How to Find the Best Phlebotomist School near Lawrenceville Illinois

Enrolling in the right phlebotomist school near Lawrenceville IL is a critical initial step toward a rewarding career as a phlebotomist. It might seem like a daunting task to investigate and compare all of the school alternatives that are accessible to you. Nevertheless it’s vital that you do your due diligence to make certain that you get a quality education. In fact, a large number of potential students start the process by considering 2 of the qualifiers that first come to mind, which are cost and location. Yet another option you might consider is whether to attend classes online or commute to an area campus. We’ll review more about online classes later in this article. What’s important to keep in mind is that there is much more to comparing phlebotomy training programs than finding the cheapest or the closest one. Other variables such as accreditation and reputation are also significant considerations and should be part of your selection process also. Toward that end, we will furnish a list of questions that you need to ask each of the phlebotomy schools you are evaluating to help you choose the right one for you. But before we do that, let’s address what a phlebotomist is and does, and then resume our conversation about online schools.

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Should You Choose a Career as a Phlebotomy Technician?

First of all, not many people are likely to know what a phlebotomy tech or phlebotomist is. The basic definition is a health care professional whose job is to draw blood. We will provide more details later. So of course anyone who chooses this profession must be able to handle blood and needles. And if you are anxious in hospitals or other Lawrenceville IL medical facilities, well this job probably is not right for you. And now let’s talk about the patients. Phlebotomy Techs tend to work with anxious people who hate needles or having their blood drawn. And because most health care facilities are open around the clock, you will probably be required to work weekends, nights and, you guessed it even on holidays. But if you don’t mind working with the blood and needles, and if you enjoy helping people and are patient and compassionate, this could be the right profession for you.

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Phlebotomy Technician Job Summary

A phlebotomist, or phlebotomy tech, draws blood from patients. While that is their principal responsibility, there is actually much more to their job description. Prior to drawing a blood sample, a phlebotomist must confirm that the instruments being utilized are single use only and sterile. Following the collection, the sample has to be properly labeled with the patient’s information. Afterward, paperwork must be correctly completed to be able to track the sample from the time of collection through the lab testing process. The phlebotomist then transports the blood to either an an outside lab facility or an in-house lab where it may be tested for such things as pregnancy, infectious diseases or blood type. Many phlebotomists in fact work in Lawrenceville IL labs and are accountable for making sure that samples are tested correctly utilizing the highest quality assurance procedures. And if those weren’t enough duties, they may be asked to instruct other phlebotomists in the collection, delivery and follow-up process.

Where do Phlebotomy Techs Practice?

The quickest response is wherever there are patients. Their workplaces are many and varied, such as Lawrenceville IL medical clinics, hospitals, long-term care facilities, or blood banks. They may be tasked to draw blood samples from patients of all ages, from infants or young children to senior citizens. A number of phlebotomy techs, depending on their training and their practice, specialize in collecting blood from a particular type of patient. For example, those practicing in a nursing home or assisted living facility would solely be collecting blood from senior 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 range of patients and would work with new patients every day.

Phlebotomist Training, Certification and Licensing

There are essentially two kinds of programs that furnish phlebotomist training, which are degree and certificate programs. The certificate program generally takes less than a year to finish and provides a basic education as well as the training on how to draw blood. It offers the fastest means to becoming a phlebotomy tech. An Associate of Science Degree in Clinical Laboratory Science, although not specifically a phlebotomy degree, will incorporate training on becoming a phlebotomist. Available at junior and community colleges, they normally take 2 years to complete. Bachelor’s Degrees are not as accessible and as a 4 year program furnish a more extensive background in lab sciences. Once you have completed your training, you will no doubt want to become certified. Although not required in the majority of states, a number of Lawrenceville IL employers look for certification before hiring 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 a few states that do call for certification in order to practice as a phlebotomy tech, including Nevada and California. California and a few other states even require licensing. So it’s important that you enroll in a phlebotomist 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.

Phlebotomist Online Colleges

To begin with, let’s dispel one possible mistaken belief. You can’t get all of your phlebotomy training online. A significant part of the course of study will be clinical training and it will be carried out either in an approved healthcare facility or an on-campus lab. Many courses also require completion of an internship in order to graduate. However since the non-clinical component of the training can be accessed online, it might be a more convenient alternative for many Lawrenceville IL students. As an added benefit, many online classes are more affordable than their traditional competitors. And some costs, including those for textbooks or commuting, may be minimized also. Just confirm that the online phlebotomy school you select is accredited by a national or regional accrediting agency (more on accreditation later). With both the comprehensive online and clinical training, you can obtain a superior education with this means of learning. If you are dedicated enough to study at home, then obtaining your degree or certificate online may be the right choice for you.

Topics to Ask Phlebotomy Schools

Now that you have a basic understanding about what it takes to become a phlebotomist, it’s time to initiate your due diligence process. You may have already selected the type of program you wish to enroll in, whether it be for a certificate or a degree. As we previously mentioned, the location of the college is relevant if you will be commuting from Lawrenceville IL in addition to the tuition expense. Maybe you have opted to enroll in an accredited phlebotomist online program. All of these decisions are a critical part of the process for picking a phlebotomy school or program. But they are not the sole considerations when making your decision. Below we have provided several questions that you need to ask about all of the programs you are looking at before making your ultimate selection.

Is the Phlebotomy Program State Specific? As earlier discussed, each state has its own requirements for practicing as a phlebotomy technician. Several states require certification, while a few others mandate licensing. Every state has its own prerequisite regarding the minimum hours of clinical training completed prior to working as a phlebotomy tech. As a result, you might need to pass a State Board, licensing or certification examination. Therefore it’s extremely important to select a phlebotomist program that fulfills the state specific requirements for Illinois or the state where you will be practicing and readies you for all examinations you may be required to take.

Is the College Accredited? The phlebotomist school and program you select should be accredited by a recognized national or regional accrediting agency, such as the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS). There are many benefits to graduating from an accredited program in addition to a guarantee of a premium education. First, if your program has not received accreditation, you will not be able to take a certification exam administered by any of the previously listed certifying agencies. Also, accreditation will help in securing loans or financial assistance, which are frequently not available for non-accredited programs. Finally, graduating from an accredited college can make you more attractive to prospective employers in the Lawrenceville 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 the reputations of any schools you are looking at. You can start by asking the schools for references from employers where they place their students as part of their job assistance program. You can research internet school rating and review services and solicit the accrediting organizations for their reviews also. You can even talk to several Lawrenceville IL clinics or hospitals that you may have an interest in working for and find out if they can provide any recommendations. As a final thought, you can check with the Illinois school licensing authority and find out if any complaints have been submitted or if the schools are in total compliance.

Is Plenty of Training Provided? To begin with, check with the state regulator where you will be working to learn if there are any minimum requirements for the length of training, both clinical and classroom. At a minimum, any phlebotomist program that you are looking at should provide no less than 40 hours of classroom training (most require 120) and 120 hours of practical training. Anything less than these minimums may indicate that the program is not expansive enough to offer adequate training.

Are Internships Provided? Ask the colleges you are reviewing if they have an internship program in collaboration with area healthcare facilities. They are the optimal means to get hands-on practical training often not available on campus. As an additional benefit, internships can assist students develop contacts within the local Lawrenceville IL medical community. And they are a plus on resumes also.

Is Job Placement Support Available? Getting your first phlebotomy position will be a lot easier with the help of a job placement program. Ask if the programs you are looking at offer assistance and what their job placement rate is. If a college has a higher rate, signifying they place most of their students in jobs, it’s an indication that the program has both an excellent reputation along with a substantial network of professional contacts within the Lawrenceville IL healthcare community.

Are Class Times Compatible With Your Schedule? Finally, it’s critical to confirm that the ultimate school you pick provides classes at times that are compatible with your hectic schedule. This is particularly important if you choose to still work while going to school. If you can only attend classes in the evenings or on weekends near Lawrenceville IL, make sure they are offered 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 ask what the make-up policy is in case you have to miss any classes because of illness or emergencies.

Phlebotomy Technician Program Near Me Lawrenceville IL

Low Cost Phlebotomy Courses Lawrenceville Illinois

Making sure that you choose the most suitable phlebotomy training is a critical first step toward your success in this rewarding healthcare field. As we have discussed in this article, there are multiple factors that go into the selection of a superior program. Phlebotomist training programs are available in a number of educational institutions, such as community or junior colleges, trade schools, and colleges and universities that provide a wide assortment of courses in medical care and health sciences. Training program options may differ slightly from state to state as every state has its own criteria when it concerns phlebotomist 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 Low Cost Phlebotomy Courses and to get more information regarding Top Phlebotomist Schools Near Me.  However, by asking the questions that we have furnished, you will be able to narrow down your options so that you can select the ideal phlebotomist school for you. And with the proper training, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a phlebotomist in Lawrenceville IL.

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