How to Choose the Right Phlebotomist Training Course near Stronghurst Illinois
Selecting the ideal phlebotomy training near Stronghurst IL is an important initial step toward a rewarding career as a phlebotomist. It may seem like a daunting task to analyze and compare all of the school options that are accessible to you. However it’s vital that you complete your due diligence to ensure that you get a superior education. In reality, many prospective students begin their search by considering 2 of the qualifiers that first come to mind, which are location and cost. Another factor you might look into is whether to attend classes online or commute to a nearby campus. We’ll review more about online schools later in this article. What’s important to keep in mind is that there is much more to comparing phlebotomy training programs than locating the cheapest or the closest one. Other factors such as reputation and accreditation are also important considerations and should be part of your selection process too. Toward that end, we will furnish a list of questions that you should ask each of the phlebotomy schools you are reviewing to help you choose the best one for you. But before we do that, let’s cover what a phlebotomist is and does, and then continue our discussion about online classes.
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Should You Go to School to Become a Phlebotomy Technician?
First of all, not many people probably know what a phlebotomist or phlebotomy technician is. The short definition is a health care professional whose job is to draw blood. We will go into more depth later. So of course anyone who selects this profession must be comfortable with blood and needles. And if you are not comfortable in hospitals or other Stronghurst IL medical environments, well this profession probably is not right for you. And then there are the patients. Phlebotomy Techs often work with nervous people who don’t like needles or having their blood taken. And because most health care facilities are open 24 hours, you will probably be expected to work weekends, evenings and, you guessed it even on holidays. But if you can handle the hours and the blood and needles, and if you enjoy helping people and are compassionate and very patient, this could be the perfect job for you.
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Phlebotomy Tech Career Summary
A phlebotomist, or phlebotomy technician, draws blood from patients. While that is their primary duty, there is in fact so much more to their job description. Prior to drawing a blood sample, a phlebotomist must confirm that the instruments being employed are sterile and single use only. After collection, the sample has to be correctly labeled with the patient’s data. Next, paperwork must be correctly filled out in order to track the sample from the time 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 may be tested for such things as pregnancy, infectious diseases or blood type. Some phlebotomists actually work in Stronghurst IL labs and are in charge of making sure that samples are analyzed correctly under the strictest quality assurance procedures. And if those weren’t sufficient responsibilities, they can be required to instruct other phlebotomists in the drawing, transport and follow-up process.
Where are Phlebotomy Techs Employed?
The quickest answer is wherever there are patients. Their workplaces are numerous and diverse, including Stronghurst IL medical clinics, hospitals, nursing homes, or blood centers. They may be tasked to draw blood samples from patients of all ages, from infants or toddlers to seniors. Some phlebotomy techs, based on their practice and their training, specialize in drawing samples from a certain kind of patient. For instance, those practicing in a nursing home or assisted living facility would solely be drawing blood from senior patients. If they are working in a maternity ward, they would be collecting blood from newborns and mothers exclusively. On the other hand, phlebotomists practicing in a general hospital environment would be drawing samples from a wide range of patients and would collect samples from different patients every day.
Phlebotomist Training, Certification and Licensing
There are primarily two kinds of programs that offer phlebotomist training, which are certificate and degree programs. The certificate program generally takes under a year to complete and provides a basic education along with the training on how to draw blood. It offers the fastest route to becoming a phlebotomy tech. An Associate of Science Degree in Clinical Laboratory Science, although not specifically a phlebotomy degree, will include training to become a phlebotomy tech. Available at community and junior colleges, they typically require 2 years to finish. Bachelor’s Degrees are not as accessible and as a 4 year program provide a more comprehensive background in lab sciences. When you have finished your training, you will probably want to become certified. Although not mandated in the majority of states, a number of Stronghurst IL employers look for certification prior to hiring technicians. A few of the primary certifying agencies include:
- National Phlebotomy Association
- National Healthcareer Association (NHA)
- American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP)
- American Medical Technologists (AMT)
There are several states that do require certification prior to practicing as a phlebotomist, like Nevada and California. California and a few additional states even require licensing. So it’s essential that you pick a phlebotomy training program that not only supplies a premium education, but also prepares you for any licensing or certification examinations that you are required or elect to take.
Phlebotomy Online Training
First, let’s dispel one potential mistaken belief. You can’t get all of your phlebotomist training online. A significant part of the course of study will be clinical training and it will be carried out either in an on-campus lab or an approved healthcare facility. A large number of courses also require completing an internship in order to graduate. However since the non-practical part of the training can be accessed online, it could be a more practical alternative for some Stronghurst IL students. As an additional benefit, a number of online schools are more affordable than their on-campus counterparts. And some expenditures, including those for textbooks or commuting, may be lessened as well. Just verify that the online phlebotomist college you choose is accredited by a national or regional accrediting organization (more on accreditation to follow). With both the extensive online and clinical training, you can obtain a premium education with this means of learning. If you are dedicated enough to study at home, then attaining your degree or certificate online might be the ideal option for you.
Points to Ask Phlebotomist Programs
Since you now have a basic idea about what is involved in becoming a phlebotomy tech, it’s time to begin your due diligence process. You may have already decided on the type of program you want to enroll in, whether it be for a degree or a certificate. As we previously mentioned, the location of the college is significant if you will be commuting from Stronghurst IL as well as the tuition expense. Maybe you have opted to enroll in an accredited phlebotomist online college. All of these decisions are a critical part of the procedure for choosing a phlebotomy school or program. But they are not the only concerns when making your decision. Following are a few questions that you need to ask about all of the colleges you are looking at before making your final decision.
Is the Phlebotomist Program State Specific? As earlier discussed, each state has its own laws for practicing as a phlebotomy technician. Some states require certification, while a few others require licensing. Every state has its own requirement regarding the minimum amount of clinical training performed prior to working as a phlebotomist. Consequently, you might need to pass a State Board, licensing or certification exam. Therefore it’s very important to select a phlebotomy program that complies with the state specific requirements for Illinois or the state where you will be practicing and readies you for any examinations you may have to take.
Is the College Accredited? The phlebotomy school and program you pick should be accredited by a recognized national or regional accrediting organization, such as the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS). There are several benefits to graduating from an accredited school aside from an assurance of a quality education. To begin with, if your program is not accredited, you will not qualify to take a certification examination offered by any of the earlier listed certifying organizations. Next, accreditation will help in securing loans or financial assistance, which are often not available for non-accredited schools. Last, graduating from an accredited college can make you more attractive to future employers in the Stronghurst IL job market.
What is the College’s Ranking? In many states there is minimal or no regulation of phlebotomy colleges, so there are those that are not of the highest quality. So along with accreditation, it’s important to check out the reputations of all colleges you are reviewing. You can begin by requesting references from the schools from employers where they refer their graduates as part of their job placement program. You can research online school reviews and rating services and solicit the accrediting organizations for their reviews as well. You can also talk to a few Stronghurst IL clinics or hospitals that you may be interested in working for and find out if they can provide any insights. As a final thought, you can contact the Illinois school licensing authority and ask if any complaints have been submitted or if the schools are in total compliance.
Is Plenty of Training Included? To begin with, contact the state regulator where you will be working to find out if there are any minimum requirements for the amount of training, both classroom and practical. As a minimum, any phlebotomist program that you are considering should furnish no less than 40 hours of classroom training (most require 120) and 120 hours of practical training. Anything lower than these minimums may indicate that the program is not expansive enough to furnish adequate training.
Are Internships Included? Ask the programs you are looking at if they have an internship program in collaboration with area health care facilities. They are the optimal means to get hands-on practical training typically not obtainable on campus. As an added benefit, internships can assist students develop relationships within the local Stronghurst IL health care community. And they are a plus on resumes as well.
Is Job Placement Support Offered? Landing your first phlebotomy job will be a lot easier with the support of a job placement program. Ask if the colleges you are reviewing offer assistance and what their job placement percentage is. If a school has a high rate, signifying they place the majority of their students in jobs, it’s an indication that the college has both a good reputation as well as an extensive network of professional contacts within the Stronghurst IL healthcare community.
Are Class Times Conveniently Scheduled? And last, it’s important to make sure that the final college you choose provides classes at times that are compatible with your busy lifestyle. This is particularly true if you opt to continue working while going to school. If you need to attend classes at night or on weekends near Stronghurst IL, make certain they are available at those times. Also, if you can only attend on a part-time basis, verify it is an option as well. Even if you have decided to study online, with the clinical training requirement, make sure those hours can also be completed within your schedule. And find out what the make-up policy is should you need to miss any classes due to emergencies or illness.
How To Be A Phlebotomist Stronghurst IL
Phlebotomist Education And Training Stronghurst Illinois
Making certain that you pick the right phlebotomy training is an important first step toward your success in this rewarding health care field. As we have addressed in this article, there are several factors that go into the selection of a premium program. Phlebotomist training programs are found in a variety of academic institutes, such as junior or community colleges, vocational schools, and colleges and universities that offer a wide range of courses in medical care and health sciences. Training program options can differ somewhat from state to state as every state has its own criteria when it comes to phlebotomy training, certification and licensing. The most important point is that you must thoroughly research and compare each school before making your final choice. You originally came to this website due to an interest in Phlebotomist Education And Training and to get more information regarding Online School For Phlebotomy. However, by asking the questions that we have provided, you will be able to narrow down your options so that you can select the right phlebotomy program for you. And with the appropriate education, you can reach your goal of becoming a phlebotomist in Stronghurst IL.
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Stronghurst, Illinois
Stronghurst is located in southern Henderson County at 40°44′41″N 90°54′32″W / 40.74472°N 90.90889°W / 40.74472; -90.90889 (40.744616, -90.908801).[4]Illinois Route 94 passes through the village, leading north 9 miles (14 km) to Biggsville and south 15 miles (24 km) to La Harpe. Burlington, Iowa, is 15 miles to the northwest.
As of the census[7] of 2000, there were 896 people, 353 households, and 236 families residing in the village. The population density was 1,009.8 people per square mile (388.7/km²). There were 380 housing units at an average density of 428.3 per square mile (164.9/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 99.22% White, 0.11% African American, and 0.67% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.11% of the population.
There were 353 households out of which 31.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.0% were married couples living together, 8.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.9% were non-families. 29.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 19.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.38 and the average family size was 2.97.
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