Schools For Phlebotomist Kensington MD - Phlebotomist Training Schools

How to Pick the Right Phlebotomist Training Classes near Kensington Maryland

Kensington MD phlebotomist drawing blood from patient Selecting the right phlebotomy training near Kensington MD is a critical first step toward a fulfilling profession as a phlebotomist. It might seem like a daunting task to evaluate and compare each of the school alternatives that are available to you. However it’s vital that you perform your due diligence to make sure that you obtain a quality education. In fact, most students start the process by considering two of the qualifiers that first come to mind, which are cost and location. Another option you may look into is whether to attend online classes or commute to a local campus. We’ll talk more about online schools 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 cheapest or the closest one. Other variables including accreditation and reputation are also important considerations and need to be part of your decision process also. Toward that end, we will furnish a list of questions that you should ask each of the phlebotomy schools you are evaluating to help you select the right one for you. But before we do that, let’s cover what a phlebotomist is and does, and afterwards resume our discussion about online training.

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Should You Become a Plebotomist?

blood analysis performed in Kensington MD lab First of all, not many people probably know what a phlebotomist or phlebotomy technician is. The basic definition is a medical professional who draws blood from patients. We will provide more details later. So naturally anyone who chooses this profession must be able to handle blood and needles. And if you are nervous in hospitals or other Kensington MD medical facilities, well this profession may not be the best choice for you. And now let’s talk about the patients. Phlebotomy Technicians tend to work around anxious people who hate needles or having their blood drawn. And because many medical 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 blood and needles, and if you enjoy interacting with people and are patient and compassionate, this may be the right profession for you.

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Phlebotomy Technician Job Description

Kensington MD phlebotomist holding blood sample A phlebotomist, or phlebotomy technician, collects blood samples from patients. While that is their primary task, there is actually much more to their job description. Prior to drawing a blood sample, a phlebotomist must check that the tools being employed are single use only and sterile. Following the collection, the sample must be correctly labeled with the patient’s data. Afterward, paperwork must be correctly completed in order to track the sample from the time of collection through the laboratory testing procedure. The phlebotomist then delivers the blood to either an in-house lab or to an outside lab facility where it may be tested for such things as infectious diseases, pregnancy or blood type. A number of phlebotomists in fact work in Kensington MD laboratories and are responsible for ensuring that samples are analyzed correctly utilizing the highest quality control procedures. And if those weren’t enough responsibilities, they might be required to instruct other phlebotomists in the collection, transport and follow-up process.

Where do Phlebotomists Practice?

The quickest response is wherever patients are treated. Their work environments are numerous and varied, such as Kensington MD hospitals, medical clinics, long-term care facilities, or blood banks. They can be charged to draw blood samples from patients of of every age, from babies or young children to senior citizens. A number of phlebotomy techs, based on their training and their practice, specialize in collecting samples from a certain kind of patient. For example, those working in a nursing home or assisted living facility would solely be collecting blood from senior patients. If they are working in a maternity ward, they would be drawing blood from mothers and newborns exclusively. In contrast, phlebotomists working in a general hospital setting would be drawing samples from a wide range of patients and would collect samples from different patients every day.

Phlebotomy Training, Certification and Licensing

Kensington MD phlebotomy tech drawing blood There are basically two kinds of programs that furnish phlebotomy training, which are certificate and degree programs. The certificate program generally takes under a year to finish and offers a basic education along with 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 exclusively a phlebotomist degree, will provide training to become a phlebotomy tech. Offered at community and junior colleges, they normally take 2 years to complete. Bachelor’s Degrees are not as accessible and as a four year program offer a more expansive background in lab sciences. Once you have finished your training, you will probably want to get certified. Although not mandated in most states, most Kensington MD employers look for certification prior to hiring 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 a few states that do require certification in order to practice as a phlebotomist, including California and Nevada. California and a few additional states even require licensing. So it’s important that you choose a phlebotomist training program that not only provides 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

Kensington MD student attending online phlebotomy classes First, let’s resolve one likely misconception. You can’t get all of your phlebotomist training online. A good part of the course of study will be practical training and it will be performed either in an on-campus lab or an approved healthcare facility. Many courses also require completion of an internship in order to graduate. However since the non-clinical portion of the training can be accessed online, it can be a more convenient option for some Kensington MD students. As an additional benefit, a number of online schools are less expensive than their on-campus competitors. And some expenses, such as those for textbooks or commuting, may be reduced as well. Just make certain that the online phlebotomist college you choose is accredited by a national or regional accrediting agency (more on accreditation later). With both the extensive online and clinical training, you can receive a superior education with this approach to learning. If you are disciplined enough to learn at home, then obtaining your degree or certificate online might be the best choice for you.

Questions to Ask Phlebotomy Schools

What to ask Kensington MD phlebotomy schools Now that you have a basic understanding about what it takes to become a phlebotomy tech, it’s time to begin your due diligence process. You might have already selected the kind of program you intend to enroll in, whether it be for a degree or a certificate. As we mentioned earlier, the location of the college is significant if you will be commuting from Kensington MD as well as the cost of tuition. Maybe you have decided to enroll in an accredited phlebotomist online school. Each of these decisions are a critical part of the procedure for selecting a phlebotomy school or program. But they are not the sole considerations when making your decision. Following are some questions that you need to ask about each of the schools you are reviewing before making your ultimate decision.

Is the Phlebotomy Program Specific to Maryland? As earlier discussed, each state has its own laws for practicing as a phlebotomist. Several states call for certification, while a few others require licensing. Each has its own requirement regarding the minimum hours of clinical training performed before working as a phlebotomy tech. As a result, you might have to pass a State Board, licensing or certification examination. Therefore it’s extremely important to choose a phlebotomy program that complies with the state specific requirements for Maryland or the state where you will be practicing and preps you for any examinations you may be required to take.

Is the School Accredited? The phlebotomy school and program you choose should be accredited by a highly regarded regional or national accrediting organization, such as the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS). There are a number of advantages 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 administered by any of the previously listed certifying agencies. Next, accreditation will help in obtaining financial aid or loans, which are often unavailable for non-accredited schools. Finally, earning a certificate or a degree from an accredited college can make you more desirable to potential employers in the Kensington MD job market.

What is the Program’s Reputation? In numerous states there is little or no regulation of phlebotomy schools, so there are some that are not of the highest caliber. So in addition to accreditation, it’s imperative to investigate 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 reviews and rating services and ask the accrediting agencies for their reviews as well. You can also contact a few Kensington MD clinics or hospitals that you might be interested in working for and see if they can provide any insights. As a closing thought, you can check with the Maryland school licensing authority and find out if any grievances have been submitted or if the schools are in total compliance.

Is Sufficient Training Provided? First, contact the state regulator where you will be working to learn if there are any minimum requirements for the length of training, both classroom and practical. As a minimum, any phlebotomist program that you are considering should provide no less than 40 hours of classroom training (the majority require 120) and 120 hours of practical training. Anything less than these minimums might indicate that the program is not comprehensive enough to provide sufficient training.

Are Internship Programs Sponsored? Find out from the programs you are considering if they have an internship program in partnership with area medical facilities. They are the ideal means to receive hands-on practical training often not provided on campus. As an additional benefit, internships can assist students establish contacts within the local Kensington MD healthcare community. And they are a plus on resumes as well.

Is Job Placement Support Provided? Finding your first phlebotomy position will be a lot easier with the help of a job placement program. Inquire if the programs you are looking at offer assistance and what their job placement rate is. If a school has a high rate, meaning they place the majority of their students in positions, it’s an indication that the college has both an excellent reputation together with an extensive network of professional contacts within the Kensington MD healthcare community.

Are Class Times Compatible With Your Schedule? Finally, it’s important to make sure that the final school you choose offers classes at times that are compatible with your hectic lifestyle. This is particularly true if you opt to continue working while going to school. If you can only attend classes in the evenings or on weekends near Kensington MD, check that they are available at those times. Also, 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 certain those hours can also be fulfilled within your schedule. And find out what the make-up protocol is should you have to miss any classes because of illness or emergencies.

Phlebotomy Certification Schools Near Me Kensington MD

Schools For Phlebotomist Kensington Maryland

Making sure that you choose the ideal phlebotomy training is an important first step toward your success in this fulfilling medical care field. As we have covered in this article, there are several factors that go into the selection of a superior program. Phlebotomist training programs can be offered in a number of educational institutes, including junior or community colleges, trade schools, and colleges and universities that provide an extensive array of courses in medical care and health sciences. Course options can differ slightly across the country as each state has its own criteria when it comes to phlebotomy training, licensing and certification. The most important point is that you must thoroughly research and compare each school prior to making your ultimate selection. You originally came to this website due to an interest in Schools For Phlebotomist and to get more information regarding Degree In Phlebotomy. However, by addressing the questions that we have provided, you will be able to fine tune your choices so that you can select the right phlebotomist college for you. And with the appropriate education, you can achieve your goal of becoming a phlebotomist in Kensington MD.

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Kensington, Maryland

The area around the Rock Creek basin where Kensington is located was primarily agricultural until 1873, when the B&O Railroad completed the Metropolitan Branch which traversed Montgomery County. A community arose where the new railroad line intersected the old Rockville-to-Bladensburg road. This early settlement was first known as Knowles Station. In the early 1890s, Washington, D.C. developer Brainard Warner began purchasing land parcels to build a planned Victorian community, complete with church, library and a local newspaper. Fascinated by a recent trip to London, Warner named his subdivision Kensington Park, the 10th and largest subdivision in the area which became the Town of Kensington. Upon incorporation in 1894, Warner convinced the Mayor and Council to name the town Kensington.[5] The historic core of Kensington was listed on the National Register of Historic Places, as the Kensington Historic District in 1980.[6]

Originally a farming community at Knowles Station, Kensington developed into a summer refuge for Washington, D.C., residents wishing to escape the capital's humid summers. As years passed and its residents increasingly remained year round, Kensington evolved into a commuter suburb. The large southernmost section originally mapped out by Warner remains largely unchanged since inception, and is a historically preserved zone. Indeed, the only major changes in the town's basic layout have been the bridging over of the original railroad crossing in 1937, and the extension and widening of Connecticut Avenue, the town's main thoroughfare, in 1957.

In March 1975, Kensington gained attention regionally due to the disappearance of Sheila and Katherine Lyon. The sisters walked to Wheaton Plaza, a local shopping mall where they were seen by witnesses including their brother. However, they never returned home and the case remains unsolved.