How to Select the Right Phlebotomy Tech Training Program near Lometa Texas
Selecting the ideal phlebotomy technician training near Lometa TX is an important initial step toward a fulfilling profession as a phlebotomist. It might seem like a difficult undertaking to analyze and compare all of the school alternatives that are available to you. However it’s necessary that you complete your due diligence to make sure that you obtain a quality education. In fact, many potential students start the process by considering 2 of the qualifiers that first come to mind, which are cost and location. Yet another factor you may consider is whether to attend online classes or commute to an area campus. We’ll review a bit more about online classes later in this article. What’s important to remember is that there is much more to checking out phlebotomy training programs than finding the cheapest or the closest one. Other factors such as accreditation and reputation are also significant considerations and need to be part of your decision process also. Toward that end, we will provide a list of questions that you need to ask each of the phlebotomy schools you are reviewing to help you select the best one for you. But prior to doing that, let’s address what a phlebotomist is and does, and then continue our conversation about online classes.
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Should You Become a Phlebotomy Technician?
Right out of the gate, few 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 chooses this profession must be OK around needles and blood. And if you are nervous in hospitals or other Lometa TX medical environments, well this job may not be the best choice for you. And now let’s talk about the patients. Phlebotomy Technicians tend to work around anxious people who hate needles or having a blood sample taken. And because most health care facilities are open around the clock, you may be expected to work weekends, nights and even on holidays. But if you can handle the hours and the needles and blood, and if you enjoy interacting with people and are compassionate and very patient, this could be the right job for you.
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Phlebotomy Technician Work Description
A phlebotomist, or phlebotomy technician, collects blood samples from patients. Although that is their primary function, there is in fact far more to their job description. Before collecting a blood sample, a phlebotomist must confirm that the instruments being used are sterile and single use only. After collection, the sample must be correctly labeled with the patient’s data. Afterward, paperwork must be correctly completed in order to track the sample from the time of collection through the laboratory screening 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 Lometa TX labs and are responsible for making certain that samples are tested correctly utilizing the strictest quality control procedures. And if those weren’t enough responsibilities, they may be asked to instruct other phlebotomists in the drawing, delivery and follow-up process.
Where are Phlebotomists Employed?
The quickest answer is wherever there are patients. Their work places are numerous and varied, such as Lometa TX medical clinics, hospitals, nursing homes, or blood banks. They can be tasked to collect blood samples from patients of all ages, from infants or toddlers to senior citizens. Some phlebotomists, depending on their practice and their training, specialize in drawing blood from a particular kind of patient. For example, those working in an assisted living facility or nursing home would solely be collecting blood from senior patients. If they are practicing in a maternity ward, they would be drawing blood from newborns and mothers exclusively. In contrast, phlebotomists practicing in a general hospital environment would be collecting samples from a wide range of patients and would collect samples from different patients each day.
Phlebotomy Technician Training, Certification and Licensing
There are primarily two kinds of programs that furnish phlebotomist training, which are certificate and degree programs. The certificate program generally takes under a year to complete and furnishes a basic education together with the training on how to draw blood. It provides the quickest route to becoming a phlebotomy tech. An Associate of Science Degree in Clinical Laboratory Science, although not exclusively a phlebotomist degree, will provide training on becoming a phlebotomy tech. Available at community and junior colleges, they normally require two years to complete. Bachelor’s Degrees are not as accessible and as a four year program furnish a more expansive foundation in lab sciences. When you have completed your training, you will no doubt want to be certified. Although not mandated in the majority of states, most Lometa TX employers require certification before hiring 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 some states that do call for certification prior to practicing as a phlebotomy tech, such as Nevada and California. California and a handful of other states even require licensing. So it’s imperative that you select a phlebotomist training program that not only provides a superior education, but also readies you for any certification or licensing examinations that you are required or elect to take.
Phlebotomy Online Certificates and Degrees
To start with, let’s dispel one possible mistaken belief. You can’t obtain all of your phlebotomy training online. A substantial portion of the course of study will be clinical training and it will be performed either in an on-campus lab or an approved healthcare facility. Numerous courses also require completion of an internship prior to graduation. But since the non-clinical component of the training may be attended online, it can be a more convenient alternative for some Lometa TX students. As an added benefit, many online classes are more affordable than their on-campus counterparts. And some costs, for instance those for textbooks or commuting, may be minimized as well. Just make sure that the online phlebotomist college you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency (more on accreditation to follow). With both the comprehensive clinical and online training, you can obtain a superior education with this method of learning. If you are disciplined enough to learn at home, then obtaining your degree or certificate online might be the right choice for you.
What to Ask Phlebotomist Programs
Now that you have a general understanding about what it takes to become a phlebotomy tech, it’s time to initiate your due diligence process. You may have already picked the type of program you wish to enroll in, whether it be for a certificate or a degree. As we previously mentioned, the location of the campus is significant if you will be commuting from Lometa TX as well as the tuition expense. Possibly you have opted to enroll in an accredited phlebotomist online college. Each of these decisions are a critical component of the procedure for picking a phlebotomy school or program. But they are not the sole considerations when making your decision. Following are some questions that you should ask about all of the programs you are reviewing prior to making your final decision.
Is the Phlebotomist Program Specific to Texas? As previously mentioned, each state has its own regulations for practicing as a phlebotomy technician. Some states require certification, while some others require licensing. Each has its own requirement regarding the minimum amount of clinical training completed prior to working as a phlebotomy tech. As a result, you might need to pass a State Board, licensing or certification examination. Therefore it’s very important to enroll in a phlebotomy program that meets the state specific requirements for Texas or the state where you will be practicing and prepares you for all examinations you may be required to take.
Is the College Accredited? The phlebotomist school and program you enroll in should be accredited by a respected regional or national accrediting agency, 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 superior education. To begin with, if your program has not received accreditation, you will not be able to sit for a certification exam administered by any of the previously listed certifying agencies. Also, accreditation will help in obtaining loans or financial assistance, which are typically not available for non-accredited schools. Finally, earning a certificate or a degree from an accredited college can make you more attractive to potential employers in the Lometa TX job market.
What is the Program’s Reputation? In numerous states there is little or no regulation of phlebotomist schools, so there are some that are not of the highest quality. So along with accreditation, it’s important to check out the reputations of all schools you are reviewing. You can start by asking the schools for references from employers where they refer their students as part of their job placement program. You can research online school rating and review services and solicit the accrediting organizations for their reviews also. You can even talk to several Lometa TX clinics or hospitals that you might have an interest in working for and find out if they can provide any recommendations. As a final thought, you can check with the Texas school licensing authority and ask if any grievances have been submitted or if the schools are in full compliance.
Is Enough Training Included? First, check with the state regulator where you will be practicing to find out if there are any minimum requirements for the amount of training, both classroom and practical. At a minimum, any phlebotomist program that you are reviewing should provide at least 40 hours of classroom training (the majority require 120) and 120 hours of practical training. Anything lower than these minimums may indicate that the program is not comprehensive enough to provide adequate training.
Are Internships Included? Ask the schools you are considering if they have an internship program in collaboration with area medical facilities. They are the optimal way to get hands-on clinical training often not obtainable on campus. As an added benefit, internships can assist students establish relationships within the local Lometa TX healthcare community. And they look good on resumes also.
Is Job Placement Help Available? Getting your first phlebotomist job will be much easier with the support of a job placement program. Inquire if the schools you are considering offer assistance and what their job placement percentage is. If a college has a higher rate, meaning they place the majority of their students in positions, it’s an indication that the college has both an excellent reputation along with an extensive network of professional contacts within the Lometa TX healthcare community.
Are Class Times Conveniently Scheduled? Finally, it’s critical to verify that the final college you pick offers classes at times that are compatible with your active schedule. This is especially true if you opt to continue working while attending college. If you need to go to classes in the evenings or on weekends near Lometa TX, make certain they are offered at those times. Additionally, 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 ask what the make-up procedure is should you have to miss any classes as a result of illness or emergencies.
Phlebotomy Training Program Lometa TX
Low Cost Drawing Blood Education Lometa Texas
Making sure that you choose the ideal phlebotomist training is an important first step toward your success in this fulfilling health care field. As we have addressed in this article, there are multiple factors that go into the selection of a quality school. Phlebotomist certificate or degree programs are offered in a number of educational institutions, such as community or junior colleges, vocational schools, and colleges and universities that provide an extensive assortment of programs in healthcare and medical sciences. Program offerings can differ a bit across the country as every state has its own mandates when it pertains to phlebotomist training, licensing and certification. The most critical point is that you must diligently research and compare each college before making your final choice. You originally came to this website due to an interest in Low Cost Drawing Blood Education and to get more information regarding Top Phlebotomy Tech Classes Near Me. However, by asking the questions that we have provided, you will be able to narrow down your choices so that you can select the ideal phlebotomist college for you. And with the appropriate education, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a phlebotomy technician in Lometa TX.
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Lometa, Texas
Lometa (/loʊˈmiːtə/ loh-MEE-tə) is a city in Lampasas County, Texas, United States. The population was 856 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Killeen–Temple–Fort Hood Metropolitan Statistical Area.
Lometa has one stoplight, a recent improvement as of 2003 from the original four-way stop, in the middle of town. On the edge of town is a municipal park with camping sites and a rodeo arena and grounds.
Lometa was a 200-acre (0.81 km2) site platted May 17, 1886, as a railroad stop. The town was rapidly transplanted out of the nearby stagecoach stop of Senterfitt. The town had originally been called Montvale, but a change was made in 1886 when an application for a post office was made.
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