How to Select the Right Phlebotomy Tech Training Course near Raceland Louisiana

Choosing the ideal phlebotomy technician training near Raceland LA is an important first step toward a rewarding profession as a phlebotomist. It may seem like a daunting task to investigate and compare all of the training alternatives that are accessible to you. Nevertheless it’s important that you complete your due diligence to ensure that you receive a superior education. In fact, many potential students start the process by considering two of the qualifiers that initially come to mind, which are cost and location. Yet another factor you may look into is whether to attend classes online or commute to an area campus. We’ll discuss a bit more about online classes later in this article. What you need to keep in mind is that there is a lot more to checking out phlebotomy training programs than finding the closest or the cheapest one. Other factors including accreditation and reputation are also important considerations and must be part of your decision process as well. Toward that end, we will supply a list of questions that you need to ask each of the phlebotomy schools you are reviewing to help you select the ideal one for you. But prior to doing that, let’s cover what a phlebotomist is and does, and afterwards resume our conversation about online classes.

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Should You Choose a Career as a Plebotomist?

First of all, few people probably know what a phlebotomy tech or phlebotomist is. The basic answer is a health care professional whose job is to draw blood. We will go into more depth later. So naturally anyone who decides to enter this profession must be OK around needles and blood. And if you are not comfortable in hospitals or other Raceland LA medical environments, well this profession probably is not right for you. And now let’s talk about the patients. Phlebotomists often work with nervous people who don’t like needles or having a blood sample taken. And because many medical facilities are open 24 hours, you may be expected to work weekends, evenings and, you guessed it even on holidays. But if you don’t mind working with the blood and needles, and if you enjoy interacting with people and are patient and compassionate, this could be the perfect profession for you.

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Phlebotomist Career Summary

A phlebotomist, or phlebotomy technician, collects blood samples from patients. Although that is their principal duty, there is in fact much more to their job description. Before drawing a blood sample, a phlebotomist has to confirm that the instruments being employed are single use only and sterile. Following the collection, the sample needs to be correctly labeled with the patient’s information. Next, paperwork has to be properly completed in order to track the sample from the point of collection through the laboratory testing procedure. The phlebotomist then transports the blood to either an an outside lab facility or an in-house lab where it may be screened for such things as pregnancy, infectious diseases or blood type. A number of phlebotomists in fact work in Raceland LA labs and are accountable for making certain that samples are tested properly utilizing 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 do Phlebotomists Work?

The easiest response is wherever there are patients. Their work places are many and diverse, such as Raceland LA hospitals, medical clinics, nursing homes, or blood banks. They can be tasked to draw blood samples from patients of all ages, from infants or toddlers to senior citizens. A number of phlebotomy techs, depending on their training and their practice, specialize in drawing blood from a specific type of patient. For instance, those working in a nursing home or assisted living facility would exclusively be drawing blood from older patients. If they are working in a maternity ward, they would be drawing blood from newborns and mothers solely. On the other hand, phlebotomy technicians practicing in a general hospital environment would be collecting blood from a wide variety of patients and would collect samples from new patients on a daily basis.

Phlebotomist Education, Certification and Licensing

There are basically 2 kinds of programs that furnish phlebotomist training, which are certificate and degree programs. The certificate program normally takes less than a year to complete and offers a basic education as well as the training on how to draw blood. It offers the quickest method to becoming a phlebotomy tech. An Associate of Science Degree in Clinical Laboratory Science, even though it’s not specifically a phlebotomy degree, will provide training to become a phlebotomy tech. Available at junior and community colleges, they typically take two years to complete. Bachelor’s Degrees are not as accessible and as a four year program provide a more extensive background in lab sciences. After you have completed your training, you will no doubt want to be certified. Although not mandated in the majority of states, a number of Raceland LA employers look for certification before employing technicians. Some of the main certifying agencies 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 prior to practicing as a phlebotomist, including Nevada and California. California and a few additional states even require licensing. So it’s imperative that you enroll in a phlebotomy training program that not only furnishes a quality education, but also readies you for any certification or licensing exams that you elect or are required to take.

Online Phlebotomy Colleges

To start with, let’s resolve one possible misconception. You can’t get all of your phlebotomy training online. A substantial component 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. A large number of courses also require completion of an internship prior to graduation. However since the non-clinical portion of the training can be accessed online, it could be a more practical option for many Raceland LA students. As an added benefit, a number of online colleges are more affordable than their on-campus competitors. And some costs, including those for textbooks or commuting, may be reduced also. Just verify that the online phlebotomist school you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization (more on accreditation to follow). With both the comprehensive clinical and online training, you can receive a premium education with this approach to learning. If you are disciplined enough to study at home, then obtaining your certificate or degree online might be the right option for you.

Questions to Ask Phlebotomist Programs

Now that you have a basic idea about what it takes to become a phlebotomy tech, it’s time to start your due diligence process. You might have already picked the kind of program you want 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 Raceland LA as well as the cost of tuition. Maybe you have opted to enroll in an accredited online phlebotomist program. Each of these decisions are a critical component of the process for choosing a phlebotomy school or program. But they are not the sole concerns when making your decision. Below we have provided a few questions that you should ask about all of the programs you are considering before making your ultimate selection.

Is the Phlebotomist Program State Specific? As mentioned previously, each state has its own laws for practicing as a phlebotomy technician. Several states call for certification, while a few others mandate licensing. Every state has its own prerequisite regarding the minimum hours of practical training performed prior to practicing as a phlebotomist. As a result, you might have to pass a State Board, licensing or certification examination. Therefore it’s extremely important to enroll in a phlebotomy program that satisfies the state specific requirements for Louisiana or the state where you will be practicing and readies you for any examinations you may have to take.

Is the School Accredited? The phlebotomist program and school you pick should be accredited by a recognized regional or national accrediting organization, for example the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS). There are a number of advantages to graduating from an accredited school in addition to an assurance of a premium education. First, if your program has not received accreditation, you will not be able to sit for a certification exam administered by any of the earlier listed certifying agencies. Also, accreditation will help in securing financial aid or loans, which are often not available for non-accredited schools. Last, graduating from an accredited school can make you more attractive to prospective employers in the Raceland LA job market.

What is the Program’s Ranking? In a number of states there is little or no regulation of phlebotomy colleges, so there are some that are not of the highest caliber. So along with accreditation, it’s important to check out the reputations of all colleges you are considering. You can start by asking the schools for references from employers where they refer their students as part of their job assistance program. You can research online school rating and review services and solicit the accrediting agencies for their reviews also. You can even check with some Raceland LA hospitals or clinics that you may have an interest in working for and find out if they can offer any recommendations. As a closing thought, you can contact the Louisiana school licensing authority and find out if any complaints have been submitted or if the colleges are in total compliance.

Is Adequate 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 clinical and classroom. At a minimum, any phlebotomy program that you are looking at should furnish at least 40 hours of classroom training (the majority require 120) and 120 hours of clinical training. Anything less than these minimums might indicate that the program is not comprehensive enough to provide sufficient training.

Are Internship Programs Sponsored? Ask the colleges you are considering if they have an internship program in collaboration with regional healthcare facilities. They are the ideal means to receive hands-on practical training often not obtainable on campus. As an added benefit, internships can help students establish contacts within the local Raceland LA health care community. And they look good on resumes also.

Is Job Placement Help Offered? Finding your first phlebotomy job will be much easier with the support of a job placement program. Inquire if the programs you are looking at offer assistance and what their job placement percentage is. If a college has a high rate, signifying they place the majority of their students in jobs, it’s an indication that the program has both an excellent reputation as well as an extensive network of professional contacts within the Raceland LA healthcare community.

Are Class Times Conveniently Scheduled? And last, it’s important to confirm that the ultimate school you choose provides classes at times that will accommodate your busy lifestyle. This is especially true if you choose to still work while attending college. If you can only go to classes at night or on weekends near Raceland LA, check that they are offered at those times. Also, if you can only attend on a part-time basis, make sure it is an option also. Even if you have decided to attend online, with the practical training requirement, make certain those hours can also be completed within your schedule. And find out what the make-up protocol is should you need to miss any classes as a result of illness or emergencies.

Can You Take Phlebotomy Classes Online Raceland LA

Part Time Phlebotomist Programs Raceland Louisiana

Making sure that you choose the right phlebotomist training is an important first step toward your success in this rewarding medical care field. As we have covered in this article, there are several factors that go into the selection of a quality college. Phlebotomy certificate or degree programs are offered in a variety of educational institutions, including community or junior colleges, vocational schools, and colleges and universities that provide a comprehensive assortment of courses in healthcare and medical sciences. Course options may differ slightly across the country as every state has its own criteria when it pertains to phlebotomy training, licensing and certification. The most important point is that you must carefully research and compare each program before making your ultimate choice. You originally came to this website due to an interest in Part Time Phlebotomist Programs and to get more information regarding Affordable Phlebotomy Technician Colleges Near Me.  However, by asking the questions that we have provided, you will be able to narrow down your choices so that you can select the best phlebotomist school for you. And with the proper education, you can achieve your goal of becoming a phlebotomist in Raceland LA.

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