Picking a Phlebotomy School near Oxford Connecticut

Enrolling in the right phlebotomy technician training near Oxford CT is a critical initial step toward a fulfilling profession as a phlebotomist. It might seem like a challenging undertaking to evaluate and compare all of the school alternatives that are accessible to you. Nevertheless it’s vital that you do your due diligence to make certain that you obtain a superior education. In fact, a large number of potential students start the process by looking at two of the qualifiers that first come to mind, which are location and cost. An additional option you may look into is whether to attend classes online or commute to an area campus. We’ll review a bit more about online schools later in this article. What’s important to remember is that there is a lot more to comparing phlebotomy training programs than finding the cheapest or the closest one. Other variables including accreditation and reputation are also significant considerations and need to be part of your decision process as well. To assist in that effort, we will furnish a list of questions that you should ask each of the phlebotomy schools you are reviewing to help you select the ideal one for you. But prior to doing that, let’s cover what a phlebotomist is and does, and afterwards continue our discussion about online training.

Phlebotomist Career Summary

A phlebotomist, or phlebotomy technician, draws blood from patients. Although that is their principal task, there is in fact far more to their job description. Prior to drawing a blood sample, a phlebotomist needs to check that the instruments being used are sterile and single use only. Following the collection, the sample must be correctly labeled with the patient’s information. Afterward, paperwork must be properly filled out to be able to track the sample from the point of collection through the laboratory testing procedure. The phlebotomist then delivers the blood to either an in-house lab or to an outside lab facility where it may be screened for such things as pregnancy, infectious diseases or blood type. A number of Oxford CT phlebotomists actually work in laboratories and are in charge of ensuring that samples are analyzed properly using the strictest quality control procedures. And if those weren’t sufficient responsibilities, they might be asked to train other phlebotomists in the drawing, transport and follow-up process.

Where are Phlebotomy Techs Employed?

The simplest response is wherever there are patients. Their work places are numerous and varied, such as Oxford CT hospitals, medical clinics, long-term care facilities, or blood centers. They can be tasked to draw blood samples from patients of all ages, from babies or toddlers to seniors. A number of phlebotomists, depending on their practice and their training, specialize in collecting blood 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 drawing blood from newborns and mothers exclusively. On the other hand, phlebotomists working in a general hospital setting would be collecting blood from a wide range of patients and would collect samples from different patients on a daily basis.

Phlebotomy Technician Education, Licensing and Certification

There are primarily 2 kinds of programs that furnish phlebotomy training in Oxford CT, which are certificate and degree programs. The certificate program typically takes less than a year to complete and furnishes a basic education together with the training on how to draw blood. It provides the quickest method to becoming a phlebotomist. An Associate of Science Degree in Clinical Laboratory Science, although not exclusively a phlebotomy degree, will incorporate training to become a phlebotomist. Offered at junior and community colleges, they usually take two years to finish. 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 required in the majority of states, most employers look for 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 several states that do require certification prior to practicing as a phlebotomist, like California and Nevada. California and a handful of other states even require licensing. So it’s important that you enroll in a phlebotomy training program that not only provides a superior education, but also readies you for any licensing or certification exams that you are required or elect to take.

Phlebotomy Online Classes

To begin with, let’s dispel one possible misconception. You can’t obtain all of your phlebotomist training online. A substantial portion of the program of studies will be clinical training and it will be performed either in an approved Oxford CT healthcare facility or an on-campus lab|an on-campus lab or an approved healthcare facility}. Many courses also require completion of an internship in order to graduate. However since the non-clinical portion of the training may be accessed online, it might be a more practical option for some students. As an additional benefit, many online schools are less expensive than their traditional counterparts. And some expenditures, such as those for textbooks or commuting, may be lowered also. Just verify that the online phlebotomist college you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization (more on accreditation later). With both the extensive clinical and online training, you can obtain a premium education with this means of learning. If you are dedicated enough to learn at home, then attaining your degree or certificate online may be the best option for you.

Topics to Ask Phlebotomist Programs

Since you now have a general idea about what it takes to become a phlebotomy tech, it’s time to initiate 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 Connecticut college is important in addition to the tuition expense. Possibly you have opted to enroll in an phlebotomy online program. Each of these decisions are an important part of the process for choosing a school or program. But they are not the only considerations when making your decision. Below we have provided some questions that you should ask about each of the Oxford CT programs you are reviewing before making your ultimate selection.

Is the Phlebotomy Program Specific to Your State? As previously mentioned, each state has its own laws for practicing as a phlebotomy technician. Some states call for certification, while some others mandate licensing. Every state has its own prerequisite regarding the minimum amount of clinical training performed prior to practicing as a phlebotomy tech. As a result, you might have to pass a State Board, licensing or certification exam. Therefore it’s extremely important to enroll in a phlebotomist program that fulfills the state specific requirements for Connecticut or the state where you will be practicing and preps you for any exams you may have to take.

Is the College Accredited? The phlebotomy program and school you pick should be accredited by a respected regional or national accrediting agency, for example the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS). There are a number of advantages to graduating from an accredited school in addition to a guarantee of a superior education. First, if your program has not received accreditation, you will not be able to sit for a certification exam offered by any of the previously listed certifying organizations. Next, accreditation will help in obtaining financial aid or loans, which are often unavailable for non-accredited colleges in Oxford CT. Last, graduating from an accredited school can make you more desirable to potential employers in the job market.

What is the School’s Reputation? In numerous states there is little or no regulation of phlebotomist colleges, so there are some that are not of the highest caliber. So in addition to accreditation, it’s imperative to check out the reputations of any schools you are considering. You can start by requesting references from the schools from employers where they refer their students as part of their job assistance program. You can screen internet school rating and review services and ask the accrediting organizations for their reviews as well. You can also contact some Oxford CT area clinics or hospitals that you may have an interest in working for and ask if they can offer any insights. As a final thought, you can check with the Connecticut school licensing authority and ask if any grievances have been filed or if the colleges are in total compliance.

Is Adequate Training Included? To begin with, check with the Connecticut regulator or the state regulator where you will be practicing to learn if there are any minimum requirements for the length of training, both clinical and classroom. At a minimum, any Oxford CT phlebotomy program that you are reviewing should provide at least 40 hours of classroom training (most require 120) and 120 hours of practical training. Anything below these minimums might indicate that the program is not comprehensive enough to furnish adequate training.

Are Internships Included? Ask the Connecticut colleges you are looking at if they have an internship program in collaboration with local health care facilities. They are the ideal way to get hands-on practical training frequently not available on campus. As an added benefit, internships can assist students develop contacts within the local Oxford CT healthcare community. And they look good on resumes as well.

Is Job Placement Help Available? Landing your first phlebotomist job will be a lot easier with the assistance of a job placement program. Inquire if the schools you are considering offer assistance and what their job placement rate is. If a school has a higher rate, signifying they place the majority of their students in positions, it’s an indication that the college has both a good reputation along with a substantial network of professional contacts within the Oxford CT health care community.

Are Classes Conveniently Scheduled? And last, it’s critical to confirm that the final college you pick offers classes at times that are compatible with your busy schedule. This is particularly important if you opt to still work while attending college. If you can only attend classes at night or on weekends near Oxford CT, make sure 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 procedure is should you have to miss any classes due to emergencies or illness.

Why Did You Choose to Be a Phlebotomist?

When preparing to interview for a Phlebotomy Technician job, it's advantageous to consider questions you might be asked. One of the things that recruiters frequently ask Phlebotomy Technician candidates is "What made you select Phlebotomy as a career?". What the interviewer is attempting to discover is not only the private reasons you might have for being Phlebotomist, but also what attributes and abilities you possess that make you exceptional at your profession. You will probably be asked questions pertaining exclusively to Phlebotomy, as well as a certain number of standard interview questions, so you need to prepare a number of approaches about how you would like to address them. Given that there are so many factors that go into choosing a career, you can respond to this fundamental question in a number of ways. When readying an answer, aim to include the reasons the profession interests you as well as the talents you possess that make you an excellent Phlebotomist and the best candidate for the position. Don't make an effort to memorize an answer, but take down several ideas and topics that relate to your own strengths and experiences. Reading through sample responses can assist you to prepare your own concepts, and provide ideas of what to include to wow the interviewer.

Find the Ideal Phlebotomy College near Oxford CT

Making certain that you select the right phlebotomy training is a critical first step toward your success in this rewarding healthcare career position. As we have addressed in this article, there are a number of factors that go into the selection of a superior program. Phlebotomist certificate or degree programs are available in a number of educational institutions, including community or junior colleges, vocational schools, and colleges and universities that offer an extensive assortment of programs in medical care and health sciences. Program offerings can differ slightly from state to state as every state has its own mandates when it concerns phlebotomist training, licensing and certification. The most critical point is that you must carefully evaluate and compare each program before making your final choice. By addressing the questions that we have provided, you will be able to narrow down your options so that you can select the right college for you. And with the proper training, you can reach your goal of becoming a phlebotomy technician in Oxford CT.

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