How to Pick the Best Phlebotomist Training Program near Frenchville Maine
Choosing the right phlebotomist training near Frenchville ME is an important first step toward a rewarding career as a phlebotomist. It may seem like a daunting undertaking to investigate and compare all of the training options that are available to you. Nevertheless it’s important that you complete your due diligence to ensure that you obtain a quality education. In reality, many students start the process by considering 2 of the qualifiers that initially come to mind, which are location and cost. Yet another option you may consider is whether to attend online classes or commute to a local campus. We’ll discuss a bit more about online classes later in this article. What you need to remember is that there is much more to checking out phlebotomy training programs than locating the cheapest or the closest one. Other variables including reputation and accreditation are also important considerations and must be part of your decision process also. To assist in that effort, we will furnish a list of questions that you need to ask each of the phlebotomy schools you are assessing 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 continue our conversation about online classes.
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Should You Go to School to Become a Phlebotomy Tech?
Right out of the gate, not many people are likely to know what a phlebotomist or phlebotomy technician is. The basic definition 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 anxious in hospitals or other Frenchville ME medical environments, well this job may not be the best choice for you. And then there are the patients. Phlebotomy Technicians routinely work with nervous people who hate needles or having their blood drawn. And because most health care facilities are open 24 hours, you will probably be expected to work weekends, nights 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 patient and compassionate, this may be the right profession for you.
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Phlebotomist Career Summary
A phlebotomist, or phlebotomy tech, collects blood samples from patients. While that is their main responsibility, there is in fact far more to their job description. Prior to collecting a blood sample, a phlebotomist must check that the tools being employed are sterile and single use only. After collection, the sample must be correctly labeled with the patient’s data. Afterward, paperwork needs to be accurately completed to be able to track the sample from the point of collection through the laboratory 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 Frenchville ME laboratories and are in charge of making certain that samples are analyzed properly under the strictest quality control procedures. And if those weren’t enough responsibilities, they may be asked to instruct other phlebotomists in the drawing, delivery and follow-up process.
Where do Phlebotomists Work?
The quickest response is wherever patients are treated. Their work environments are numerous and varied, such as Frenchville ME medical clinics, hospitals, nursing homes, or blood banks. They may be charged to draw blood samples from patients of of every age, from babies or young children to seniors. A number of phlebotomists, depending on their training and their practice, specialize in collecting samples from a specific type of patient. For instance, those practicing in a nursing home or assisted living facility would exclusively be collecting blood from senior patients. If they are practicing in a maternity ward, they would be drawing blood from mothers and newborns exclusively. On the other hand, phlebotomists practicing in a general hospital setting would be collecting blood from a wide variety of patients and would work with new patients on a daily basis.
Phlebotomy Technician Training, Licensing and Certification
There are primarily 2 kinds of programs that offer phlebotomist training, which are degree and certificate programs. The certificate program typically takes under a year to complete and provides a general education along with the training on how to draw blood. It provides the fastest route to becoming a phlebotomist. 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 junior and community colleges, they usually require two years to finish. Bachelor’s Degrees are not as available and as a four year program provide a more comprehensive background in lab sciences. After you have finished your training, you will probably want to become certified. Although not required in most states, most Frenchville ME employers require certification prior to employing technicians. A few of the principal certifying organizations include:
- National Phlebotomy Association
- National Healthcareer Association (NHA)
- American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP)
- American Medical Technologists (AMT)
There are several states that do call for certification prior to practicing as a phlebotomy tech, such as Nevada and California. California and a few other states even require licensing. So it’s imperative that you choose a phlebotomy training program that not only offers a quality education, but also readies you for any certification or licensing examinations that you elect or are required to take.
Online Phlebotomist Classes
To start with, let’s resolve one likely misconception. You can’t obtain all of your phlebotomy training online. A substantial part of the course of study will be clinical training and it will be performed either in an approved healthcare facility or an on-campus lab. Many courses also require completion of an internship prior to graduation. But since the non-practical part of the training can be accessed online, it may be a more practical alternative for many Frenchville ME students. As an added benefit, many online programs are more affordable than their on-campus competitors. And some expenditures, including those for textbooks or commuting, may be reduced also. Just verify that the online phlebotomist college you enroll in is accredited by a national or regional accrediting organization (more on accreditation later). With both the comprehensive online and clinical training, you can receive a superior education with this approach to learning. If you are dedicated enough to study at home, then earning your degree or certificate online may be the ideal choice for you.
Questions to Ask Phlebotomist Schools
Now that you have a basic idea about what is involved in becoming a phlebotomist, it’s time to begin your due diligence process. You may have already chosen the type of program you want to enroll in, whether it be for a certificate or a degree. As we mentioned earlier, the location of the college is significant if you will be commuting from Frenchville ME as well as the tuition expense. Perhaps you have opted to enroll in an accredited phlebotomist online college. All of these decisions are an important component of the procedure for selecting a phlebotomy school or program. But they are not the sole concerns when arriving at your decision. Below we have provided several questions that you should ask about each of the colleges you are considering prior to making your ultimate selection.
Is the Phlebotomist Program Specific to Your State? As mentioned previously, each state has its own laws for practicing as a phlebotomy technician. Some states require certification, while a few others require licensing. Each has its own requirement regarding the minimum hours of practical training performed before working as a phlebotomist. As a result, you might have to pass a State Board, certification or licensing exam. Therefore it’s extremely important to choose a phlebotomy program that satisfies the state specific requirements for Maine or the state where you will be working and prepares you for all examinations you may have to take.
Is the School Accredited? The phlebotomy program and school you enroll in should be accredited by a respected national or regional accrediting organization, for example 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 quality education. To begin with, if your program has not received accreditation, you will not be able to sit for a certification exam offered by any of the earlier listed certifying agencies. Next, accreditation will help in obtaining financial aid or loans, which are frequently not available for non-accredited colleges. Finally, earning a certificate or a degree from an accredited school can make you more attractive to potential employers in the Frenchville ME job market.
What is the College’s Ranking? In numerous states there is minimal or no regulation of phlebotomy colleges, so there are those that are not of the highest caliber. So in addition to accreditation, it’s important to investigate the reputations of all schools you are looking at. You can begin by asking the schools for references from employers where they refer their graduates as part of their job assistance program. You can screen internet school reviews and rating services and solicit the accrediting organizations for their reviews also. You can even contact several Frenchville ME hospitals or clinics that you may have an interest in working for and ask if they can offer any recommendations. As a final thought, you can check with the Maine school licensing authority and find out if any grievances have been submitted or if the colleges are in total compliance.
Is Sufficient Training Included? First, 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 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 may indicate that the program is not expansive enough to offer adequate training.
Are Internships Included? Find out from the colleges you are looking at if they have an internship program in partnership with local healthcare facilities. They are the ideal way to obtain hands-on practical training typically not obtainable on campus. As an additional benefit, internships can assist students establish contacts within the local Frenchville ME medical community. And they are a plus on resumes also.
Is Job Placement Assistance Provided? Landing your first phlebotomist position will be a lot easier with the assistance of a job placement program. Ask if the colleges you are considering provide assistance and what their job placement percentage is. If a school has a high rate, signifying they place most of their students in positions, it’s an indication that the program has both an excellent reputation along with a large network of professional contacts within the Frenchville ME health care community.
Are Classes Available as Needed? Finally, it’s important to confirm that the ultimate program you pick offers classes at times that will accommodate your hectic schedule. This is particularly true if you opt to still work while going to school. If you can only go to classes in the evenings or on weekends near Frenchville ME, check that they are offered at those times. Also, if you can only attend on a part-time basis, verify it is an option as well. And if you have decided to study online, with the practical training requirement, make certain those hours can also be completed within your schedule. And find out what the make-up procedure is should you have to miss any classes because of illness or emergencies.
What Do You Need To Become A Phlebotomist Frenchville ME
Low Cost Phlebotomy Colleges Frenchville Maine
Making certain that you choose the right phlebotomy training is a critical first step toward your success in this fulfilling health care career position. As we have addressed in this article, there are several factors that contribute toward the selection of a quality college. Phlebotomy training programs can be available in a variety of academic institutions, including community or junior colleges, trade schools, and colleges and universities that provide a comprehensive range of courses in medical care and health sciences. Program offerings may vary a bit from state to state as each state has its own criteria when it concerns phlebotomist training, certification and licensing. The most important point is that you must thoroughly evaluate and compare each program before making your ultimate choice. You originally came to this website due to an interest in Low Cost Phlebotomy Colleges and to get more information regarding Top Phlebotomist Programs. However, by asking the questions that we have presented, you will be able to narrow down your choices so that you can pick the best phlebotomy school for you. And with the appropriate education, you can achieve your goal of becoming a phlebotomist in Frenchville ME.
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Frenchville, Maine
Frenchville (French: Ville-France[4]) is a town in Aroostook County, Maine, United States. The population was 1,087 at the 2010 census: 80 percent are habitual speakers of French,[citation needed] aided by its proximity to French-speaking Quebec and New Brunswick in Canada.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 29.17 square miles (75.55 km2), of which 28.71 square miles (74.36 km2) is land and 0.46 square miles (1.19 km2) is water.[1] The town lies on the south bank of the Saint John River, which forms the international boundary between Maine and New Brunswick, Canada.
As of the census[2] of 2010, there were 1,087 people, 459 households, and 346 families residing in the town. The population density was 37.9 inhabitants per square mile (14.6/km2). There were 514 housing units at an average density of 17.9 per square mile (6.9/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 98.4% White, 0.2% Native American, 0.2% from other races, and 1.2% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.8% of the population.
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