Low Cost Drawing Blood Associates Degrees Junction City OR

How to Choose the Best Phlebotomy Tech Training Program near Junction City Oregon

Junction City OR phlebotomist drawing blood from patient Selecting the right phlebotomy technician training near Junction City OR is an essential initial step toward a fulfilling career as a phlebotomist. It might seem like a daunting task to analyze and compare each of the school alternatives that are accessible to you. Nevertheless it’s vital that you perform your due diligence to ensure that you obtain a superior education. In reality, a large number of potential students begin the process by considering two of the qualifiers that initially come to mind, which are location and cost. Another option you may consider is whether to attend online classes or commute to a local campus. We’ll review more about online classes later in this article. What you need to keep in mind is that there is far more to checking out phlebotomy training programs than finding the cheapest or the closest one. Other factors such as reputation and accreditation are also significant considerations and should be part of your selection process also. 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 cover what a phlebotomist is and does, and afterwards continue our conversation about online schools.

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Should You Become a Plebotomist?

blood analysis performed in Junction City OR lab Right out of the gate, not many people probably know what a phlebotomy tech or phlebotomist is. The basic answer is a medical professional who draws blood from patients. We will go into more depth later. So of course anyone who selects this profession must be able to handle blood and needles. And if you are nervous in hospitals or other Junction City OR medical facilities, well this profession may not be right for you. And now let’s talk about the patients. Phlebotomists tend to work around nervous people who don’t like needles or having their blood taken. And because most health care facilities are open 24 hours, you will probably be required to work weekends, nights and even on holidays. But if you don’t mind working with the needles and blood, and if you enjoy interacting with people and are patient and compassionate, this may be the right profession for you.

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Phlebotomy Technician Job Summary

Junction City OR phlebotomist holding blood sample A phlebotomist, or phlebotomy tech, draws blood from patients. While that is their main function, there is actually so much more to their job description. Before drawing a blood sample, a phlebotomist must check that the tools being used are single use only and sterile. Following the collection, the sample has to be accurately labeled with the patient’s data. Next, paperwork has to be correctly filled out in order to track the sample from the time of collection through the laboratory testing procedure. 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 pregnancy, infectious diseases or blood type. A number of phlebotomists actually work in Junction City OR labs and are responsible for ensuring that samples are tested correctly utilizing the strictest quality control procedures. And if those weren’t sufficient responsibilities, they may be required to train other phlebotomists in the collection, delivery and follow-up process.

Where do Phlebotomists Work?

The easiest answer is wherever they treat patients. Their work places are many and diverse, such as Junction City OR medical clinics, hospitals, long-term care facilities, or blood centers. They can be assigned to draw blood samples from patients of all ages, from infants or young children to senior citizens. A number of phlebotomists, depending on their training and their practice, specialize in collecting samples from a certain kind of patient. For instance, those working in an assisted living facility or nursing home would exclusively be drawing blood from older patients. If they are working 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 environment would be collecting blood from a wide range of patients and would collect samples from new patients every day.

Phlebotomist Training, Licensing and Certification

Junction City OR phlebotomy tech drawing blood There are essentially two types of programs that provide phlebotomy training, which are certificate and degree programs. The certificate program generally takes less than a year to complete and furnishes a basic education together 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 specifically a phlebotomy degree, will include training to become a phlebotomy tech. Available at junior and community colleges, they normally take 2 years to finish. Bachelor’s Degrees are not as accessible and as a 4 year program furnish a more expansive background in lab sciences. Once you have finished your training, you will no doubt want to get certified. While not required in most states, most Junction City OR employers require certification prior to hiring technicians. Some 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 call for certification prior to practicing as a phlebotomy tech, including Nevada and California. California and a handful of additional states even require licensing. So it’s imperative that you choose a phlebotomist training program that not only furnishes a superior education, but also readies you for any certification or licensing examinations that you elect or are required to take.

Phlebotomy Online Training

Junction City OR student attending online phlebotomy classes First, let’s resolve one likely misconception. You can’t get all of your phlebotomy training online. A good part of the program of studies will be clinical training and it will be performed either in an approved healthcare facility or an on-campus lab. Many courses also require completing an internship in order to graduate. However since the non-practical part of the training may be accessed online, it may be a more practical option for some Junction City OR students. As an additional benefit, a number of online colleges are more affordable than their on-campus counterparts. And some expenditures, for instance those for textbooks or commuting, may be reduced also. Just confirm that the online phlebotomist school you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization (more on accreditation to follow). With both the extensive clinical and online training, you can obtain a quality education with this approach to learning. If you are disciplined enough to study at home, then earning your certificate or degree online may be the ideal option for you.

What to Ask Phlebotomy Schools

What to ask Junction City OR phlebotomy schools Now that you have a general idea about what is involved in becoming a phlebotomist, it’s time to start your due diligence process. You may have already chosen the type of program you want to enroll in, whether it be for a certificate or a degree. As we mentioned earlier, the location of the college is significant if you will be commuting from Junction City OR as well as the tuition expense. Maybe you have decided to enroll in an accredited phlebotomy online school. Each of these decisions are a critical part of the process for selecting a phlebotomy program or school. 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 all of the schools you are reviewing prior to making your final decision.

Is the Phlebotomist Program State Specific? As previously mentioned, each state has its own requirements for practicing as a phlebotomist. Several states call for certification, while a few others require licensing. Each has its own prerequisite regarding the minimum hours of practical training performed prior to working as a phlebotomy tech. Consequently, you may need to pass a State Board, licensing or certification examination. Therefore it’s very important to select a phlebotomist program that fulfills the state specific requirements for Oregon or the state where you will be working and readies you for any examinations you may have to take.

Is the Program Accredited? The phlebotomy school and program you select should be accredited by a recognized national or regional accrediting organization, such as the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS). There are a number of advantages to graduating from an accredited program aside from an assurance of a premium education. First, if your program has not received accreditation, you will not be able to sit for a certification examination administered by any of the earlier listed certifying agencies. Next, accreditation will help in obtaining loans or financial assistance, which are often not available for non-accredited colleges. Last, graduating from an accredited school can make you more desirable to future employers in the Junction City OR job market.

What is the School’s Ranking? In many states there is minimal or no regulation of phlebotomist colleges, so there are some that are not of the highest caliber. So in addition to accreditation, it’s important to check out the reputations of any schools you are considering. You can begin by requesting references from the schools from employers where they refer their students as part of their job placement program. You can screen online school reviews and rating services and ask the accrediting agencies for their reviews also. You can even talk to some Junction City OR clinics or hospitals that you might have an interest in working for and ask if they can offer any recommendations. As a closing thought, you can check with the Oregon school licensing authority and ask if any complaints have been filed or if the colleges are in total compliance.

Is Plenty of Training Included? To begin with, contact the state regulator where you will be working to learn if there are any minimum requirements for the amount 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 (most require 120) and 120 hours of clinical training. Anything less than these minimums might indicate that the program is not expansive enough to provide sufficient training.

Are Internships Sponsored? Find out from the schools you are considering if they have an internship program in collaboration with regional healthcare facilities. They are the optimal means to obtain hands-on practical training often not obtainable on campus. As an additional benefit, internships can assist students establish relationships within the local Junction City OR medical community. And they look good on resumes also.

Is Job Placement Assistance Offered? Landing your first phlebotomist job will be a lot easier with the support of a job placement program. Inquire if the schools you are looking at provide assistance and what their job placement percentage is. If a school has a high rate, signifying they place most of their students in jobs, it’s an indication that the school has both an excellent reputation together with a substantial network of professional contacts within the Junction City OR health care community.

Are Classes Offered to Fit Your Schedule? Finally, it’s crucial to confirm that the ultimate school you select provides classes at times that will accommodate your busy schedule. This is especially true if you choose to still work while going to school. If you can only attend classes at night or on weekends near Junction City OR, check that they are available at those times. Additionally, if you can only attend part-time, verify it is an option as well. Even if you have decided to attend online, with the practical training requirement, make sure those hours can also be completed within your schedule. And find out what the make-up protocol is should you need to miss any classes as a result of emergencies or illness.

Phlebotomy Courses Near Me Junction City OR

Low Cost Drawing Blood Associates Degrees Junction City Oregon

Making certain that you pick the right phlebotomy training is an essential first step toward your success in this fulfilling health care career position. As we have covered in this article, there are multiple factors that contribute toward the selection of a quality 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 offer a comprehensive array of programs in medical care and health sciences. Program offerings can differ slightly across the country as each state has its own criteria when it comes to phlebotomy training, licensing and certification. The most important point is that you must carefully screen and compare each program before making your ultimate selection. You originally came to this website due to an interest in Low Cost Drawing Blood Associates Degrees and to get more information regarding Top Phlebotomy Tech Training Near Me. However, by addressing the questions that we have presented, you will be able to narrow down your choices so that you can pick the right phlebotomist school for you. And with the proper training, you can reach your goal of becoming a phlebotomy technician in Junction City OR.