How to Find the Right Phlebotomy Technician Training Program near Mounds Oklahoma

Choosing the right phlebotomist training near Mounds OK is an essential first step toward a rewarding profession as a phlebotomist. It may seem like a difficult undertaking to investigate and compare each of the school options that are available to you. However it’s important that you do your due diligence to make sure that you get a quality education. In reality, most potential students start the process by looking at two of the qualifiers that initially come to mind, which are cost and location. Another factor you might consider is whether to attend online classes or commute to a local campus. We’ll talk a bit more about online classes later in this article. What’s important to keep in mind is that there is far more to checking out phlebotomy training programs than finding the closest or the cheapest one. Other factors including reputation and accreditation are also important considerations and need to be part of your selection process as well. Toward that end, we will furnish a list of questions that you need to ask each of the phlebotomy schools you are evaluating to help you select the best one for you. But before we do that, let’s address what a phlebotomist is and does, and then continue our conversation about online classes.

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Should You Go to School to Become a Phlebotomy Technician?

Right out of the gate, few people are likely to know what a phlebotomist or phlebotomy technician is. The basic definition is a health care professional who draws blood from patients. We will provide more details later. So of course anyone who decides to enter this profession must be comfortable with blood and needles. And if you are not comfortable in hospitals or other Mounds OK medical facilities, well this profession probably is not the best choice for you. And now let’s talk about the patients. Phlebotomy Techs often work around anxious people who don’t like needles or having a blood sample drawn. And because many medical facilities are open around the clock, you will probably be expected to work weekends, nights and, you guessed it even on holidays. But if you don’t mind working with the needles and blood, and if you enjoy interacting with people and are compassionate and very patient, this could be the perfect profession for you.

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Phlebotomy Technician Career Description

A phlebotomist, or phlebotomy technician, draws blood from patients. Although that is their principal responsibility, there is actually much more to their job description. Before drawing a blood sample, a phlebotomist must confirm that the instruments being utilized are single use only and sterile. Following the collection, the sample needs to be accurately labeled with the patient’s information. Afterward, paperwork has to be accurately completed to be able to track the sample from the time of collection through the lab testing process. The phlebotomist then transports the blood to either an in-house lab or to an outside lab facility where it may be screened for such things as pregnancy, infectious diseases or blood type. Many phlebotomists actually work in Mounds OK labs and are in charge of making certain that samples are tested properly using the strictest quality control procedures. And if those weren’t enough duties, they can be required to train other phlebotomists in the collection, delivery and follow-up process.

Where do Phlebotomists Work?

The simplest answer is wherever there are patients. Their work environments are many and diverse, including Mounds OK hospitals, medical clinics, nursing homes, or blood centers. They can be tasked to draw blood samples from patients of all ages, from babies or young children to seniors. A number of phlebotomy techs, based on their practice and their training, specialize in collecting 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 older patients. If they are working in a maternity ward, they would be collecting blood from newborns and mothers exclusively. In contrast, phlebotomy technicians working in a general hospital environment would be collecting blood from a wide variety of patients and would work with different patients on a daily basis.

Phlebotomy Training, Licensing and Certification

There are essentially two kinds of programs that provide phlebotomy training, which are degree and certificate programs. The certificate program usually takes under a year to complete and furnishes a basic education along with the training on how to draw blood. It offers the fastest route to becoming a phlebotomy tech. An Associate of Science Degree in Clinical Laboratory Science, although not exclusively a phlebotomy degree, will incorporate training on becoming a phlebotomist. Offered at community and junior colleges, they usually take two years to finish. Bachelor’s Degrees are less available and as a 4 year program furnish a more extensive background in lab sciences. When you have completed your training, you will probably want to be certified. While not required in most states, most Mounds OK employers look for certification prior to employing technicians. A few of the key certifying organizations 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 phlebotomist, such as Nevada and California. California and a few additional states even require licensing. So it’s important that you pick a phlebotomist training program that not only supplies a superior education, but also readies you for any licensing or certification examinations that you are required or elect to take.

Online Phlebotomist Colleges

To begin with, let’s dispel one likely mistaken belief. You can’t get all of your phlebotomy training online. A substantial component of the program of studies will be practical 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 in order to graduate. But since the non-practical part of the training can be attended online, it might be a more practical option for some Mounds OK students. As an added benefit, some online programs are less expensive than their on-campus competitors. And some costs, such as those for commuting or textbooks, may be minimized also. Just verify that the online phlebotomy school you enroll in is accredited by a national or regional accrediting organization (more on accreditation later). With both the extensive online and clinical training, you can obtain a premium education with this method of learning. If you are disciplined enough to learn at home, then attaining your certificate or degree online might be the right option for you.

What to Ask Phlebotomy Colleges

Since you now have a general understanding about what is involved in becoming a phlebotomist, it’s time to begin your due diligence process. You might have already picked the kind of program you want to enroll in, whether it be for a certificate or a degree. As we mentioned earlier, the location of the school is significant if you will be commuting from Mounds OK in addition to the tuition expense. Possibly you have opted to enroll in an accredited phlebotomy online college. Each of these decisions are a critical component of the procedure for choosing a phlebotomy school or program. But they are not the only considerations when arriving at your decision. Below we have provided a few questions that you need to ask about all of the programs you are reviewing prior to making your final selection.

Is the Phlebotomist Program Specific to Oklahoma? As previously mentioned, each state has its own laws for practicing as a phlebotomist. Some states call for certification, while some others require licensing. Each has its own requirement regarding the minimum hours of clinical training performed prior to working as a phlebotomist. As a result, you might have to pass a State Board, certification or licensing examination. Therefore it’s extremely important to enroll in a phlebotomist program that meets the state specific requirements for Oklahoma or the state where you will be working and prepares you for all exams you may be required to take.

Is the School Accredited? The phlebotomist program and school you select should be accredited by a recognized national or regional 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 in addition to a guarantee of a premium education. First, if your program has not received accreditation, you will not be able to sit for a certification exam offered by any of the earlier listed certifying agencies. Next, accreditation will help in securing loans or financial assistance, which are often not available for non-accredited colleges. Finally, graduating from an accredited college can make you more attractive to prospective employers in the Mounds OK job market.

What is the College’s Reputation? In a number of states there is little or no regulation of phlebotomist schools, so there are some that are not of the highest caliber. So along with accreditation, it’s important to check the reputations of any colleges you are considering. You can start by asking the schools for references from employers where they place their students as part of their job placement program. You can research online school reviews and rating services and ask the accrediting agencies for their reviews also. You can even contact some Mounds OK clinics or hospitals that you may be interested in working for and ask if they can provide any recommendations. As a final thought, you can contact the Oklahoma school licensing authority and find out if any complaints have been submitted or if the schools are in total compliance.

Is Ample Training Included? To begin with, contact the state regulator where you will be practicing to learn if there are any minimum requirements for the amount of training, both classroom and practical. As a minimum, any phlebotomy program that you are reviewing should furnish no less than 40 hours of classroom training (the majority require 120) and 120 hours of practical training. Anything less than these minimums might signify that the program is not expansive enough to furnish adequate training.

Are Internships Provided? Ask the programs you are looking at if they have an internship program in collaboration with local health care facilities. They are the ideal way to get hands-on practical training typically not obtainable on campus. As an added benefit, internships can assist students develop relationships within the local Mounds OK health care community. And they look good on resumes also.

Is Job Placement Assistance Available? Finding your first phlebotomist job will be a lot easier with the help of a job placement program. Find out if the programs you are considering provide assistance and what their job placement percentage is. If a school has a high rate, meaning they place the majority of their students in positions, it’s an indication that the program has both an excellent reputation together with a substantial network of professional contacts within the Mounds OK health care community.

Are Classes Available as Needed? Finally, it’s critical to make sure that the ultimate college you choose offers classes at times that are compatible with your busy schedule. This is particularly true if you decide to continue working while going to college. If you need to attend classes at night or on weekends near Mounds OK, make sure they are available at those times. Also, if you can only attend on a part-time basis, make sure it is an option as well. And if you have decided to attend online, with the clinical training requirement, make certain those hours can also be fulfilled within your schedule. And ask what the make-up policy is should you have to miss any classes as a result of emergencies or illness.

Phlebotomy Curriculum Mounds OK

Part Time Phlebotomy Training Mounds Oklahoma

Making sure that you enroll in the ideal phlebotomist training is an important first step toward your success in this rewarding health care career position. As we have addressed in this article, there are multiple factors that go into the selection of a premium school. Phlebotomy training programs are found in a variety of academic institutes, such as community or junior colleges, trade schools, and colleges and universities that provide a comprehensive array of programs in medical care and health sciences. Program offerings may differ a bit from state to state as each state has its own prerequisites when it concerns phlebotomist training, certification and licensing. The most important point is that you must carefully screen and compare each college before making your final selection. You originally came to this website due to an interest in Part Time Phlebotomy Training and to get more information regarding Affordable Phlebotomist Associates Degrees.  However, by asking the questions that we have furnished, you will be able to narrow down your choices so that you can select the right phlebotomy program for you. And with the appropriate education, you can reach your goal of becoming a phlebotomy technician in Mounds OK.

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