How to Find the Right Phlebotomy Training Course near Middle River Maryland

Choosing the right phlebotomist school near Middle River MD is an important initial step toward a rewarding profession as a phlebotomist. It may seem like a daunting undertaking to analyze and compare all of the training options that are accessible to you. However it’s important that you do your due diligence to ensure that you obtain a quality education. In fact, many students begin their search by looking at 2 of the qualifiers that first come to mind, which are cost and location. An additional 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’s important to remember is that there is a lot more to checking out phlebotomy training programs than locating the cheapest or the closest one. Other factors such as reputation and accreditation are also significant considerations and need to be part of your selection process also. Toward that end, we will provide a list of questions that you should ask each of the phlebotomy schools you are evaluating to help you pick the ideal one for you. But before we do that, let’s address what a phlebotomist is and does, and afterwards 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 probably know what a phlebotomist or phlebotomy technician is. The short definition is a health care professional whose job is to draw blood. We will provide more details later. So naturally anyone who chooses this profession must be OK around needles and blood. And if you are not comfortable in hospitals or other Middle River MD medical environments, well this profession probably is not the best choice for you. And now let’s talk about the patients. Phlebotomists often work around anxious people who hate needles or having their blood taken. And because most health care facilities are open around the clock, you will probably be expected to work weekends, evenings and even on holidays. But if you don’t mind working with the needles and blood, and if you enjoy helping people and are compassionate and very patient, this could be the perfect profession for you.

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Phlebotomy Tech Career Description

A phlebotomist, or phlebotomy tech, draws blood from patients. Although that is their main responsibility, there is actually so much more to their job description. Before collecting a blood sample, a phlebotomist must verify that the instruments being utilized are single use only and sterile. Following the collection, the sample must be accurately labeled with the patient’s information. Afterward, paperwork needs to be correctly completed to be able to track the sample from the time of collection through the lab testing procedure. The phlebotomist then delivers the blood to either an in-house lab or to an outside lab facility where it can be tested for such things as infectious diseases, pregnancy or blood type. A number of phlebotomists in fact work in Middle River MD labs and are responsible for making certain that samples are tested correctly under the strictest quality assurance procedures. And if those weren’t sufficient duties, they may be required to instruct other phlebotomists in the drawing, delivery and follow-up process.

Where are Phlebotomists Employed?

The simplest response is wherever there are patients. Their workplaces are many and diverse, such as Middle River MD medical clinics, hospitals, nursing homes, or blood banks. They may be tasked to collect blood samples from patients of of every age, from infants or young children to seniors. A number of phlebotomy techs, depending on their training and their practice, specialize in collecting samples from a particular type of patient. For instance, those working 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 mothers and newborns exclusively. On the other hand, phlebotomy technicians practicing in a general hospital environment would be drawing blood from a wide variety of patients and would work with different patients every day.

Phlebotomist Education, Certification and Licensing

There are essentially two kinds of programs that furnish phlebotomist training, which are degree and certificate programs. The certificate program typically takes less than a year to finish and offers a basic education as well as the training on how to draw blood. It offers the fastest route to becoming a phlebotomist. An Associate of Science Degree in Clinical Laboratory Science, although not exclusively a phlebotomist degree, will provide training to become a phlebotomy tech. Offered at community and junior colleges, they typically require 2 years to finish. Bachelor’s Degrees are not as available and as a four year program provide a more extensive background in lab sciences. When you have completed your training, you will probably want to be certified. While not required in most states, a number of Middle River MD employers look for certification prior to hiring 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 several states that do call for certification prior to practicing as a phlebotomy tech, such as California and Nevada. California and a handful of other states even require licensing. So it’s essential that you enroll in a phlebotomist training program that not only offers a quality education, but also preps you for any certification or licensing examinations that you are required or elect to take.

Phlebotomy Online Training

To start with, let’s dispel one likely mistaken belief. You can’t get all of your phlebotomist training online. A good part of the program of studies will be clinical training and it will be performed either in an on-campus lab or an approved healthcare facility. Many courses also require completing an internship in order to graduate. However since the non-clinical component of the training can be attended online, it might be a more practical option for many Middle River MD students. As an additional benefit, a number of online colleges are less expensive than their traditional competitors. And some costs, including those for commuting or textbooks, may be minimized also. Just make certain that the online phlebotomist program you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization (more on accreditation later). With both the comprehensive clinical and online training, you can receive a superior education with this means of learning. If you are dedicated enough to learn at home, then attaining your certificate or degree online may be the best choice for you.

Points to Ask Phlebotomist Colleges

Since you now have a general idea about what it takes to become a phlebotomy tech, it’s time to initiate 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 previously mentioned, the location of the campus is important if you will be commuting from Middle River MD in addition to the cost of tuition. Perhaps you have decided to enroll in an accredited online phlebotomy school. All of these decisions are a critical component of the process for choosing a phlebotomy program or school. But they are not the only concerns when arriving at your decision. Following are several questions that you should ask about all of the programs you are looking at prior to making your ultimate selection.

Is the Phlebotomy Program Specific to Maryland? As earlier discussed, each state has its own regulations for practicing as a phlebotomist. Some states require certification, while some others require licensing. Each has its own prerequisite regarding the minimum hours of practical training completed prior to working as a phlebotomist. As a result, you may need to pass a State Board, certification or licensing examination. Therefore it’s extremely important to enroll in a phlebotomy program that meets the state specific requirements for Maryland 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 phlebotomy school and program you pick should be accredited by a reputable national or regional accrediting organization, for example the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS). There are a number of benefits to graduating from an accredited school aside from a guarantee of a superior education. To begin with, if your program is not accredited, you will not qualify to sit for a certification exam administered by any of the earlier listed certifying agencies. Also, accreditation will help in securing loans or financial assistance, which are often not available for non-accredited schools. Last, earning a certificate or a degree from an accredited college can make you more desirable to prospective employers in the Middle River MD job market.

What is the Program’s Ranking? In a number of states there is minimal or no regulation of phlebotomy schools, so there are those that are not of the highest caliber. So along with accreditation, it’s imperative to check the reputations of all schools you are reviewing. You can begin by asking the schools for references from employers where they place their students as part of their job placement program. You can research internet school reviews and rating services and ask the accrediting agencies for their reviews also. You can even contact a few Middle River MD hospitals or clinics that you might have an interest in working for and see if they can offer any recommendations. As a closing thought, you can contact the Maryland school licensing authority and ask if any grievances have been submitted or if the schools are in full compliance.

Is Ample Training Provided? To begin with, contact the state regulator where you will be practicing to learn if there are any minimum requirements for the length of training, both clinical and classroom. As a minimum, any phlebotomy program that you are considering should provide no less than 40 hours of classroom training (most require 120) and 120 hours of clinical training. Anything less than these minimums may indicate that the program is not comprehensive enough to offer sufficient training.

Are Internship Programs Sponsored? Find out from the schools you are looking at if they have an internship program in collaboration with local healthcare facilities. They are the optimal way to get hands-on practical training frequently not provided on campus. As an additional benefit, internships can assist students establish relationships within the local Middle River MD medical community. And they look good on resumes also.

Is Job Placement Assistance Offered? Getting your first phlebotomy job will be much easier with the assistance of a job placement program. Find out if the colleges you are reviewing provide assistance and what their job placement percentage 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 together with an extensive network of professional contacts within the Middle River MD healthcare community.

Are Class Times Available as Needed? And last, it’s crucial to verify that the ultimate college you pick offers classes at times that are compatible with your busy schedule. This is especially true if you choose to still work while attending school. If you can only go to classes at night or on weekends near Middle River MD, make certain they are offered at those times. Additionally, if you can only attend part-time, 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 find out what the make-up procedure is should you need to miss any classes as a result of emergencies or illness.

Phlebotomy License School Middle River MD

Phlebotomy Online Class Middle River Maryland

Making sure that you enroll in the most suitable phlebotomy training is an essential first step toward your success in this fulfilling healthcare career position. As we have covered in this article, there are a number of factors that contribute toward the selection of a premium program. Phlebotomy certificate or degree programs are available in a wide range of academic institutes, including community or junior colleges, trade schools, and colleges and universities that provide a wide range of courses in medical care and health sciences. Program offerings may differ a bit from state to state as every state has its own prerequisites when it comes to phlebotomist training, licensing and certification. The most important point is that you need to carefully screen and compare each school before making your final decision. You originally came to this website due to an interest in Phlebotomy Online Class and to get more information regarding What Schools Offer Phlebotomy Training.  However, by asking the questions that we have presented, you will be able to fine tune your options so that you can pick the best phlebotomy school for you. And with the appropriate education, you can reach your goal of becoming a phlebotomy technician in Middle River MD.

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