How to Select the Best Phlebotomist School near Orbisonia Pennsylvania
Selecting the right phlebotomy technician school near Orbisonia PA is an important initial step toward a rewarding profession as a phlebotomist. It might seem like a difficult undertaking to investigate and compare all of the school options that are available to you. Nevertheless it’s necessary that you perform your due diligence to ensure that you receive a quality education. In fact, many potential students begin the process by looking at two of the qualifiers that first come to mind, which are cost and location. Yet another factor you might consider is whether to attend online classes or commute to an area campus. We’ll talk a bit more about online schools later in this article. What’s important to keep in mind 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 significant considerations and must be part of your decision process also. To assist in that effort, we will supply a list of questions that you should ask each of the phlebotomy schools you are assessing to help you choose the best one for you. But before we do that, let’s address what a phlebotomist is and does, and afterwards continue our discussion about online training.
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Should You Train to Be a Phlebotomy Technician?
Right out of the gate, not many people are likely to know what a phlebotomist or phlebotomy technician is. The basic definition is a medical professional who draws blood from patients. 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 nervous in hospitals or other Orbisonia PA medical facilities, well this job probably is not the best choice for you. And now let’s talk about the patients. Phlebotomy Techs routinely work with anxious people who don’t like needles or having a blood sample taken. And because many medical facilities are open 24 hours, you will probably be expected to work weekends, nights and even on holidays. But if you can handle the hours and the blood and needles, and if you enjoy helping people and are patient and compassionate, this may be the perfect job for you.
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Phlebotomy Tech Job Description
A phlebotomist, or phlebotomy tech, collects blood samples from patients. Although that is their principal responsibility, there is actually so much more to their job description. Prior to collecting a blood sample, a phlebotomist must confirm that the instruments being utilized are sterile and single use only. Following the collection, the sample must be correctly labeled with the patient’s information. Next, paperwork has to be correctly filled out to be able to track the sample from the point of collection through the lab screening procedure. The phlebotomist then delivers the blood to either an in-house lab or to an outside lab facility where it can be screened for such things as pregnancy, infectious diseases or blood type. Some phlebotomists actually work in Orbisonia PA labs and are accountable for ensuring that samples are tested properly under the highest quality control procedures. And if those weren’t sufficient duties, they may be asked to instruct other phlebotomists in the drawing, delivery and follow-up process.
Where do Phlebotomy Techs Practice?
The simplest answer is wherever patients are treated. Their work places are many and diverse, including Orbisonia PA hospitals, medical clinics, nursing homes, or blood centers. They can be charged to collect 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 drawing samples from a particular type of patient. For instance, those working in an assisted living facility or nursing home would only be collecting blood from elderly patients. If they are practicing in a maternity ward, they would be collecting blood from newborns and mothers exclusively. In contrast, phlebotomists working in a general hospital setting would be collecting samples from a wide variety of patients and would work with different patients every day.
Phlebotomy Training, Certification and Licensing
There are essentially two types of programs that offer phlebotomist training, which are certificate and degree programs. The certificate program typically takes under a year to finish and provides a general education together with the training on how to draw blood. It offers the fastest route 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 on becoming a phlebotomy tech. Available at community and junior colleges, they usually require 2 years to complete. Bachelor’s Degrees are not as available and as a 4 year program provide a more extensive foundation in lab sciences. After you have completed your training, you will no doubt want to become certified. Although not mandated in the majority of states, most Orbisonia PA employers look for certification prior to hiring 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 several states that do require certification in order to practice as a phlebotomy tech, including Nevada and California. California and a few other states even require licensing. So it’s important that you pick a phlebotomy training program that not only offers a superior education, but also readies you for any certification or licensing exams that you elect or are required to take.
Phlebotomy Online Schools
To start with, let’s resolve one potential mistaken belief. You can’t obtain all of your phlebotomist training online. A significant portion of the program of studies will be clinical training and it will be performed either in an on-campus lab or an approved healthcare facility. Numerous courses also require completing an internship in order to graduate. But since the non-practical component of the training can be accessed online, it can be a more convenient option for some Orbisonia PA students. As an added benefit, a number of online colleges are more affordable than their traditional counterparts. And some expenses, including those for commuting or textbooks, may be minimized also. Just make sure that the online phlebotomist school you select is accredited by a national or regional accrediting agency (more on accreditation to follow). With both the extensive clinical and online training, you can obtain a superior education with this method of learning. If you are disciplined enough to study at home, then obtaining your degree or certificate online may be the right option for you.
Subjects to Ask Phlebotomist Colleges
Now that you have a basic idea about what it takes to become a phlebotomist, it’s time to start your due diligence process. You might have already picked 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 campus is important if you will be commuting from Orbisonia PA as well as the cost of tuition. Perhaps you have decided to enroll in an accredited phlebotomy online college. All of these decisions are a critical part of the process for selecting a phlebotomy program or school. But they are not the only concerns when arriving at your decision. Below we have provided a few questions that you should ask about all of the schools you are looking at before making your final decision.
Is the Phlebotomist Program Specific to Your State? As earlier discussed, each state has its own laws for practicing as a phlebotomist. Several states require certification, while a few others mandate licensing. Each has its own requirement regarding the minimum amount of clinical training completed prior to practicing as a phlebotomist. As a result, you may need to pass a State Board, certification or licensing examination. Therefore it’s extremely important to select a phlebotomist program that fulfills the state specific requirements for Pennsylvania or the state where you will be working and readies you for any examinations you may have to take.
Is the Program Accredited? The phlebotomist program and school you choose should be accredited by a recognized regional or national accrediting organization, such as the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS). There are a number of benefits to graduating from an accredited program aside from a guarantee of a superior education. To begin with, 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 organizations. Also, accreditation will help in getting financial aid or loans, which are often unavailable for non-accredited schools. Last, graduating from an accredited school can make you more attractive to potential employers in the Orbisonia PA job market.
What is the College’s Reputation? In many states there is little or no regulation of phlebotomy colleges, so there are some that are not of the highest caliber. So along with accreditation, it’s important to check out the reputations of any colleges you are reviewing. You can begin by asking the schools for references from employers where they refer their graduates as part of their job assistance program. You can research internet school rating and review services and ask the accrediting agencies for their reviews as well. You can also talk to a few Orbisonia PA clinics or hospitals that you might have an interest in working for and find out if they can provide any recommendations. As a closing thought, you can check with the Pennsylvania school licensing authority and find out if any complaints have been filed or if the schools are in total compliance.
Is Ample Training Provided? First, contact the state regulator where you will be working to find out if there are any minimum requirements for the length of training, both clinical and classroom. As a minimum, any phlebotomist program that you are considering should provide no less than 40 hours of classroom training (the majority require 120) and 120 hours of practical training. Anything less than these minimums might indicate that the program is not expansive enough to furnish sufficient training.
Are Internship Programs Provided? Find out from the schools you are looking at if they have an internship program in partnership with area healthcare facilities. They are the ideal means to get hands-on practical training typically not provided on campus. As an additional benefit, internships can assist students establish contacts within the local Orbisonia PA medical community. And they are a plus on resumes as well.
Is Job Placement Help Available? Getting your first phlebotomist position will be a lot easier with the help of a job placement program. Find out if the colleges you are looking at provide assistance and what their job placement rate is. If a college has a high rate, signifying they place the majority of their students in positions, it’s an indication that the college has both an excellent reputation together with a substantial network of professional contacts within the Orbisonia PA healthcare community.
Are Class Times Offered to Fit Your Schedule? And last, it’s important to verify that the final school you choose provides classes at times that are compatible with your hectic schedule. This is particularly important if you choose to still work while going to school. If you need to go to classes in the evenings or on weekends near Orbisonia PA, make sure they are available at those times. Also, if you can only attend part-time, confirm it is an option as well. Even if you have decided to study online, with the clinical training requirement, make certain those hours can also be fulfilled within your schedule. And find out what the make-up policy is in case you have to miss any classes as a result of emergencies or illness.
How Can I Become A Phlebotomist Orbisonia PA
Fast Phlebotomy Training Orbisonia Pennsylvania
Making certain that you select the most suitable phlebotomy 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 contribute toward the selection of a premium school. Phlebotomy certificate or degree programs are found in a number of academic institutions, such as junior or community colleges, trade schools, and colleges and universities that provide a wide range of courses in healthcare and medical sciences. Course options may vary slightly across the country as each state has its own criteria when it concerns phlebotomy training, licensing and certification. The most important point is that you need to diligently evaluate and compare each school before making your final decision. You originally came to this website due to an interest in Fast Phlebotomy Training and to get more information regarding Accredited Phlebotomy Schools. However, by asking the questions that we have presented, you will be able to narrow down your options so that you can select the ideal phlebotomist college for you. And with the appropriate education, you can achieve your goal of becoming a phlebotomist in Orbisonia PA.
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Orbisonia, Pennsylvania
Orbisonia is located in southeastern Huntingdon County at 40°14′36″N 77°53′36″W / 40.24333°N 77.89333°W / 40.24333; -77.89333 (40.243345, -77.893362),[4] on the northeast side of Blacklog Creek, a tributary of Aughwick Creek and part of the Juniata River watershed. Orbisonia is bordered to the southwest by Rockhill, across Blacklog Creek. Blacklog Mountain confines the borough to the east.
As of the census[6] of 2000, there were 425 people, 198 households, and 109 families residing in the borough. The population density was 4,790.2 people per square mile (1,823.3/km²). There were 217 housing units at an average density of 2,445.8 per square mile (930.9/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 99.06% White, 0.24% African American, 0.24% Native American, and 0.47% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.47% of the population.
There were 198 households, out of which 24.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.4% were married couples living together, 8.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 44.9% were non-families. 44.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 29.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.15 and the average family size was 3.00.
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