How to Find the Best Phlebotomy Technician Training Course near Mount Vernon New York

Picking the right phlebotomy technician training near Mount Vernon NY is a critical initial step toward a gratifying profession as a phlebotomist. It might seem like a challenging undertaking to investigate and compare each of the training options that are available to you. However it’s vital that you perform your due diligence to make sure that you receive a quality education. In reality, most prospective students begin their search by looking at two of the qualifiers that initially come to mind, which are cost and location. Yet another option you might consider is whether to attend online classes or commute to a nearby 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 finding the closest or the cheapest one. Other variables such as accreditation and reputation 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 need to ask each of the phlebotomy schools you are evaluating to help you pick the right one for you. But prior to doing that, let’s cover what a phlebotomist is and does, and afterwards resume our conversation about online classes.

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Should You Train to Be a Phlebotomy Technician?

First of all, not many people probably know what a phlebotomist or phlebotomy technician is. The basic answer is a medical professional who draws blood from patients. We will go into more depth later. So naturally anyone who chooses this profession must be comfortable with blood and needles. And if you are anxious in hospitals or other Mount Vernon NY medical environments, well this profession probably is not right for you. And then there are the patients. Phlebotomists often work with anxious people who hate needles or having a blood sample drawn. 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 can handle the hours and the needles and blood, and if you enjoy helping people and are compassionate and very patient, this could be the right profession for you.

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Phlebotomist Job Summary

A phlebotomist, or phlebotomy tech, collects blood samples from patients. While that is their main task, there is in fact so much more to their job description. Before collecting a blood sample, a phlebotomist has to check that the tools being employed are single use only and sterile. After collection, the sample must be correctly labeled with the patient’s information. Next, paperwork must be properly completed to be able to track the sample from the time of collection through the laboratory screening procedure. 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. A number of phlebotomists in fact work in Mount Vernon NY laboratories and are responsible for making sure that samples are analyzed properly utilizing the strictest quality control procedures. And if those weren’t enough responsibilities, they can be called upon to instruct other phlebotomists in the drawing, transport and follow-up process.

Where do Phlebotomists Work?

The most basic answer is wherever there are patients. Their workplaces are numerous and varied, including Mount Vernon NY hospitals, medical clinics, long-term care facilities, or blood centers. They may be charged to draw blood samples from patients of all ages, from babies or toddlers to seniors. Some phlebotomists, based on their practice and their training, specialize in collecting blood from a particular type of patient. For example, those practicing in a nursing home or assisted living facility would solely be collecting blood from elderly patients. If they are working in a maternity ward, they would be drawing blood from newborns and mothers exclusively. In contrast, phlebotomy technicians working in a general hospital setting would be collecting blood from a wide range of patients and would collect samples from different patients every day.

Phlebotomy Training, Certification and Licensing

There are basically 2 kinds of programs that provide phlebotomist training, which are certificate and degree 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 fastest means to becoming a phlebotomist. An Associate of Science Degree in Clinical Laboratory Science, even though it’s not exclusively a phlebotomy degree, will include training on becoming a phlebotomy tech. Offered at junior and community colleges, they normally take two years to complete. Bachelor’s Degrees are less accessible and as a 4 year program furnish a more extensive foundation in lab sciences. After you have finished your training, you will probably want to be certified. While not mandated in most states, a number of Mount Vernon NY employers require certification before employing technicians. Some 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 some states that do require certification prior to practicing as a phlebotomist, including Nevada and California. California and a few additional states even require licensing. So it’s important that you select a phlebotomist training program that not only offers a quality education, but also prepares you for any certification or licensing examinations that you elect or are required to take.

Phlebotomy Online Training

To start with, let’s resolve one possible mistaken belief. You can’t obtain all of your phlebotomy training online. A substantial component of the course of study will be clinical training and it will be conducted either in an on-campus lab or an approved healthcare facility. A large number of courses also require completing an internship in order to graduate. However since the non-practical part of the training can be accessed online, it might be a more practical option for some Mount Vernon NY students. As an added benefit, some online colleges are less expensive than their traditional counterparts. And some expenditures, including those for commuting or textbooks, may be minimized also. Just verify that the online phlebotomist program you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization (more on accreditation later). With both the extensive clinical and online training, you can receive a premium education with this method of learning. If you are dedicated enough to study at home, then earning your certificate or degree online may be the best choice for you.

Topics to Ask Phlebotomy Schools

Since you now have a basic idea about what it takes to become a phlebotomist, it’s time to begin your due diligence process. You may have already decided on the type of program you intend to enroll in, whether it be for a certificate or a degree. As we previously mentioned, the location of the campus is relevant if you will be commuting from Mount Vernon NY in addition to the cost of tuition. Possibly you have opted to enroll in an accredited phlebotomy online school. All of these decisions are an important component of the process for picking a phlebotomy school or program. But they are not the sole concerns when making your decision. Below we have provided several questions that you need to ask about all of the programs you are considering before making your final selection.

Is the Phlebotomy Program Specific to Your State? As mentioned previously, each state has its own regulations for practicing as a phlebotomy technician. Several states call for 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 phlebotomy tech. As a result, you might have to pass a State Board, certification or licensing exam. Therefore it’s extremely important to enroll in a phlebotomy program that satisfies the state specific requirements for New York or the state where you will be practicing and preps you for any exams you may have to take.

Is the College Accredited? The phlebotomy program and school you select should be accredited by a highly regarded national or regional accrediting organization, for example the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS). There are many advantages to graduating from an accredited program in addition to an assurance of a quality education. To begin with, if your program has not received accreditation, you will not qualify to take a certification examination administered by any of the earlier listed certifying organizations. Also, accreditation will help in securing loans or financial assistance, which are typically unavailable 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 Mount Vernon NY job market.

What is the College’s Reputation? In many states there is minimal or no regulation of phlebotomy schools, so there are some that are not of the highest caliber. So in addition to accreditation, it’s essential to investigate the reputations of all colleges you are considering. You can start by requesting references from the schools from employers where they refer their students as part of their job placement program. You can research online school reviews and rating services and ask the accrediting organizations for their reviews also. You can also talk to some Mount Vernon NY hospitals or clinics that you may be interested in working for and ask if they can provide any recommendations. As a closing thought, you can contact the New York school licensing authority and find out if any grievances have been filed or if the colleges are in total compliance.

Is Ample Training Provided? First, contact the state regulator where you will be practicing to find out if there are any minimum requirements for the amount of training, both classroom and practical. At a minimum, any phlebotomist program that you are considering should provide at least 40 hours of classroom training (most require 120) and 120 hours of practical training. Anything below these minimums might signify that the program is not expansive enough to provide adequate training.

Are Internship Programs Included? Ask the programs you are looking at if they have an internship program in partnership with local medical facilities. They are the optimal means to receive hands-on clinical training typically not obtainable on campus. As an added benefit, internships can help students develop relationships within the local Mount Vernon NY healthcare community. And they are a plus on resumes as well.

Is Job Placement Support Offered? Finding your first phlebotomist job will be a lot easier with the help of a job placement program. Inquire if the programs you are looking at provide assistance and what their job placement rate is. If a school has a high rate, signifying they place the majority of their students in jobs, it’s an indication that the college has both an excellent reputation as well as a substantial network of professional contacts within the Mount Vernon NY medical community.

Are Classes Conveniently Scheduled? And last, it’s critical to verify that the final school you select offers classes at times that are compatible with your active schedule. This is especially true if you opt to continue working while going to school. If you can only attend classes at night or on weekends near Mount Vernon NY, check that they are available at those times. Also, if you can only attend on a part-time basis, confirm it is an option also. And if you have decided to attend online, with the clinical training requirement, make sure those hours can also be fulfilled within your schedule. And ask what the make-up procedure is should you need to miss any classes due to emergencies or illness.

Vocational School For Phlebotomy Mount Vernon NY

Best Drawing Blood Training Mount Vernon New York

Making sure that you select the most suitable phlebotomist training is an important first step toward your success in this fulfilling medical care field. As we have addressed in this article, there are a number of factors that contribute toward the selection of a premium school. Phlebotomist training programs can be offered in a number of academic institutions, including junior or community colleges, vocational schools, and colleges and universities that provide a wide range of courses in healthcare and medical sciences. Course options may vary slightly from state to state as each state has its own prerequisites when it comes to phlebotomist training, certification and licensing. The most important point is that you must diligently screen and compare each school before making your final choice. You originally came to this website due to an interest in Best Drawing Blood Training and to get more information regarding Phlebotomy Certification Class.  However, by addressing the questions that we have furnished, you will be able to fine tune your options so that you can select the ideal phlebotomist school for you. And with the appropriate training, you can realize your goal of becoming a phlebotomist in Mount Vernon NY.

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