How to Pick the Best Phlebotomy Tech Training Program near Slovan Pennsylvania

Choosing the ideal phlebotomy training near Slovan PA is a critical first step toward a fulfilling profession as a phlebotomist. It might seem like a challenging undertaking to assess and compare each of the school alternatives that are accessible to you. However it’s important that you complete your due diligence to make certain that you obtain a quality education. In fact, many prospective students start their search by looking at two of the qualifiers that initially come to mind, which are location and cost. An additional factor you may look into is whether to attend classes online or commute to an area campus. We’ll talk more about online classes later in this article. What you need to keep in mind is that there is far more to comparing phlebotomy training programs than locating the closest or the cheapest one. Other factors including reputation and accreditation are also important considerations and must be part of your selection process as well. Toward that end, we will supply a list of questions that you need to ask each of the phlebotomy schools you are reviewing to help you select the right one for you. But before we do that, let’s cover what a phlebotomist is and does, and afterwards continue our discussion about online classes.

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Should You Go to School to Become a Plebotomist?

First of all, not many people are likely to know what a phlebotomy tech or phlebotomist is. The basic answer is a health care professional whose job is to draw blood. We will go into more depth later. So naturally anyone who chooses this profession must be comfortable with needles and blood. And if you are anxious in hospitals or other Slovan PA medical environments, well this profession may not be the best choice for you. And then there are the patients. Phlebotomy Technicians routinely work around anxious people who don’t like needles or having their blood drawn. And because most health care facilities are open 24 hours, you will probably be required 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 helping people and are patient and compassionate, this could be the perfect job for you.

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Phlebotomist Job Summary

A phlebotomist, or phlebotomy technician, collects blood samples from patients. Although that is their principal responsibility, there is actually much more to their job description. Before collecting a blood sample, a phlebotomist has to verify that the tools being used are sterile and single use only. Following the collection, the sample has to be properly labeled with the patient’s information. Next, paperwork has to be properly filled out in order to track the sample from the point of collection through the laboratory screening process. 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 in fact work in Slovan PA laboratories and are accountable for making sure that samples are analyzed properly using the strictest quality assurance procedures. And if those weren’t enough duties, they may be required to instruct other phlebotomists in the drawing, delivery and follow-up process.

Where do Phlebotomy Techs Work?

The most basic response is wherever there are patients. Their work environments are numerous and varied, such as Slovan PA medical clinics, hospitals, long-term care facilities, or blood banks. They may be charged to collect blood samples from patients of all ages, from babies or young children to seniors. A number of phlebotomists, based on their training and their practice, specialize in drawing samples from a particular type of patient. For instance, those working in a nursing home or assisted living facility would solely be drawing blood from elderly patients. If they are working in a maternity ward, they would be drawing blood from newborns and mothers solely. 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 new patients on a daily basis.

Phlebotomy Technician Education, Certification and Licensing

There are basically two types of programs that provide phlebotomy training, which are degree and certificate programs. The certificate program normally takes under a year to complete and offers a general education together with the training on how to draw blood. It provides the quickest method to becoming a phlebotomy tech. An Associate of Science Degree in Clinical Laboratory Science, even though it’s not exclusively a phlebotomist degree, will incorporate training on becoming a phlebotomist. Available at community and junior colleges, they usually take 2 years to complete. Bachelor’s Degrees are not as accessible and as a 4 year program furnish a more extensive background in lab sciences. When you have finished your training, you will probably want to get certified. While not required in the majority of states, a number of Slovan PA employers require certification prior to hiring technicians. A few of the main 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 prior to practicing as a phlebotomist, including California and Nevada. California and a handful of additional states even require licensing. So it’s important that you select a phlebotomy training program that not only offers a quality education, but also readies you for any certification or licensing examinations that you elect or are required to take.

Online Phlebotomist Classes

First, let’s dispel one potential mistaken belief. You can’t get all of your phlebotomist training online. A good portion of the curriculum will be clinical training and it will be performed either in an approved healthcare facility or an on-campus lab. A large number of courses also require completion of an internship in order to graduate. But since the non-clinical portion of the training may be attended online, it could be a more practical option for some Slovan PA students. As an added benefit, many online colleges are less expensive than their on-campus counterparts. And some expenditures, including those for textbooks or commuting, may be lessened as well. Just verify that the online phlebotomy program you choose is accredited by a national or regional accrediting agency (more on accreditation later). With both the extensive clinical and online training, you can receive a superior education with this method of learning. If you are disciplined enough to learn at home, then obtaining your degree or certificate online may be the ideal choice for you.

Subjects to Ask Phlebotomist Colleges

Now that you have a basic understanding about what it takes to become a phlebotomist, it’s time to begin your due diligence process. You might have already selected the type of program you intend to enroll in, whether it be for a degree or a certificate. As we mentioned earlier, the location of the school is relevant if you will be commuting from Slovan PA in addition to the cost of tuition. Possibly you have opted to enroll in an accredited online phlebotomy school. All of these decisions are an important component 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 several questions that you should ask about each of the colleges you are looking at before making your final selection.

Is the Phlebotomy Program Specific to Your State? As earlier discussed, each state has its own laws for practicing as a phlebotomist. Several states require certification, while some others mandate licensing. Every state has its own prerequisite regarding the minimum amount of clinical training completed before practicing as a phlebotomy tech. As a result, you may have to pass a State Board, certification or licensing exam. Therefore it’s very important to choose a phlebotomist program that satisfies the state specific requirements for Pennsylvania or the state where you will be practicing and prepares you for all examinations you may be required to take.

Is the Program Accredited? The phlebotomist program and school you select should be accredited by a recognized national or regional accrediting agency, for example the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS). There are a number of advantages to graduating from an accredited program in addition to a guarantee of a quality education. First, if your program is not accredited, you will not be able to take a certification exam offered by any of the earlier listed certifying agencies. Next, accreditation will help in securing financial aid or loans, which are typically unavailable for non-accredited colleges. Last, graduating from an accredited college can make you more attractive to potential employers in the Slovan PA job market.

What is the College’s Ranking? In many states there is little or no regulation of phlebotomy schools, so there are some that are not of the highest caliber. So along with accreditation, it’s essential to investigate the reputations of any schools you are reviewing. You can begin 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 solicit the accrediting organizations for their reviews as well. You can even contact a few Slovan PA hospitals or clinics that you might have an interest in working for and find out if they can offer any insights. As a final thought, you can check with the Pennsylvania school licensing authority and find out if any complaints have been filed or if the colleges are in total compliance.

Is Sufficient Training Included? 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 clinical training. Anything less than these minimums may signify that the program is not comprehensive enough to furnish sufficient training.

Are Internships Included? Find out from the colleges you are looking at if they have an internship program in partnership with local health care facilities. They are the ideal means to obtain hands-on practical training frequently not available on campus. As an added benefit, internships can assist students develop contacts within the local Slovan PA health care community. And they look good on resumes as well.

Is Job Placement Support Available? Landing your first phlebotomist position will be much easier with the assistance of a job placement program. Find out if the programs you are looking at offer assistance and what their job placement percentage 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 as well as a large network of professional contacts within the Slovan PA health care community.

Are Class Times Available as Needed? And last, it’s important to confirm that the ultimate program you choose offers classes at times that will accommodate your busy schedule. This is particularly important if you decide to continue working while attending school. If you need to go to classes at night or on weekends near Slovan PA, check that they are offered at those times. Also, if you can only attend part-time, verify it is an option also. Even if you have decided to study online, with the clinical training requirement, make sure those hours can also be completed within your schedule. And find out what the make-up policy is in case you have to miss any classes because of emergencies or illness.

Phlebotomy Training For Nurses Slovan PA

Best Phlebotomy Schools Near Me Slovan Pennsylvania

Making sure that you select the most suitable phlebotomist training is an essential first step toward your success in this rewarding health care career position. As we have covered in this article, there are multiple factors that contribute toward the selection of a superior school. Phlebotomy training programs are available in a variety of educational institutes, such as community or junior colleges, vocational schools, and colleges and universities that offer a wide range of programs in healthcare and medical sciences. Course options may differ slightly across the country as each state has its own mandates when it concerns phlebotomist training, licensing and certification. The most critical point is that you must diligently research and compare each school prior to making your final choice. You originally came to this website due to an interest in Best Phlebotomy Schools Near Me and to get more information regarding Find Phlebotomist Training.  However, by asking the questions that we have presented, you will be able to fine tune your options so that you can select the right phlebotomist program for you. And with the appropriate training, you can achieve your goal of becoming a phlebotomist in Slovan PA.

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