How to Find the Right Phlebotomy Tech Training Program near Brookfield Massachusetts

Enrolling in the ideal phlebotomy school near Brookfield MA is a critical first step toward a gratifying career as a phlebotomist. It might seem like a daunting task to assess and compare all of the school alternatives that are available to you. However it’s vital that you do your due diligence to make sure that you obtain a superior education. In reality, most potential students begin the process by looking at two of the qualifiers that first come to mind, which are cost and location. Another factor you might consider is whether to attend classes online or commute to an area campus. We’ll review more about online schools later in this article. What’s important to remember is that there is much more to comparing phlebotomy training programs than finding the cheapest or the closest one. Other factors such as reputation and accreditation are also important considerations and should be part of your decision process too. Toward that end, we will supply 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 cover what a phlebotomist is and does, and then resume our discussion about online training.

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Should You Choose a Career as a Plebotomist?

First of all, not many people are likely to know what a phlebotomist or phlebotomy technician is. The short answer is a health care professional who draws blood from patients. We will go into more depth later. So of course anyone who selects this profession must be OK around blood and needles. And if you are nervous in hospitals or other Brookfield MA medical environments, well this job may not be right for you. And then there are the patients. Phlebotomy Technicians tend to work around anxious people who don’t like needles or having a blood sample taken. And because many medical facilities are open 24 hours, you will probably be required to work weekends, nights and, you guessed it even on holidays. But if you don’t mind working with the blood and needles, and if you enjoy helping people and are compassionate and very patient, this may be the right job for you.

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Phlebotomist Work Description

A phlebotomist, or phlebotomy technician, collects blood samples from patients. While that is their primary task, there is actually so much more to their job description. Prior to drawing a blood sample, a phlebotomist has to check that the tools being used are single use only and sterile. After collection, the sample needs to be accurately labeled with the patient’s information. Next, paperwork must be correctly filled out to be able to track the sample from the point 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 pregnancy, infectious diseases or blood type. Many phlebotomists actually work in Brookfield MA laboratories and are responsible for making sure that samples are tested properly under the highest quality assurance procedures. And if those weren’t enough responsibilities, they can be required to instruct other phlebotomists in the collection, delivery and follow-up process.

Where are Phlebotomy Techs Employed?

The most basic response is wherever there are patients. Their work environments are many and diverse, including Brookfield MA hospitals, medical clinics, long-term care facilities, or blood banks. They can be charged to collect blood samples from patients of of every age, from infants or young children to seniors. Some phlebotomy techs, depending on their training and their practice, specialize in drawing samples from a particular kind of patient. For example, those practicing in a nursing home or assisted living facility would only be collecting blood from senior patients. If they are practicing in a maternity ward, they would be drawing blood from newborns and mothers solely. In contrast, phlebotomists working in a general hospital environment would be collecting samples from a wide range of patients and would work with different patients each day.

Phlebotomist Education, Certification and Licensing

There are basically 2 types of programs that furnish phlebotomy training, which are degree and certificate programs. The certificate program generally takes less than a year to complete and furnishes a general education along with the training on how to draw blood. It provides the quickest route to becoming a phlebotomist. An Associate of Science Degree in Clinical Laboratory Science, even though it’s not specifically a phlebotomy degree, will provide training on becoming a phlebotomy tech. Available at community and junior colleges, they normally require 2 years to complete. Bachelor’s Degrees are less accessible 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 become certified. Although not required in most states, most Brookfield MA employers look for certification prior to employing technicians. A few of the primary 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 in order to practice as a phlebotomist, including California and Nevada. California and a handful of other states even require licensing. So it’s important that you enroll in a phlebotomist training program that not only provides a premium education, but also readies you for any certification or licensing exams that you are required or elect to take.

Online Phlebotomist Colleges

First, let’s resolve one likely misconception. You can’t receive all of your phlebotomy training online. A substantial portion of the course of study will be practical training and it will be carried out either in an on-campus lab or an approved healthcare facility. Many courses also require completion of an internship prior to graduation. However since the non-practical portion of the training can be accessed online, it can be a more practical option for many Brookfield MA students. As an additional benefit, many online schools are more affordable than their traditional competitors. And some expenses, including those for commuting or textbooks, may be minimized as well. Just make certain that the online phlebotomy school you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency (more on accreditation later). With both the comprehensive online and clinical training, you can obtain a quality education with this approach to learning. If you are dedicated enough to learn at home, then earning your certificate or degree online may be the best option for you.

Questions to Ask Phlebotomist Programs

Now that you have a basic understanding about what it takes to become a phlebotomist, it’s time to initiate your due diligence process. You may have already selected 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 significant if you will be commuting from Brookfield MA in addition to the tuition expense. Maybe you have opted to enroll in an accredited phlebotomist online school. All of these decisions are a critical part of the procedure for picking a phlebotomy school or program. But they are not the sole considerations when arriving at your decision. Below we have provided some questions that you should ask about each of the programs you are reviewing prior to making your final decision.

Is the Phlebotomy Program Specific to Your State? As earlier discussed, each state has its own requirements for practicing as a phlebotomist. Several states call for certification, while some others mandate licensing. Every state has its own requirement regarding the minimum amount of practical training completed before working as a phlebotomist. Consequently, you may need to pass a State Board, certification or licensing exam. Therefore it’s very important to choose a phlebotomy program that complies with the state specific requirements for Massachusetts or the state where you will be working and prepares you for any exams you may be required to take.

Is the Program Accredited? The phlebotomy program and school you pick should be accredited by a reputable 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 aside from a guarantee of a premium education. To begin with, if your program is not accredited, you will not be able to sit for a certification examination administered by any of the earlier listed certifying agencies. Next, accreditation will help in securing financial aid or loans, which are frequently not available for non-accredited programs. Finally, earning a certificate or a degree from an accredited college can make you more attractive to future employers in the Brookfield MA job market.

What is the College’s Reputation? In many states there is little or no regulation of phlebotomy colleges, so there are some that are not of the highest caliber. So in addition to accreditation, it’s important to investigate the reputations of any colleges you are looking at. You can start by requesting references from the schools from employers where they place their graduates as part of their job assistance program. You can research internet school reviews and rating services and solicit the accrediting agencies for their reviews also. You can also check with a few Brookfield MA clinics or hospitals that you may have an interest in working for and ask if they can provide any recommendations. As a final thought, you can contact the Massachusetts school licensing authority and find out if any complaints have been submitted or if the schools are in total compliance.

Is Sufficient Training Included? First, check with the state regulator where you will be working 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 considering should furnish no less than 40 hours of classroom training (most require 120) and 120 hours of practical training. Anything less than these minimums may signify that the program is not expansive enough to provide adequate training.

Are Internships Provided? Ask the colleges you are considering if they have an internship program in collaboration with local health care facilities. They are the optimal means to obtain hands-on clinical training often not obtainable on campus. As an additional benefit, internships can assist students develop contacts within the local Brookfield MA healthcare community. And they look good on resumes also.

Is Job Placement Support Provided? Finding your first phlebotomy job will be much easier with the assistance of a job placement program. Ask if the schools you are reviewing 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 along with a large network of professional contacts within the Brookfield MA medical community.

Are Class Times Offered to Fit Your Schedule? Finally, it’s crucial to make sure that the final college you choose offers classes at times that are compatible with your busy lifestyle. This is particularly important if you decide to still work while going to school. If you need to attend classes at night or on weekends near Brookfield MA, make sure they are available at those times. Additionally, if you can only attend part-time, confirm it is an option also. 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 protocol is in case you have to miss any classes as a result of illness or emergencies.

Phlebotomy Certification Schools Brookfield MA

Phlebotomy Schools Online Brookfield Massachusetts

Making sure that you select the right phlebotomy training is an essential first step toward your success in this gratifying health care field. As we have covered in this article, there are a number of factors that go into the selection of a premium school. Phlebotomist training programs can be offered in a variety of educational institutes, including community or junior colleges, trade schools, and colleges and universities that provide a wide array of courses in medical care and health sciences. Training program offerings may differ slightly from state to state as each state has its own requirements when it pertains to phlebotomist training, licensing and certification. The most critical point is that you must thoroughly evaluate and compare each school prior to making your ultimate selection. You originally came to this website due to an interest in Phlebotomy Schools Online and to get more information regarding 3 Day Phlebotomy Course.  However, by addressing the questions that we have provided, you will be able to fine tune your choices so that you can select the ideal phlebotomist school for you. And with the proper education, you can reach your goal of becoming a phlebotomist in Brookfield MA.

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