How to Enroll in the Best Phlebotomy Technician School near Brooksville Florida

Picking the ideal phlebotomist training near Brooksville FL is an important first step toward a gratifying profession as a phlebotomist. It may seem like a challenging undertaking to evaluate and compare each of the school options that are accessible to you. However it’s necessary that you perform your due diligence to make sure that you obtain a superior education. In fact, a large number of prospective students start their search by considering two of the qualifiers that first come to mind, which are location and cost. Another factor you may consider is whether to attend classes online or commute to a nearby campus. We’ll discuss more about online classes later in this article. What you need to remember is that there is a lot more to comparing phlebotomy training programs than locating the cheapest or the closest one. Other factors such as accreditation and reputation are also important considerations and must be part of your decision process too. To assist in that effort, we will furnish a list of questions that you need to ask each of the phlebotomy schools you are reviewing to help you pick the best one for you. But prior to doing that, let’s cover what a phlebotomist is and does, and afterwards continue our conversation about online classes.

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Should You Choose a Career as a Phlebotomy Tech?

Right out of the gate, not many people are likely to know what a phlebotomy tech or phlebotomist is. The short answer is a health care professional who draws blood from patients. We will provide more details later. So of course anyone who decides to enter this profession must be OK around blood and needles. And if you are nervous in hospitals or other Brooksville FL medical environments, well this job probably is not the best choice for you. And then there are the patients. Phlebotomy Technicians routinely work with anxious people who hate needles or having their blood taken. And because most health care facilities are open around the clock, you may be required to work weekends, nights and even on holidays. But if you don’t mind working with the blood and needles, and if you enjoy helping people and are compassionate and very patient, this may be the right job for you.

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Phlebotomy Technician Career Description

A phlebotomist, or phlebotomy tech, collects blood samples from patients. Although that is their primary function, there is actually much more to their job description. Prior to drawing a blood sample, a phlebotomist has to check that the tools being employed are sterile and single use only. After collection, the sample needs to be correctly labeled with the patient’s information. Afterward, paperwork must be accurately completed to be able to track the sample from the point of collection through the laboratory testing procedure. The phlebotomist then transports the blood to either an in-house lab or to an outside lab facility where it can be screened for such things as infectious diseases, pregnancy or blood type. Some phlebotomists in fact work in Brooksville FL laboratories and are accountable for making sure that samples are analyzed properly under the highest quality assurance procedures. And if those weren’t sufficient responsibilities, they can be required to instruct other phlebotomists in the collection, transport and follow-up process.

Where are Phlebotomists Employed?

The easiest answer is wherever there are patients. Their work environments are numerous and diverse, including Brooksville FL medical clinics, hospitals, long-term care facilities, or blood banks. They can be charged to collect blood samples from patients of of every age, from babies or young children to senior citizens. Some phlebotomists, based on their practice and their training, specialize in collecting samples from a particular kind of patient. For example, those practicing in a nursing home or assisted living facility would only be collecting blood from elderly patients. If they are practicing in a maternity ward, they would be collecting blood from newborns and mothers exclusively. In contrast, phlebotomists practicing in a general hospital environment would be collecting samples from a wide variety of patients and would work with different patients each day.

Phlebotomy Education, Certification and Licensing

There are essentially 2 kinds of programs that offer phlebotomist training, which are degree and certificate programs. The certificate program normally takes less than a year to complete and provides a basic education as well as the training on how to draw blood. It offers the quickest means to becoming a phlebotomy tech. An Associate of Science Degree in Clinical Laboratory Science, although not exclusively a phlebotomy degree, will include training to become a phlebotomy tech. Available at junior and community colleges, they usually take 2 years to finish. Bachelor’s Degrees are not as accessible and as a 4 year program furnish a more comprehensive foundation in lab sciences. When you have completed your training, you will no doubt want to be certified. While not required in the majority of states, a number of Brooksville FL employers look for certification prior to employing technicians. Some of the main certifying organizations include:

• National Phlebotomy Association
• National Healthcareer Association (NHA)
• American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP)
• American Medical Technologists (AMT)

There are some states that do call for certification in order to practice as a phlebotomist, such as Nevada and California. California and a handful of additional states even require licensing. So it’s important that you select a phlebotomy training program that not only furnishes a superior education, but also preps you for any certification or licensing examinations that you are required or elect to take.

Online Phlebotomy Schools

To begin with, let’s resolve one likely misconception. You can’t get all of your phlebotomist training online. A substantial portion of the curriculum will be practical training and it will be carried out either in an approved healthcare facility or an on-campus lab. Many courses also require completing an internship prior to graduation. But since the non-practical portion of the training may be accessed online, it might be a more convenient alternative for many Brooksville FL students. As an added benefit, a number of online schools are less expensive than their on-campus competitors. And some expenses, for instance those for commuting or textbooks, may be lessened also. Just confirm that the online phlebotomy program you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency (more on accreditation to follow). With both the extensive clinical and online training, you can receive a superior education with this method of learning. If you are disciplined enough to learn at home, then attaining your degree or certificate online may be the best option for you.

Topics to Ask Phlebotomist Programs

Since you now have a general idea about what is involved in becoming a phlebotomy tech, it’s time to initiate your due diligence process. You may have already chosen the kind of program you wish to enroll in, whether it be for a certificate or a degree. As we mentioned earlier, the location of the campus is relevant if you will be commuting from Brooksville FL in addition to the cost of tuition. Possibly you have opted to enroll in an accredited phlebotomy online college. All of these decisions are an important component of the procedure for picking a phlebotomy program or school. But they are not the only considerations when making your decision. Below we have provided some questions that you should ask about all of the programs you are considering before making your final selection.

Is the Phlebotomy Program State Specific? As mentioned previously, each state has its own regulations for practicing as a phlebotomy technician. Some states call for certification, while a few others mandate licensing. Each has its own requirement regarding the minimum amount of clinical training completed prior to working as a phlebotomy tech. As a result, you might need to pass a State Board, certification or licensing exam. Therefore it’s extremely important to choose a phlebotomy program that fulfills the state specific requirements for Florida or the state where you will be practicing and readies you for all exams you may be required to take.

Is the School Accredited? The phlebotomy school and program you enroll in should be accredited by a reputable national or regional accrediting organization, for example the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS). There are many advantages to graduating from an accredited school aside from an assurance of a superior education. First, if your program is not accredited, you will not qualify to take a certification exam offered by any of the previously listed certifying agencies. Also, accreditation will help in obtaining financial aid or loans, which are frequently not available for non-accredited colleges. Finally, graduating from an accredited school can make you more desirable to future employers in the Brooksville FL job market.

What is the College’s Reputation? In many states there is minimal or no regulation of phlebotomist colleges, so there are some that are not of the highest caliber. So along with accreditation, it’s essential to check the reputations of any schools you are looking at. You can begin by requesting references from the schools from employers where they place their graduates as part of their job placement program. You can research internet school reviews and rating services and solicit the accrediting agencies for their reviews as well. You can also contact some Brooksville FL clinics or hospitals that you might have an interest in working for and find out if they can offer any recommendations. As a final thought, you can contact the Florida school licensing authority and find out if any complaints have been filed or if the colleges are in total compliance.

Is Plenty of Training Included? To begin with, contact the state regulator where you will be practicing to find out if there are any minimum requirements for the amount of training, both classroom and practical. As a minimum, any phlebotomy program that you are considering should provide at least 40 hours of classroom training (the majority require 120) and 120 hours of clinical training. Anything below these minimums might indicate that the program is not expansive enough to furnish adequate training.

Are Internship Programs Included? Ask the colleges you are reviewing if they have an internship program in collaboration with area medical facilities. They are the ideal means to get hands-on practical training frequently not available on campus. As an additional benefit, internships can help students develop contacts within the local Brooksville FL health care community. And they are a plus on resumes also.

Is Job Placement Support Offered? Finding your first phlebotomist job will be a lot easier with the assistance of a job placement program. Find out if the schools you are reviewing offer assistance and what their job placement percentage is. If a school has a higher rate, signifying they place most of their students in jobs, it’s an indication that the school has both an excellent reputation as well as a substantial network of professional contacts within the Brooksville FL healthcare community.

Are Classes Conveniently Scheduled? Finally, it’s crucial to make sure that the final school you choose provides classes at times that will accommodate your active schedule. This is especially important if you opt to continue working while going to college. If you can only attend classes at night or on weekends near Brooksville FL, check that they are available at those times. Also, if you can only attend part-time, verify it is an option as well. And if you have decided to study online, with the clinical training requirement, make certain those hours can also be completed within your schedule. And find out what the make-up policy is in case you need to miss any classes due to illness or emergencies.

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Find Phlebotomist Colleges Brooksville Florida

Making sure that you select the right phlebotomy training is a critical first step toward your success in this fulfilling medical care field. As we have covered in this article, there are a number of factors that contribute toward the selection of a premium college. Phlebotomy training programs are found in a number of educational institutions, including junior or community colleges, vocational schools, and colleges and universities that offer a comprehensive assortment of programs in medical care and health sciences. Training program offerings may vary a bit from state to state as each state has its own criteria when it concerns phlebotomist training, licensing and certification. The most important point is that you must carefully evaluate and compare each school before making your ultimate decision. You originally came to this website due to an interest in Find Phlebotomist Colleges and to get more information regarding Free Info on Phlebotomy Technician Programs.  However, by asking the questions that we have provided, you will be able to narrow down your options so that you can select the best phlebotomist program for you. And with the proper education, you can realize your goal of becoming a phlebotomist in Brooksville FL.

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