Online Drawing Blood Training Glenwood NJ - Phlebotomist Training Schools

How to Choose the Right Phlebotomy School near Glenwood New Jersey

Glenwood NJ phlebotomist drawing blood from patient Choosing the ideal phlebotomy training near Glenwood NJ is an essential initial step toward a gratifying profession as a phlebotomist. It might seem like a challenging task to evaluate and compare all of the school options that are available to you. However it’s vital that you complete your due diligence to ensure that you receive a superior education. In reality, most prospective students start the process by considering two of the qualifiers that initially come to mind, which are location and cost. An additional factor you might consider is whether to attend online classes or commute to a nearby campus. We’ll talk more about online classes later in this article. What’s important 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 such as reputation and accreditation are also important considerations and need to be part of your selection process too. Toward that end, we will provide a list of questions that you should ask each of the phlebotomy schools you are assessing to help you choose the best one for you. But before we do that, let’s address what a phlebotomist is and does, and then resume our discussion about online schools.

Request Free Information on Phlebotomy Training Near You!

Should You Choose a Career as a Phlebotomy Tech?

blood analysis performed in Glenwood NJ lab Right out of the gate, 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 chooses this profession must be OK around blood and needles. And if you are anxious in hospitals or other Glenwood NJ medical environments, well this profession probably is not the best choice for you. And then there are the patients. Phlebotomy Technicians routinely work with anxious people who don’t like needles or having their blood taken. And because most health care facilities are open 24 hours, you may be expected to work weekends, evenings and even on holidays. But if you can handle the hours and the blood and needles, and if you enjoy interacting with people and are patient and compassionate, this could be the perfect job for you.

Click Here to Get Free Information on Phlebotomy Training Near You!

Phlebotomy Technician Job Summary

Glenwood NJ phlebotomist holding blood sample A phlebotomist, or phlebotomy tech, collects blood samples from patients. Although that is their principal duty, there is in fact so much more to their job description. Prior to collecting a blood sample, a phlebotomist has to confirm that the tools being used are sterile and single use only. Following the collection, the sample has to be accurately labeled with the patient’s information. Afterward, paperwork needs to be properly filled out in order to track the sample from the point of collection through the laboratory testing process. The phlebotomist then delivers the blood to either an an outside lab facility or an in-house lab where it can be screened for such things as infectious diseases, pregnancy or blood type. Many phlebotomists in fact work in Glenwood NJ labs and are accountable for ensuring that samples are analyzed correctly utilizing the strictest quality assurance procedures. And if those weren’t enough responsibilities, they may be asked to instruct other phlebotomists in the collection, transport and follow-up process.

Where do Phlebotomy Techs Work?

The most basic response is wherever there are patients. Their work places are numerous and varied, including Glenwood NJ hospitals, medical clinics, nursing homes, or blood banks. They may be tasked to collect blood samples from patients of of every age, from babies or young children to senior citizens. A number of phlebotomists, based on their training and their practice, specialize in collecting samples from a certain kind of patient. For example, those practicing in an assisted living facility or nursing home would exclusively be collecting blood from older patients. If they are working in a maternity ward, they would be drawing blood from newborns and mothers exclusively. On the other hand, phlebotomists practicing in a general hospital environment would be collecting blood from a wide range of patients and would work with different patients on a daily basis.

Phlebotomist Education, Certification and Licensing

Glenwood NJ phlebotomy tech drawing blood There are essentially two kinds of programs that provide phlebotomist training, which are certificate and degree programs. The certificate program typically takes under a year to finish and provides a basic education together with the training on how to draw blood. It provides the fastest means to becoming a phlebotomist. An Associate of Science Degree in Clinical Laboratory Science, even though it’s not exclusively a phlebotomist degree, will provide training to become a phlebotomist. Offered at junior and community colleges, they usually take two years to complete. Bachelor’s Degrees are not as accessible and as a 4 year program provide a more extensive background in lab sciences. After you have completed your training, you will probably want to be certified. While not required in most states, a number of Glenwood NJ employers look for certification before 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 some states that do require certification prior to practicing as a phlebotomist, like Nevada and California. California and a few other states even require licensing. So it’s imperative that you select a phlebotomy training program that not only supplies a quality education, but also readies you for any licensing or certification exams that you are required or elect to take.

Phlebotomy Online Schools

Glenwood NJ student attending online phlebotomy classes To begin with, let’s dispel one possible misconception. You can’t receive all of your phlebotomy training online. A significant portion of the curriculum will be clinical training and it will be carried out either in an approved healthcare facility or an on-campus lab. Numerous courses also require completion of an internship in order to graduate. However since the non-practical part of the training can be accessed online, it could be a more convenient option for many Glenwood NJ students. As an added benefit, some online colleges are more affordable than their traditional counterparts. And some expenditures, including those for commuting or textbooks, may be reduced also. Just confirm that the online phlebotomist program you choose is accredited by a national or regional accrediting agency (more on accreditation to follow). With both the extensive clinical and online training, you can obtain a quality education with this method of learning. If you are disciplined enough to learn at home, then earning your certificate or degree online may be the best option for you.

Questions to Ask Phlebotomy Programs

What to ask Glenwood NJ phlebotomy schools Now that you have a general idea about what is involved in becoming a phlebotomy tech, it’s time to initiate your due diligence process. You might have already selected the kind of program you want to enroll in, whether it be for a degree or a certificate. As we mentioned earlier, the location of the campus is relevant if you will be commuting from Glenwood NJ in addition to the cost of tuition. Possibly you have opted to enroll in an accredited online phlebotomist program. All of these decisions are a critical part of the procedure for choosing a phlebotomy program or school. But they are not the sole concerns when arriving at your decision. Below we have provided a few questions that you need to ask about all of the programs you are looking at prior to making your ultimate decision.

Is the Phlebotomist Program Specific to Your State? As mentioned previously, each state has its own requirements for practicing as a phlebotomist. Some states require certification, while a few others require licensing. Each has its own prerequisite regarding the minimum amount of clinical training completed prior to working as a phlebotomy tech. Consequently, you might have to pass a State Board, certification or licensing exam. Therefore it’s extremely important to enroll in a phlebotomy program that meets the state specific requirements for New Jersey or the state where you will be practicing and prepares you for any exams you may be required to take.

Is the College Accredited? The phlebotomist program and school you choose should be accredited by a highly regarded regional or national accrediting organization, for example the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS). There are a number of benefits to graduating from an accredited program aside from a guarantee of a premium education. First, if your program has not received accreditation, you will not be able to sit for a certification examination offered by any of the earlier listed certifying agencies. Also, accreditation will help in getting financial aid or loans, which are frequently unavailable for non-accredited colleges. Last, graduating from an accredited school can make you more attractive to future employers in the Glenwood NJ job market.

What is the School’s Ranking? In numerous states there is minimal or no regulation of phlebotomist schools, so there are some that are not of the highest quality. So in addition to accreditation, it’s important to check out the reputations of any colleges you are considering. You can begin by requesting references from the schools from employers where they refer their graduates as part of their job placement program. You can screen online school reviews and rating services and solicit the accrediting organizations for their reviews as well. You can even talk to some Glenwood NJ clinics or hospitals that you might have an interest in working for and find out if they can offer any recommendations. As a final thought, you can check with the New Jersey school licensing authority and find out if any complaints have been filed or if the schools are in total compliance.

Is Ample Training Provided? To begin with, 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 phlebotomy program that you are looking at should provide no less than 40 hours of classroom training (the majority require 120) and 120 hours of clinical training. Anything lower than these minimums may indicate that the program is not comprehensive enough to provide sufficient training.

Are Internship Programs Provided? Ask the schools you are looking at if they have an internship program in partnership with regional health care facilities. They are the optimal way to obtain hands-on clinical training typically not provided on campus. As an added benefit, internships can help students develop relationships within the local Glenwood NJ healthcare community. And they are a plus on resumes as well.

Is Job Placement Help Provided? Landing your first phlebotomist job will be a lot easier with the support of a job placement program. Inquire if the programs you are considering provide assistance and what their job placement rate is. If a school has a higher rate, signifying they place the majority of their students in positions, it’s an indication that the school has both a good reputation as well as a large network of professional contacts within the Glenwood NJ medical community.

Are Classes Available as Needed? Finally, it’s critical to verify that the ultimate school you choose provides classes at times that are compatible with your active schedule. This is especially true if you choose to still work while going to college. If you can only attend classes in the evenings or on weekends near Glenwood NJ, 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 as well. Even if you have decided to study online, with the clinical training requirement, make certain those hours can also be completed within your schedule. And ask what the make-up procedure is should you have to miss any classes as a result of illness or emergencies.

Phlebotomy Technician School Glenwood NJ

Online Drawing Blood Training Glenwood New Jersey

Making certain that you select the most suitable phlebotomist training is a critical first step toward your success in this rewarding healthcare career position. As we have covered in this article, there are several factors that go into the selection of a superior college. Phlebotomist training programs can be available in a variety of academic institutes, including junior or community colleges, vocational schools, and colleges and universities that provide an extensive assortment of courses in healthcare and medical sciences. Training program options may differ a bit from state to state as every state has its own prerequisites when it pertains to phlebotomist training, licensing and certification. The most important point is that you need to diligently research and compare each school prior to making your final selection. You originally came to this website due to an interest in Online Drawing Blood Training and to get more information regarding Accredited Phlebotomy Tech Associates Degrees. However, by asking the questions that we have furnished, you will be able to fine tune your options so that you can pick the best phlebotomy college for you. And with the proper training, you can realize your goal of becoming a phlebotomy technician in Glenwood NJ.