergency medical technician

licensed practical nurse

paramedic

registered nurse

Octapharma Plasma

I worked as a phlebotomist, and one thing I can say is that you either work here or a fast food chain. There is no difference between the two. Super fast paced and stressful. At the branch I worked at I only got 30 minute lunch and no breaks. You only get your 15 minute break if you work as a screener or in the lab processing the plasma bottles. About 30% of the donors never wanted me to stick them because they didn't trust me regardless if I was the top 5 phlebs.

Some Donors are disrespectful and majority of them don't even want to talk to you unless you're a woman or they know you. I made more friends with new donors than old ones. Our branch was always always always short staffed. Nearly 200 donors a day and only 3 phlebs doing everything from setup, disconnect, and sticking. The rarest days are when we actually get a 4th and 5th phleb and 2 techs who set up and take down machines. Management wanted everyone to know how to stick eventually and were training people slowly 1-by-1. Pay was not okay especially for a specialized position like phlebotomy. I got paid double as a food service worker in a hospital than this and I was able to pay all my bills and rent and still be able to live comfortably! I mean you are sticking people and these donors rely on you to stick them without any errors, and the extensive amount of training you get is crazy. They would also send people home only in the morning if it is slow, so you won't really get all your hours unless you use your PTO on those hours you were sent home for. 

The training I had was amazing, they do leave some things out of the hands on training or do not bother going in depth with, so you have to ask the pro phlebs for advice.

Management was good in my branch, and everyone was very nice to me except for a couple people. I never really connected with any of my coworkers much because I was always on the move, always setting up, taking down, sticking consistently. And on my 30 minute lunch I never had the energy to talk to anyone, just wanted to eat my lunch and go back to work and get the day over with. 

Hardest part of the job was sticking. I never really got used to it even though I worked there for almost a year, yet my accuracy was 95-99% all the time. It really annoyed me because you use such a big needle and about 70% that come in always had the smallest veins and for some apparent reason I always got stuck with those same donors and then I'd have to constantly ask other phlebs for assistance and it really discouraged me from even bothering to get into the medical field. Not that it's all bad, of course it's a challenge and great practice if you're planning to get into healthcare. You'll just find yourself unable to do it "by the book". You'll know what I mean if you ever work there as a Phleb. And I'm sure that's anywhere as a phleb, not just here at Octapharma. I've even seen hospital phlebs not following protocol, but they still get that blood when they need it and their technique works. I'm not going to say what those techniques are, so you'll figure it out once you're there. Then again. Every place I've ever worked (aside from Tesla and houskeeping jobs) never really worked "by the book" because it really doesn't work half the time, but anyway, sorry to get sidetracked, yes, sticking is pretty difficult.

The most enjoyable part of my job is when everything goes as planned. Perfect sticks, no slow or error lights on the machine, and all you do is stand on the far corner of your pod, watch your donors, and watch tv. 

I've learned a lot about phlebotomy, blood, veins, and arteries during my year in Octapharma Plasma. Will I ever work there again? I'll avoid it like the plague. Will I recommend it to other people? Not really. It's better to work at one of those drug testing places where all you do is draw blood from people and send them off their mary way. Why won't I recommend it to others? Because it's a very stressful environment and I believe if you want to be a phleb, it should not be as stressful as this.

If you're just coming out if high school or just starting out in the workforce and want a headstart in a specialized career, I would recommend drawing blood in drug testing places, but if you're a masochist then work here. There's no difference between donor centers and fast food chains aside from the experience you get.

First let it be know for the record this company has the worst turnout rate I have ever seen. Orlando Edgewater location for 8 months working 20 employees have mostly left or fired due to poor working conditions or two much work to do. Plasma is a unique industry, yes it helps with medicine but what can be found there is are recurrent donors that come and donate for mire 20 bucks even spending till 10 at night. Some rely on it as to spending there last gas other do it out of goodness to help and enjoy the reward of the first five heavy payouts. But as far as working there:

-The more you get cross trained the more you work. The more will be expected of you. jumping from one station to the next. I enjoy fast pace environments but when you constantly work like a manager and you don't get paid as one then its a no go.
-Terrible staff. I have had multiple disagreements with my Assistant manager, he literally told me I was being insubordinate for taking my lunch after doors closed after all the primary duties done towards end of shift. If you work here you will be told constantly not to do this or that. they do not like being efficient or effective, they want same repetitive motion with every donor. no gray area. do everything as the protocol saids and don't do a better job at it.
- It pays to be a screener, salary is low but they always leave punctually.
- never offered insurance had to appeal due to constant complications. paid so much on the medical side it was not worth it and then had to wait till new year to price drop insurance.
- fight for PTOs to use, to take days off, to take a sick day, I once had a family emergency where I had to go to hospital and i was penalized awarded points.
- Don't pay PTOs if quit and supposedly if fired (
- if you get on management bad side they will put you on closing shift where you don't know when you leave and make you work every weekend for 2-3 months.
-closing is unproductive. you can plan to leave at 8:00-8:30 with few people at center, and a new donor comes at 7:59 and your forced to help them do 7 step then donate and they take hours to finish. (you have to wait to last person is done to leave)
- being a phlebotomist you are one of the last to leave at night.
- I'm supposed to make 39 a year and after 8 months i only made 22?
- Orlando edgewater is the literals skeleton crew. multiple donors stating that. they jam pack the morning shift full of people then night only 3 closing on the floor 4 is a great night. 
- Forced to stay inside building if your the only physician substitute (psub, nurse, doctor)
- I want to be specific donation is a monopoly affect. the screening for a donor each step takes time from questions (5minutes) to vitals (5 minutes) to floor (45 minutes to hour) to discounting (4-5 minutes) to processing (do know). so think about those times if you have some where to go or if your missing your family you will not get to spend much time with them if they do a 9-5.
- disgusting location, run down center. trash every where. people living behind bushes in back of center.
- only 30 minute breaks 2 15 minute break that you don't always get to get go there
- can't be long in bathroom or they will look for you
- most over time i have received is 3 hours
- constant callouts will leave you working twice or three times as much
- mandatory monthly meetings that occur during normal working hours and then complain they don't have enough hours
- only learned to get better at the system they use (nexlynx)
-etc etc etc to much to name and fingers are starting to get tired

I'll just leave you with this I enjoyed getting terminated so I can look for a better job. If you get hired and read this. start looking for another job. even if the price is a little less its still worth it than to work so much and so late.

● Work-life balance
The management at this location do not care about your life. They only care about their own. The center director in her own words “my employees will work what I schedule them whether they like it or not”

● Pay & benefits
The pay is decent but not worth your happiness or life. No pay would ever be worth working here. You get NO sick days. Absolutely none.

● Job security and advancement
There is no job security here. The center director ALWAYS threatens to fire everyone and just get new staff. She does not care about her employees AT ALL. they state that there is advancements available but they do nothing to help you get there. No training, no encouragement, if you ask a question you are treated as if you’re stupid.

● Management
Management only cares about theirselves and money and has a terrible attitude. You are expected to never get sick or to never have to call in. My father was on his death bed so I had to call in to be with him and when I did, my job status was threatened. They do not help you when help is asked for. They do not teach you to help you advance and all around everything about management here is awful.

● Culture
The center director and manager definitely plays favorites. And the center director shows all signs of racial favoritism as well.

● Overall
This place of employment is the absolute worst place to work. There has been many days where I leave crying due to being so stressed or feeling so worthless where I start bawling as soon as I get into my car. The management is terrible and do not know how to make schedules. The center director does not put the schedule out until two days prior to that week majority of the time and then will change it without notifying staff. Then staff will get in trouble for not showing up or being late for shift when they weren’t notified the schedule had been changed. She also shows racial favoritism and constantly threatens to fire people. They will tell you that there is room for advancements but they will not help you get there or help you learn how to improve your skills. You are expected to work every weekend and every holiday while they are at home with their families. I DO NOT recommend this place of employment to ANYONE. no matter what the pay is.

Ahh Octapharma Plasma... So many miserable faces so little positive attitudes. A typical day is seeing 300-500+ donors a day! Many impatient or aggravated about its pace, but they gotta do what they gotta do make some income. That's one of the biggest reasons why donors come in, to make some kind of income. As a person who goes in everyday to make a paycheck, there is a lot of stress associated from this job. Inadequate staffing and scheduling by management has literally majorly affected the workflow in a negative way, in fact so bad its causing unnecessary workload on all the staff. On a good day, you stay caught up with your bay and having everyone paid and happy. On a bad day, you're struggling to hold a bay of donors by yourself (usually you are part of a two man squad for 12-24 donors but on these days, you're on your own...) and it results in terrible customer service and easily avoidable tension. Distrust in management sets in quickly after your 90 day "probation period" because they often switch your schedule and off days to compensate for others who intentionally call off often which only results a slap on the wrist IF they like that staff member. Favoritism is the name of the game. Suck up to the bosses and backstab your coworkers to avoid most problems regarding your employment. Sounds ridiculous right? I wish I were lying. I've seen hard workers out of a job while slackers keep theirs!! Ones with "company getting risked of getting shut down" kinds of mistakes. Pay is atrocious and getting overtime gets you written up in a heartbeat. Oh and hours are easy but hard to get. You're set up (on the paper) for getting 6.5- 7.5 hrs everyday. Rarely will you get a perfect 8 hrs in a day. The most enjoyable parts are on a good day everyone gets together and laugh their troubles away, everyone works like a team, donors are happy, and the schedule is done right! This is definitely a "first time working out of school" kind of job to get you ready for an exciting career as a Medical Assistant! If you can handle the pressures of this job, then you're ready for any Medical office you want to go to! Guaranteed!! 

The amount of things you’re expected to do as a Phys Sub that was never mentioned in the job description is insane.  You’re not just a phys sub, you’re also expected to be a screener, phlebotomist, lab tech, trainer, and stocker.  Expect to deal with incredibly rude and disrespectful and creepy donors and receive zero backup from managers.  It is pure stress from open to close, and if it were not for my amazing coworkers, I would not still be here.  

There have been several times where we as employees have learned that one of us has COVID, and there was zero warning to us, several of which either are or are close to someone immunocompromised.  Masks were not required unless there was a mandate, despite being a medical center.

Gloves are not changed between sticking people, disconnecting, cleaning beds, and cavacide is only used on direct blood spills.  

Good luck trying to have a personal life next to this job, god forbid you have mental health / a disability, you’ll receive absolutely no support or accommodation.  The point system for tardiness can actually prevent you from getting raises and cross training, despite the understaffing.

The employee turnover rate is a joke - I’ve been here less than a year, and have been here longer than most of the staff.  If the pay was better and I had some flexibility in being able to take an emergency day off, it would be worth it.  I have been a loyal and hardworking employee from the start, and I’ve seen nothing come from it.  They are going to run this company into the dirt if things do not change.  I’ve seen many amazing people come and go because of these conditions, and I am not paid nearly enough for the endless stress and work I do daily.  I haven’t even touched on the transphobia (trans donors and employees regularly have their deadnames printed, are misgendered, and asked inappropriate questions).  I will be looking for a new job soon, and I urge you to save your time. 

Not for me. Hired as an entry level medical screener. Not making a lot but that was ok initially on the proviso that my schedule could work with my other job so I could make up.the difference financially. 

Once I was actually hired it was a different story. Numerous schedule changes that would prevent me from earning extra $$ anywhere else. Every weekend work required yet still not quite 40 hours a week.  Job just took up more and more resources (time and energy) and the pay was just not commensurate. Your schedule could say 8am yet you were due into work an.hour earlier, sometimes even earlier than that for the endless staff meetings. 

Training is very thorough yet some of the trainers come from other centers out of state and are extremely impatient. In my case it was a new center and instead of hiring us training and then opening the center they opened the center before we were fully trained and expected us to learn everything  rather quickly on the fly. They did feed us lunch everyday while in training but the portions were rationed. Two of the three days they provided lunch I just packed my own.

There were no vending machines in the break room so unless it was lunchtime there was nothing to drink unless you remembered to bring your own beverage and store in the refrigerators provided. No real breaks once you were on the production floor they were just being nice giving is a 15 min break while we were in training.  Overall just not a good experience. 
Oh and they have a point based attendance system. If you must call out due to illness your dr note is not accepted you still get the point. Terminated at 5 points. Center director lers you know you can and will.more. than.likely be replaced. 

Coming into this company, I LOVED my job; however that QUICKLY changed. This company promises room for growth and that they "promote from within" when in reality, they don't. They want you to do the work without the promotion/pay. If you are good at your job, they will overwork you, use you, manipulate you, and worst of all not appreciate you. They will expect you to do more than is required in your position. They will expect you to do come in and work overtime but only when they need you to, if you ever need overtime and they don't need the people, they will NOT give it to you no matter what. They work on a point system for time and attendance, there is no grace period and no excuses for needing time off or having to leave early. Getting hired on, you will make the most out of anyone who works there, the starting pay is the highest right now, which is great for you, but your fellow coworkers who have been busting their butts for them for years, are stuck at the pay rate they were hired on at, which is much lower.  So while it's good for you for now, if you plan to be with the company long term, eventually that role will be reversed, they will be hiring new people at higher rates while you are stuck at your base rate. There is favoritism all throughout this company. No one moves up unless they're one of the favorites or they complain until management gives in, but either way, it's never because of Hard work. The donors however are great. Most of the employees are great, outside of the cliques, but overall the main problems lie within management and the company as a whole. Oh and you'll never get a full 40 hour week, when they make the schedules, they don't even put you down for 40 hours and then they're always focused on HPD so they send people home early. the first to go are always the weaker employees. If you're good, you'll rarely go early. 

Octapharma is an okay job if you are planning on only working for a few months to gain experience in phlebotomy or just need a job. Afterward you begin to see many of the flaws in the company that will send you out the door.

-Management is nearly impossible to get fired as no one is keeping tabs on them because field leadership rarely stops by centers. Terrible management never faces consequences for their actions while hourly workers can be written up/fired for doing the same infraction.
-Marketing is a joke. You are constantly told to grassroot market which basically means to tell your friends to come donate. You'll watch as your hours are cut and corporate tells you that it's because the labor hours per donation for your center are too high, but they do the bare minimum to bring the donors in. 
-If you are wondering where the marketing budget is going then look no further than the companies aggressive expansion. The company spends A LOT of money to open new centers, but then does nothing for the center after opening. It must look good on paper but doesn't mean much when the centers are struggling on the back of a few good employees to stay afloat. The new centers also compete with older centers taking their donors, aka market cannibalism.
-You will be hired as a full time employee, but will never get 40 hours of work a week. Any hourly position is a part time job except for physician substitutes. If you are salaried they'll work you to the bone to save on labor costs.
-The company's vision of a functioning business model relies on the idea that donors will wait for hours just to get $15 dollars. This is not consistent with any sort of reality. The company also believes that they can keep donors by just having good customer service. Donors are not stupid and will just go get higher payment from other companies.

Stay with the company to get experience then go get something better.

Performing physicals to determine if an individual is qualified is the biggest part of my day. Its also what I enjoy the most. Especially those who have never donated. Educating them on hydration, nutrition and what plasma is actually used for. Counseling is probably the hardest. Although again, making sure they understand their test results and what they need to do about it is a VERY important part of my job. Managing medical emergencies is a small part. Then the areas I'm cross trained in. Besides the Phys Sub side of things, I am most confident in Screening. I do work on the floor as DFT some, but not as confident there as I don't get to do it as much. My current job has been very rewarding and taught me a lot about my own abilities. I never knew how much I enjoyed teaching. Both donors and staff. Also how to not react to a situation. There are times you have to tell someone something they don't want to hear. Like, you can't donate, you have to go see your doctor, you failed a screening test. They can get really upset and sometimes say or do inappropriate things. You have to not take it personally. If need be direct the situation to someone with more authority, such as management. The Management team I work with now is AWESOME and in no way have anything to do with my seeking another position. They are aware of strengths and weaknesses and have made an effort to make the employees aware that they are a resource. You need to talk about a problem, they listen and often have advise or a different perspective. I have seen the time and direction the put in to people who express a desire to better themselves. I have also seen the difficult task they have of correcting those who do not put forth an effort. I admire but, do not envy them.

If you’re a high school graduate, they have programs that will put you in management positions but you have to work wherever they choose for a length of time. My experience was not like that. I came in with a degree and experience in quality assurance. The position wasn’t great but it was an okay job at first. I didn’t like having to go to another state for training but it was bearable for short periods. Some cites had better trainers.  Then my manager quit and I took the role but I never completed my training.  They rushed through everything basically just saying I’d Done tasks that I hadn’t. My employee was trained before me in the basic tasks. Then they rolled out a new donor system, rushed through that training and implemented it without beta testing it. We were the guinea pigs.  On top of that my direct supervisors weren’t helpful or even nice. The director wasn’t supportive in allowing me any real changes to policy that could improve our quality issues but I was held accountable for the poor quality numbers.  Oh and I had to finish all my managers backlog of work some going back months to a year with no help and little information to go on while trying to run a department and going to management meetings almost everyday, sometimes several hours of the day. All the while being interrupted by employees complaints and squabbles like I was transported back to high school.  I also made less as a salaried employee because of all the hours I worked trying to get caught up. There were also a lot of SOP interpretation questions, which should never be the case,  because instead of writing them to be clear and concise about procedures they were vague and HAD to be interpreted. Overall, worst job I’ve ever had and I’d been working for over 20 years. 

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Phlebotomist 16 salaries reported	$19.47 per hour
Emergency medical technician 48 salaries reported	$24.49 per hour
Licensed practical nurse 18 salaries reported	$28.50 per hour
Paramedic 16 salaries reported	$25.92 per hour
Registered nurse 6 salaries reported	$51.85 per hour

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