How to Find the Best Phlebotomy Tech Training Program near Sharpsville Indiana
Enrolling in the right phlebotomy technician school near Sharpsville IN is an essential first step toward a gratifying career as a phlebotomist. It might seem like a difficult undertaking to analyze and compare each of the school options that are available to you. Nevertheless it’s necessary that you do your due diligence to make certain that you receive a superior education. In reality, many students begin the process by considering two of the qualifiers that first come to mind, which are cost and location. Yet another option you might look into is whether to attend online classes or commute to an area campus. We’ll discuss a bit more about online schools later in this article. What’s important to remember is that there is far more to checking out phlebotomy training programs than locating the closest or the cheapest one. Other variables including reputation and accreditation are also important considerations and should be part of your decision process as well. To assist in that effort, we will provide a list of questions that you need to ask each of the phlebotomy schools you are reviewing to help you choose the right one for you. But before we do that, let’s cover what a phlebotomist is and does, and then continue our conversation about online classes.
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Should You Go to School to Become a Plebotomist?
First of all, few people probably know what a phlebotomist or phlebotomy technician is. The basic answer is a medical professional who draws blood from patients. We will provide more details later. So naturally anyone who decides to enter this profession must be OK around needles and blood. And if you are nervous in hospitals or other Sharpsville IN medical facilities, well this profession probably is not the best choice for you. And then there are the patients. Phlebotomy Techs often work with nervous people who hate needles or having their blood taken. And because most health care facilities are open 24 hours, you will probably be required to work weekends, evenings and even on holidays. But if you don’t mind working with the needles and blood, and if you enjoy interacting with 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 technician, collects blood samples from patients. While that is their primary function, there is actually far more to their job description. Before drawing a blood sample, a phlebotomist needs to check that the tools being utilized are sterile and single use only. After collection, the sample must be properly labeled with the patient’s information. Next, paperwork has to be correctly filled out in order to track the sample from the time of collection through the laboratory screening process. The phlebotomist then delivers the blood to either an an outside lab facility or an in-house lab where it may be screened for such things as infectious diseases, pregnancy or blood type. Some phlebotomists in fact work in Sharpsville IN labs and are accountable for making sure that samples are tested properly under the highest quality assurance procedures. And if those weren’t enough duties, they can be called upon to instruct other phlebotomists in the collection, delivery and follow-up process.
Where do Phlebotomists Practice?
The quickest response is wherever there are patients. Their workplaces are many and diverse, including Sharpsville IN hospitals, medical clinics, nursing homes, or blood banks. They can be charged to collect blood samples from patients of of every age, from infants or young children to seniors. A number of phlebotomy techs, based on their training and their practice, specialize in drawing blood from a particular kind of patient. For instance, those working in a nursing home or assisted living facility would solely be collecting blood from elderly patients. If they are working in a maternity ward, they would be drawing blood from mothers and newborns exclusively. On the other hand, phlebotomy technicians practicing in a general hospital environment would be collecting samples from a wide variety of patients and would work with new patients every day.
Phlebotomy Training, Certification and Licensing
There are basically 2 kinds of programs that provide phlebotomy training, which are degree and certificate programs. The certificate program normally takes under a year to complete and provides a general education along with the training on how to draw blood. It offers the quickest route to becoming a phlebotomist. An Associate of Science Degree in Clinical Laboratory Science, even though it’s not exclusively a phlebotomy degree, will include training to become a phlebotomist. Offered at junior and community colleges, they normally take two years to complete. Bachelor’s Degrees are less accessible and as a 4 year program provide a more comprehensive background in lab sciences. Once you have completed your training, you will no doubt want to be certified. Although not required in the majority of states, a number of Sharpsville IN employers look for certification prior to employing technicians. A few 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 prior to practicing as a phlebotomist, such as Nevada and California. California and a few other states even require licensing. So it’s important that you pick a phlebotomist training program that not only offers a quality education, but also preps you for any licensing or certification examinations that you are required or elect to take.
Online Phlebotomist Certificates and Degrees
To begin with, let’s dispel one potential misconception. You can’t get all of your phlebotomist training online. A significant component of the curriculum will be clinical training and it will be conducted either in an approved healthcare facility or an on-campus lab. A large number of courses also require completing an internship prior to graduation. However since the non-practical part of the training may be accessed online, it might be a more convenient alternative for some Sharpsville IN students. As an additional benefit, some online classes are less expensive than their traditional counterparts. And some expenditures, including those for commuting or textbooks, may be reduced also. Just make certain that the online phlebotomy school you enroll in is accredited by a national or regional accrediting organization (more on accreditation later). With both the comprehensive clinical and online training, you can obtain a quality education with this approach to learning. If you are disciplined enough to learn at home, then attaining your degree or certificate online might be the ideal option for you.
Subjects to Ask Phlebotomy Colleges
Now that you have a basic idea about what is involved in becoming a phlebotomy tech, it’s time to begin your due diligence process. You might have already chosen the kind of program you intend to enroll in, whether it be for a degree or a certificate. As we previously mentioned, the location of the college is relevant if you will be commuting from Sharpsville IN in addition to the tuition expense. Perhaps you have decided to enroll in an accredited online phlebotomist program. All of these decisions are an important component of the process for selecting a phlebotomy school or program. But they are not the only considerations when arriving at your decision. Following are a few questions that you should ask about all of the schools you are reviewing before making your ultimate selection.
Is the Phlebotomy Program Specific to Indiana? As earlier discussed, each state has its own regulations for practicing as a phlebotomist. Some states call for certification, while a few others mandate licensing. Every state has its own prerequisite regarding the minimum hours of practical training performed before working as a phlebotomist. As a result, you might need to pass a State Board, licensing or certification exam. Therefore it’s very important to select a phlebotomist program that meets the state specific requirements for Indiana or the state where you will be practicing and preps you for all examinations you may be required to take.
Is the Program Accredited? The phlebotomist program and school you enroll in should be accredited by a respected regional or national accrediting agency, for example the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS). There are a number of advantages to graduating from an accredited school aside from a guarantee of a quality education. First, if your program is not accredited, you will not qualify to sit for a certification exam offered by any of the earlier listed certifying agencies. Also, accreditation will help in getting loans or financial assistance, which are typically unavailable for non-accredited schools. Finally, graduating from an accredited college can make you more desirable to future employers in the Sharpsville IN job market.
What is the Program’s Reputation? In many states there is little or no regulation of phlebotomist colleges, so there are some that are not of the highest caliber. So in addition to accreditation, it’s important to check the reputations of any schools you are considering. You can begin by requesting references from the schools from employers where they refer their students as part of their job placement program. You can research online school reviews and rating services and solicit the accrediting agencies for their reviews also. You can even talk to some Sharpsville IN clinics or hospitals that you may have an interest in working for and ask if they can offer any recommendations. As a final thought, you can contact the Indiana school licensing authority and find out if any complaints have been filed or if the schools are in full compliance.
Is Ample 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 length of training, both clinical and classroom. As a minimum, any phlebotomy program that you are reviewing should provide 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 comprehensive enough to furnish adequate training.
Are Internship Programs Provided? Find out from the schools you are reviewing if they have an internship program in partnership with regional health care facilities. They are the ideal way to receive hands-on clinical training often not obtainable on campus. As an added benefit, internships can help students establish relationships within the local Sharpsville IN healthcare community. And they look good on resumes also.
Is Job Placement Help Offered? Finding your first phlebotomy position will be a lot easier with the assistance of a job placement program. Find out if the schools you are considering offer assistance and what their job placement percentage is. If a college has a high rate, meaning they place the majority of their students in positions, it’s an indication that the program has both an excellent reputation as well as an extensive network of professional contacts within the Sharpsville IN health care community.
Are Class Times Conveniently Scheduled? And last, it’s important to confirm that the final program you choose offers classes at times that will accommodate your hectic lifestyle. This is especially true if you choose to still work while attending school. If you need to go to classes in the evenings or on weekends near Sharpsville IN, make certain they are offered at those times. Additionally, if you can only attend on a part-time basis, verify it is an option also. Even if you have decided to attend online, with the practical training requirement, make sure those hours can also be fulfilled within your schedule. And find out what the make-up protocol is should you need to miss any classes due to illness or emergencies.
Accredited Phlebotomy Programs Near Me Sharpsville IN
Colleges That Offer Phlebotomy Program Sharpsville Indiana
Making sure that you enroll in the right phlebotomist training is an important first step toward your success in this fulfilling healthcare field. As we have covered in this article, there are several factors that go into the selection of a superior program. Phlebotomy training programs are available in a number of academic institutes, including junior or community colleges, trade schools, and colleges and universities that provide an extensive range of programs in medical care and health sciences. Training program options may differ somewhat from state to state as every state has its own criteria when it pertains to phlebotomist training, certification and licensing. The most critical point is that you must thoroughly research and compare each school prior to making your ultimate choice. You originally came to this website due to an interest in Colleges That Offer Phlebotomy Program and to get more information regarding Phlebotomy Skills. However, by addressing the questions that we have provided, you will be able to fine tune your choices so that you can pick the ideal phlebotomist school for you. And with the appropriate training, you can realize your goal of becoming a phlebotomist in Sharpsville IN.
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