How to Choose the Right Phlebotomy Tech Training Classes near Harrisonville New Jersey

Choosing the right phlebotomy technician school near Harrisonville NJ is an important initial step toward a gratifying career as a phlebotomist. It may seem like a difficult task to evaluate and compare all of the training alternatives that are available to you. Nevertheless it’s vital that you do your due diligence to make certain that you get a quality education. In fact, many potential students begin their search by looking at 2 of the qualifiers that first come to mind, which are cost and location. Yet another factor you might consider is whether to attend online classes or commute to an area campus. We’ll review more about online classes later in this article. What you need to remember is that there is far more to checking out phlebotomy training programs than finding the cheapest or the closest one. Other variables such as accreditation and reputation are also significant considerations and need to be part of your decision process too. To assist in that effort, we will furnish a list of questions that you need to ask each of the phlebotomy schools you are evaluating to help you pick the best one for you. But prior to doing that, let’s cover what a phlebotomist is and does, and afterwards resume our discussion about online schools.

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Should You Choose a Career as a Phlebotomy Tech?

Right out of the gate, few people are likely to know what a phlebotomist or phlebotomy technician is. The short definition is a health care professional who draws blood from patients. We will provide more details later. So naturally anyone who selects this profession must be comfortable with blood and needles. And if you are anxious in hospitals or other Harrisonville NJ medical environments, well this job may not be the best choice for you. And then there are the patients. Phlebotomy Techs routinely work around anxious people who don’t like needles or having their blood taken. And because most health care facilities are open around the clock, you may be expected to work weekends, evenings and, you guessed it even on holidays. But if you don’t mind working with the needles and blood, and if you enjoy helping people and are patient and compassionate, this may be the right profession for you.

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Phlebotomy Technician Career Summary

A phlebotomist, or phlebotomy tech, collects blood samples from patients. Although that is their main function, there is in fact much more to their job description. Prior to collecting a blood sample, a phlebotomist has to check that the tools being employed are sterile and single use only. Following the collection, the sample has to be correctly labeled with the patient’s information. Afterward, paperwork must be accurately filled out to be able to track the sample from the point of collection through the lab screening process. 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. Some phlebotomists in fact work in Harrisonville NJ labs and are accountable for ensuring that samples are tested properly under the highest quality assurance procedures. And if those weren’t enough responsibilities, they might be asked to train other phlebotomists in the drawing, transport and follow-up process.

Where are Phlebotomists Employed?

The simplest answer is wherever they treat patients. Their work environments are numerous and diverse, such as Harrisonville NJ medical clinics, hospitals, 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 practice and their training, specialize in collecting blood from a certain kind of patient. For instance, those working in an assisted living facility or nursing home would only be drawing blood from elderly 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 collecting blood from a wide variety of patients and would collect samples from different patients every day.

Phlebotomy Education, Certification and Licensing

There are basically 2 types of programs that provide phlebotomy training, which are certificate and degree programs. The certificate program usually takes less than a year to complete and offers a general education together 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, although not specifically a phlebotomy degree, will incorporate training to become a phlebotomist. Offered at junior and community colleges, they normally require 2 years to finish. Bachelor’s Degrees are less accessible and as a 4 year program offer a more extensive background in lab sciences. Once you have finished your training, you will no doubt want to be certified. While not required in the majority of states, many Harrisonville NJ employers look for certification prior to hiring 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 prior to practicing as a phlebotomy tech, like California and Nevada. California and a few additional states even require licensing. So it’s essential that you pick a phlebotomy training program that not only provides a superior education, but also prepares you for any licensing or certification exams that you elect or are required to take.

Phlebotomist Online Training

First, let’s dispel one likely mistaken belief. You can’t obtain all of your phlebotomist training online. A significant component of the curriculum will be clinical training and it will be performed either in an on-campus lab or an approved healthcare facility. A large number of courses also require completing an internship prior to graduation. However since the non-practical component of the training may be accessed online, it could be a more convenient alternative for some Harrisonville NJ students. As an additional benefit, many online colleges are more affordable than their on-campus counterparts. And some costs, for instance those for textbooks or commuting, may be lessened also. Just confirm that the online phlebotomist program you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization (more on accreditation to follow). With both the comprehensive online and clinical training, you can obtain a premium education with this approach to learning. If you are dedicated enough to learn at home, then earning your certificate or degree online might be the ideal choice for you.

What to Ask Phlebotomy Schools

Since you now have a general idea about what is involved in becoming a phlebotomy tech, it’s time to begin your due diligence process. You may have already picked the type of program you wish to enroll in, whether it be for a degree or a certificate. As we mentioned earlier, the location of the college is relevant if you will be commuting from Harrisonville NJ as well as the cost of tuition. Perhaps you have opted to enroll in an accredited online phlebotomy school. All of these decisions are a critical component of the process for picking a phlebotomy school or program. But they are not the sole considerations when arriving at your decision. Below we have provided a few questions that you need to ask about each of the colleges you are reviewing before making your final decision.

Is the Phlebotomist Program Specific to Your State? As earlier discussed, each state has its own regulations for practicing as a phlebotomist. Some states require certification, while a few others require licensing. Each has its own prerequisite regarding the minimum hours of clinical training completed before practicing as a phlebotomist. As a result, you might have to pass a State Board, certification or licensing examination. Therefore it’s extremely important to choose a phlebotomy program that complies with the state specific requirements for New Jersey or the state where you will be working and prepares you for any exams you may have to take.

Is the Program Accredited? The phlebotomist program and school 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 several advantages to graduating from an accredited program in addition to a guarantee of a superior education. To begin with, if your program has not received accreditation, you will not qualify to take a certification exam administered by any of the earlier listed certifying organizations. Also, accreditation will help in obtaining loans or financial assistance, which are often not available for non-accredited programs. Last, earning a certificate or a degree from an accredited college can make you more desirable to prospective employers in the Harrisonville NJ job market.

What is the Program’s Ranking? In numerous states there is little or no regulation of phlebotomist colleges, so there are those that are not of the highest quality. So in addition to accreditation, it’s essential to check the reputations of all schools you are reviewing. 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 research internet school reviews and rating services and solicit the accrediting organizations for their reviews also. You can also talk to a few Harrisonville NJ hospitals or clinics that you might have an interest in working for and see if they can offer any insights. As a closing 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 full compliance.

Is Enough Training Included? To begin with, check with the state regulator where you will be practicing to find out if there are any minimum requirements for the length of training, both clinical and classroom. At a minimum, any phlebotomy program that you are considering 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 might signify that the program is not expansive enough to provide adequate training.

Are Internship Programs Included? Find out from the programs you are considering if they have an internship program in partnership with area health care facilities. They are the optimal way to get hands-on practical training frequently not obtainable on campus. As an added benefit, internships can help students establish relationships within the local Harrisonville NJ healthcare community. And they look good on resumes as well.

Is Job Placement Support Provided? Finding your first phlebotomist job will be a lot easier with the help of a job placement program. Inquire if the programs you are reviewing offer assistance and what their job placement percentage is. If a school has a high rate, meaning they place most of their students in jobs, it’s an indication that the program has both a good reputation together with a substantial network of professional contacts within the Harrisonville NJ healthcare community.

Are Classes Available as Needed? And last, it’s crucial to make sure that the final college you pick offers classes at times that will accommodate your busy schedule. This is especially true if you choose to still work while attending college. If you need to attend classes in the evenings or on weekends near Harrisonville NJ, make certain they are available at those times. Also, if you can only attend part-time, make sure it is an option as well. Even if you have decided to attend online, with the clinical training requirement, make sure those hours can also be completed within your schedule. And ask what the make-up procedure is in case you need to miss any classes as a result of emergencies or illness.

Phlebotomy Technician Training Near Me Harrisonville NJ

Online Phlebotomy Tech Training Harrisonville New Jersey

Making sure that you select the right phlebotomy training is an important first step toward your success in this gratifying health care field. As we have discussed in this article, there are several factors that go into the selection of a superior school. Phlebotomy training programs are found in a wide range of academic institutes, including junior or community colleges, trade schools, and colleges and universities that provide a wide assortment of programs 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 phlebotomy training, licensing and certification. The most critical point is that you need to thoroughly research and compare each program prior to making your final choice. You originally came to this website due to an interest in Online Phlebotomy Tech Training and to get more information regarding 4 Week Phlebotomy Associates Degrees.  However, by asking the questions that we have presented, you will be able to fine tune your choices so that you can pick the ideal phlebotomist school for you. And with the proper training, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a phlebotomist in Harrisonville NJ.

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