How to Find the Best Phlebotomy Tech Training Course near Merrick New York

Enrolling in the right phlebotomy school near Merrick NY is an essential first step toward a fulfilling profession as a phlebotomist. It may seem like a challenging task to evaluate and compare each of the training alternatives that are available to you. However it’s vital that you complete your due diligence to ensure that you obtain a quality education. In reality, most prospective students start their search by considering two of the qualifiers that first come to mind, which are location and cost. Yet another option you might look into is whether to attend classes online or commute to a nearby campus. We’ll review a bit more about online classes later in this article. What you need to remember is that there is much more to comparing phlebotomy training programs than finding the closest or the cheapest one. Other variables such as accreditation and reputation are also important considerations and should be part of your selection process also. Toward that end, we will supply a list of questions that you need to ask each of the phlebotomy schools you are reviewing to help you select the right one for you. But prior to doing that, let’s cover what a phlebotomist is and does, and afterwards continue our conversation about online schools.

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Should You Go to School to Become a Phlebotomy Technician?

Right out of the gate, not many people probably know what a phlebotomy tech or phlebotomist is. The basic answer 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 blood and needles. And if you are anxious in hospitals or other Merrick NY medical environments, well this profession probably is not right for you. And then there are the patients. Phlebotomy Technicians tend to work with nervous people who hate needles or having a blood sample taken. And because most health care facilities are open 24 hours, you may be expected to work weekends, evenings and, you guessed it 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 could be the right job for you.

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Phlebotomist Job Description

A phlebotomist, or phlebotomy technician, collects blood samples from patients. While that is their main responsibility, there is in fact far more to their job description. Prior to collecting a blood sample, a phlebotomist has to check that the instruments being used are single use only and sterile. After collection, the sample needs to be accurately labeled with the patient’s data. Afterward, paperwork has to be properly filled out in order to track the sample from the time of collection through the lab testing process. The phlebotomist then delivers the blood to either an an outside lab facility or an in-house lab where it may be screened for such things as pregnancy, infectious diseases or blood type. A number of phlebotomists in fact work in Merrick NY labs and are accountable for making certain that samples are analyzed properly under the strictest quality control procedures. And if those weren’t sufficient duties, they might be asked to instruct other phlebotomists in the drawing, delivery and follow-up process.

Where are Phlebotomists Employed?

The easiest answer is wherever they treat patients. Their work places are numerous and diverse, such as Merrick NY medical clinics, hospitals, long-term care facilities, or blood banks. They can be tasked to draw blood samples from patients of of every age, from babies or young children to seniors. Some phlebotomy techs, depending on their practice and their training, specialize in drawing blood from a particular kind of patient. For instance, those working in a nursing home or assisted living facility would only be collecting blood from older patients. If they are practicing in a maternity ward, they would be collecting blood from newborns and mothers solely. On the other hand, phlebotomy technicians working in a general hospital setting would be collecting blood from a wide variety of patients and would work with new patients each day.

Phlebotomy Training, Licensing and Certification

There are primarily 2 kinds of programs that furnish phlebotomy training, which are degree and certificate programs. The certificate program usually takes less than a year to finish and furnishes a general education together with the training on how to draw blood. It provides the quickest means to becoming a phlebotomist. An Associate of Science Degree in Clinical Laboratory Science, even though it’s not exclusively a phlebotomy degree, will provide training to become a phlebotomist. Offered at community and junior colleges, they normally require 2 years to complete. Bachelor’s Degrees are not as available and as a four year program furnish a more extensive foundation in lab sciences. Once you have finished your training, you will probably want to get certified. Although not required in most states, many Merrick NY employers require certification prior to employing technicians. A few of the primary certifying agencies 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 phlebotomy tech, like Nevada and California. California and a handful of other states even require licensing. So it’s important that you enroll in a phlebotomy training program that not only provides a quality education, but also readies you for any licensing or certification examinations that you are required or elect to take.

Online Phlebotomist Certificates and Degrees

To begin with, let’s dispel one likely mistaken belief. You can’t receive all of your phlebotomist training online. A substantial part of the curriculum will be practical training and it will be conducted either in an approved healthcare facility or an on-campus lab. Numerous courses also require completing an internship prior to graduation. However since the non-practical component of the training may be accessed online, it can be a more convenient option for some Merrick NY students. As an added benefit, a number of online schools are more affordable than their on-campus counterparts. And some expenditures, such as those for textbooks or commuting, may be lessened as well. Just confirm that the online phlebotomy school you choose is accredited by a national or regional accrediting agency (more on accreditation later). With both the comprehensive clinical and online training, you can receive a superior education with this approach to learning. If you are disciplined enough to learn at home, then earning your certificate or degree online might be the ideal choice for you.

Questions to Ask Phlebotomy Schools

Now that you have a general understanding about what it takes to become a phlebotomy tech, it’s time to initiate your due diligence process. You might have already decided on the kind of program you wish to enroll in, whether it be for a certificate or a degree. As we mentioned earlier, the location of the school is relevant if you will be commuting from Merrick NY as well as the cost of tuition. Possibly you have opted to enroll in an accredited online phlebotomist school. All of these decisions are an important part of the procedure for picking a phlebotomy school or program. But they are not the only considerations when making your decision. Following are some questions that you should ask about all of the schools you are reviewing prior to making your final decision.

Is the Phlebotomist Program Specific to Your State? As mentioned previously, each state has its own regulations for practicing as a phlebotomist. Several states require certification, while a few others mandate licensing. Every state has its own prerequisite regarding the minimum amount of clinical training performed before working as a phlebotomist. Consequently, you might have to pass a State Board, certification or licensing exam. Therefore it’s extremely important to enroll in a phlebotomist program that satisfies the state specific requirements for New York or the state where you will be working and readies you for all examinations you may be required to take.

Is the School Accredited? The phlebotomist program and school you pick should be accredited by a reputable regional or national accrediting agency, such as the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS). There are many advantages to graduating from an accredited school in addition to 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 exam offered by any of the previously listed certifying agencies. Also, accreditation will help in obtaining loans or financial assistance, which are typically unavailable for non-accredited schools. Finally, graduating from an accredited school can make you more desirable to prospective employers in the Merrick NY job market.

What is the College’s Reputation? In numerous states there is little or no regulation of phlebotomist colleges, so there are some that are not of the highest quality. So along with accreditation, it’s essential to check out the reputations of any schools you are considering. You can start by asking the schools for references from employers where they refer their graduates as part of their job assistance program. You can research online school reviews and rating services and solicit the accrediting agencies for their reviews also. You can even talk to several Merrick NY hospitals or clinics that you may be interested in working for and find out if they can offer any insights. As a closing thought, you can contact the New York school licensing authority and ask if any grievances have been filed or if the schools are in full compliance.

Is Sufficient Training Included? To begin with, check with 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. At a minimum, any phlebotomist program that you are reviewing should provide at least 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 Internship Programs Provided? Find out from the schools you are reviewing if they have an internship program in collaboration with regional healthcare facilities. They are the optimal way to obtain hands-on clinical training often not obtainable on campus. As an added benefit, internships can assist students establish contacts within the local Merrick NY medical community. And they look good on resumes also.

Is Job Placement Support Offered? Landing your first phlebotomy position will be much easier with the help of a job placement program. Ask if the programs you are looking at offer assistance and what their job placement rate is. If a school has a higher rate, signifying they place the majority of their students in jobs, it’s an indication that the college has both an excellent reputation together with a large network of professional contacts within the Merrick NY healthcare community.

Are Class Times Available as Needed? And last, it’s critical to make sure that the final school you select offers classes at times that are compatible with your busy schedule. This is particularly important if you opt to continue working while attending school. If you can only attend classes in the evenings or on weekends near Merrick NY, make sure they are offered at those times. Additionally, if you can only attend on a part-time basis, verify 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 fulfilled within your schedule. And ask what the make-up protocol is should you have to miss any classes due to emergencies or illness.

How Long Does Phlebotomy Classes Take Merrick NY

Best Phlebotomist Colleges Merrick New York

Making sure that you enroll in the ideal phlebotomist training is a critical first step toward your success in this rewarding health care career position. As we have addressed in this article, there are several factors that go into the selection of a superior college. Phlebotomy certificate or degree programs can be found in a wide range of educational institutions, such as community or junior colleges, vocational schools, and colleges and universities that provide an extensive assortment of programs in medical care and health sciences. Training program offerings can vary a bit from state to state as every state has its own criteria when it pertains to phlebotomist training, certification and licensing. The most important point is that you must carefully research and compare each college prior to making your ultimate selection. You originally came to this website due to an interest in Best Phlebotomist Colleges and to get more information regarding Phlebotomist Course.  However, by asking the questions that we have furnished, you will be able to fine tune your choices so that you can pick the best phlebotomist school for you. And with the appropriate training, you can achieve your goal of becoming a phlebotomy technician in Merrick NY.

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