How to Pick the Right Phlebotomy Tech Training Course near New Tripoli Pennsylvania
Choosing the right phlebotomy training near New Tripoli PA is a critical first step toward a gratifying profession as a phlebotomist. It might seem like a daunting undertaking to investigate and compare each of the training options that are available to you. However it’s necessary that you perform your due diligence to make certain that you receive a quality education. In reality, many prospective students begin their search by considering 2 of the qualifiers that initially come to mind, which are location and cost. Yet another factor you may look into is whether to attend online classes or commute to a nearby campus. We’ll talk more about online classes later in this article. What’s important to keep in mind is that there is a lot more to comparing phlebotomy training programs than locating the cheapest or the closest one. Other factors including accreditation and reputation are also significant considerations and need to be part of your selection process as well. Toward that end, we will supply a list of questions that you should ask each of the phlebotomy schools you are evaluating to help you select the ideal one for you. But before we do that, let’s cover what a phlebotomist is and does, and afterwards resume our conversation about online training.
Request Free Information on Phlebotomy Training Near You!
Should You Become a Plebotomist?
Right out of the gate, not many people are likely to know what a phlebotomist or phlebotomy technician is. The basic answer is a health care professional whose job is to draw blood. We will provide more details later. So of course anyone who decides to enter this profession must be OK around blood and needles. And if you are not comfortable in hospitals or other New Tripoli PA medical environments, well this job may not be right for you. And now let’s talk about the patients. Phlebotomy Technicians routinely work around nervous people who don’t like needles or having a blood sample taken. And because many medical facilities are open around the clock, you may 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.
Click Here to Get Free Information on Phlebotomy Training Near You!
Phlebotomy Technician Work Summary
A phlebotomist, or phlebotomy tech, collects blood samples from patients. Although that is their main task, there is actually far more to their job description. Before collecting a blood sample, a phlebotomist needs to confirm that the instruments being used are sterile and single use only. Following the collection, the sample must be accurately labeled with the patient’s data. Next, paperwork has to be correctly filled out to be able to track the sample from the point of collection through the laboratory screening process. The phlebotomist then transports the blood to either an in-house lab or to an outside lab facility where it may be tested for such things as pregnancy, infectious diseases or blood type. A number of phlebotomists in fact work in New Tripoli PA labs and are in charge of making sure that samples are analyzed properly using the strictest quality control procedures. And if those weren’t sufficient responsibilities, they can be called upon to instruct other phlebotomists in the drawing, delivery and follow-up process.
Where do Phlebotomy Techs Practice?
The quickest answer is wherever there are patients. Their workplaces are numerous and varied, such as New Tripoli PA hospitals, medical clinics, nursing homes, or blood banks. They may be assigned to collect blood samples from patients of all ages, from infants or toddlers to seniors. A number of phlebotomists, based on their training and their practice, specialize in collecting samples from a certain type of patient. For instance, those practicing in an assisted living facility or nursing home would solely be collecting blood from older patients. If they are working in a maternity ward, they would be collecting blood from mothers and newborns exclusively. On the other hand, phlebotomists practicing in a general hospital environment would be drawing samples from a wide range of patients and would collect samples from new patients every day.
Phlebotomist Education, Licensing and Certification
There are primarily 2 types of programs that offer phlebotomy training, which are degree and certificate programs. The certificate program normally takes under a year to finish and offers a general education as well as the training on how to draw blood. It offers the quickest means to becoming a phlebotomist. An Associate of Science Degree in Clinical Laboratory Science, even though it’s not specifically a phlebotomist degree, will provide training to become a phlebotomist. Available at junior and community colleges, they typically require 2 years to finish. Bachelor’s Degrees are not as available and as a 4 year program provide a more expansive background in lab sciences. After you have completed your training, you will no doubt want to be certified. Although not mandated in the majority of states, most New Tripoli PA employers require certification before employing technicians. Some of the key 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 prior to practicing as a phlebotomy tech, including Nevada and California. California and a handful of other states even require licensing. So it’s essential that you enroll in a phlebotomist training program that not only supplies a premium education, but also preps you for any licensing or certification exams that you elect or are required to take.
Phlebotomy Online Schools
To begin with, let’s dispel one potential mistaken belief. You can’t obtain 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. Many courses also require completing an internship in order to graduate. However since the non-clinical portion of the training may be attended online, it can be a more practical alternative for many New Tripoli PA students. As an additional benefit, a number of online classes are more affordable than their traditional counterparts. And some costs, including those for commuting or textbooks, may be minimized as well. Just confirm that the online phlebotomist college you select is accredited by a national or regional accrediting organization (more on accreditation later). With both the comprehensive online and clinical training, you can obtain a quality education with this means of learning. If you are disciplined enough to study at home, then obtaining your certificate or degree online may be the right option for you.
Topics to Ask Phlebotomy Colleges
Since you now have a general idea about what it takes to become a phlebotomy tech, it’s time to begin your due diligence process. You may have already decided on the kind of program you wish to enroll in, whether it be for a degree or a certificate. As we mentioned earlier, the location of the campus is relevant if you will be commuting from New Tripoli PA in addition to the tuition expense. Maybe you have decided to enroll in an accredited phlebotomist online program. Each of these decisions are a critical part of the process for selecting a phlebotomy program or school. But they are not the sole concerns when making your decision. Below we have provided some questions that you should ask about each of the schools you are reviewing prior to making your ultimate selection.
Is the Phlebotomy Program State Specific? As previously mentioned, each state has its own regulations for practicing as a phlebotomist. Some states call for certification, while a few others mandate licensing. Every state has its own requirement regarding the minimum amount of clinical training completed before practicing as a phlebotomy tech. Consequently, you might need to pass a State Board, certification or licensing examination. Therefore it’s very important to enroll in a phlebotomist program that complies with the state specific requirements for Pennsylvania or the state where you will be practicing and preps you for any exams you may have to take.
Is the School Accredited? The phlebotomy program and school you select should be accredited by a respected regional or national accrediting agency, such as the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS). There are several benefits to graduating from an accredited school in addition to an assurance of a quality education. To begin with, if your program is not accredited, you will not be able to sit for a certification examination offered by any of the earlier listed certifying organizations. Next, accreditation will help in obtaining financial aid or loans, which are often not available for non-accredited programs. Last, graduating from an accredited college can make you more attractive to prospective employers in the New Tripoli PA job market.
What is the College’s Ranking? In numerous states there is minimal 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 investigate the reputations of all schools 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 internet school rating and review services and ask the accrediting organizations for their reviews also. You can even check with a few New Tripoli PA clinics or hospitals that you may be interested in working for and see if they can provide any recommendations. As a final thought, you can check with the Pennsylvania school licensing authority and ask if any complaints have been submitted or if the colleges are in total compliance.
Is Adequate Training Provided? First, contact 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 phlebotomist program that you are looking at should provide at least 40 hours of classroom training (the majority require 120) and 120 hours of practical training. Anything below these minimums may indicate that the program is not expansive enough to offer sufficient training.
Are Internships Included? Find out from the schools you are looking at if they have an internship program in partnership with regional healthcare facilities. They are the optimal means to obtain hands-on clinical training frequently not available on campus. As an added benefit, internships can assist students establish relationships within the local New Tripoli PA health care community. And they are a plus on resumes as well.
Is Job Placement Help Available? Landing your first phlebotomist position will be much easier with the help of a job placement program. Find out if the schools you are reviewing offer assistance and what their job placement rate is. If a college has a higher rate, signifying they place most of their students in jobs, it’s an indication that the college has both an excellent reputation together with a substantial network of professional contacts within the New Tripoli PA health care community.
Are Classes Conveniently Scheduled? And last, it’s critical to confirm that the final school you select provides classes at times that are compatible with your hectic lifestyle. This is especially true if you opt to still work while going to college. If you can only go to classes in the evenings or on weekends near New Tripoli PA, make sure they are available at those times. Also, if you can only attend on a part-time basis, confirm it is an option as well. 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 find out what the make-up procedure is in case you need to miss any classes because of illness or emergencies.
Blood Draw Classes For Nurses New Tripoli PA
Phlebotomy Community College New Tripoli Pennsylvania
Making certain that you choose the ideal phlebotomy training is an important first step toward your success in this fulfilling medical care career position. As we have discussed in this article, there are a number of factors that contribute toward the selection of a quality program. Phlebotomy training programs are available in a number 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. Training program options may differ somewhat across the country as every state has its own mandates when it concerns phlebotomy training, licensing and certification. The most critical point is that you must carefully screen and compare each college before making your ultimate choice. You originally came to this website due to an interest in Phlebotomy Community College and to get more information regarding How Long Is A Phlebotomy Course. However, by addressing the questions that we have provided, you will be able to fine tune your choices so that you can pick the best phlebotomy college for you. And with the proper education, you can achieve your goal of becoming a phlebotomist in New Tripoli PA.
More Pennsylvania Bloody Wonderful Locations
New Tripoli, Pennsylvania
The village is located at the intersection of Madison Street and Pennsylvania Route 143 near Pennsylvania Route 309 in the Lehigh Valley region of Pennsylvania. The pronunciation of New Tripoli is with the stress on "PO," as many non-natives make the mistake of stressing the first syllable which will often be corrected by natives. New Tripoli is ZIP Code 18066 in Area Code 610, Exchange 298.
Business Results 1 - 10 of 11
6 Reviews 
1 Reviews 
17 Reviews 
4 Reviews 
1 Reviews 
1 Reviews 
1 Reviews 
30 Reviews 
4 Reviews 1 Reviews 