Choosing a Phlebotomist Training Program near Odessa Florida

Picking the ideal phlebotomist school near Odessa FL is a critical first step toward a gratifying career as a phlebotomist. It may seem like a daunting undertaking to evaluate and compare each of the training options that are available to you. However it’s important that you perform your due diligence to make sure that you get a quality education. In fact, most prospective students start their search by looking at 2 of the qualifiers that first come to mind, which are location and cost. Another factor you might look into is whether to attend online classes or commute to a local campus. We’ll discuss more about online schools later in this article. What’s important to keep in mind is that there is much more to checking out phlebotomy training programs than locating the cheapest or the closest one. Other factors including accreditation and reputation are also important considerations and must be part of your decision process also. Toward that end, we will supply a list of questions that you should ask each of the phlebotomy schools you are assessing to help you choose the right one for you. But before we do that, let’s cover what a phlebotomist is and does, and then continue our discussion about online schools.

Phlebotomy Tech Job Description

A phlebotomist, or phlebotomy tech, collects blood samples from patients. While that is their main task, there is actually far more to their job description. Prior to collecting a blood sample, a phlebotomist has to verify that the tools being employed are single use only and sterile. After collection, the sample has to be accurately labeled with the patient’s information. Afterward, paperwork has to be accurately completed in order to track the sample from the time of collection through the laboratory testing 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 infectious diseases, pregnancy or blood type. Many Odessa FL phlebotomists actually work in laboratories and are responsible for making certain that samples are analyzed correctly under the strictest quality assurance procedures. And if those weren’t sufficient duties, they might be called upon to instruct other phlebotomists in the drawing, transport and follow-up process.

Where are Phlebotomists Employed?

The easiest response is wherever there are patients. Their work environments are many and diverse, including Odessa FL medical clinics, hospitals, long-term care facilities, or blood banks. They can be charged to draw blood samples from patients of all ages, from babies or toddlers to seniors. Some phlebotomists, depending on their training and their practice, specialize in drawing blood from a certain kind of patient. For example, those working in an assisted living facility or nursing home would solely be collecting blood from older patients. If they are practicing in a maternity ward, they would be drawing blood from newborns and mothers solely. 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 new patients on a daily basis.

Phlebotomy Training, Certification and Licensing

There are basically 2 types of programs that offer phlebotomist training in Odessa FL, which are degree and certificate programs. The certificate program normally takes less than a year to complete and offers a basic education along with the training on how to draw blood. It offers the fastest means 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 to become a phlebotomist. Offered at junior and community colleges, they typically take two years to finish. Bachelor’s Degrees are less available and as a 4 year program offer a more comprehensive background in lab sciences. After you have completed your training, you will probably want to be certified. Although not required in most states, most employers require certification before employing technicians. A few 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 several states that do call for certification in order to practice as a phlebotomist, such as California and Nevada. California and a handful of additional states even require licensing. So it’s essential that you select a phlebotomy training program that not only provides a quality education, but also readies you for any licensing or certification examinations that you are required or elect to take.

Phlebotomist Online Colleges

To start with, let’s resolve one potential mistaken belief. You can’t get all of your phlebotomist training online. A significant part of the course of study will be clinical training and it will be carried out either in an approved Odessa FL 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 component of the training may be accessed online, it may be a more practical alternative for many students. As an additional benefit, some online classes are more affordable than their traditional competitors. And some expenses, including those for textbooks or commuting, may be lessened also. Just confirm that the online phlebotomy school you choose is accredited by a national or regional accrediting agency (more on accreditation to follow). With both the extensive 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 earning your degree or certificate online might be the right choice for you.

Subjects to Ask Phlebotomist Programs

Now that you have a basic idea about what is involved in becoming a phlebotomist, it’s time to initiate your due diligence process. You might have already chosen the kind of program you intend to enroll in, whether it be for a certificate or a degree. As we previously mentioned, the location of the Florida school is significant in addition to the cost of tuition. Maybe you have decided to enroll in an phlebotomist online school. Each of these decisions are an important component of the process for choosing a program or school. But they are not the sole concerns when arriving at your decision. Below we have provided several questions that you should ask about all of the Odessa FL programs you are considering before making your final selection.

Is the Phlebotomist Program Specific to Florida? As previously mentioned, each state has its own requirements for practicing as a phlebotomist. Several states require certification, while a few others require licensing. Every state has its own requirement regarding the minimum hours of clinical training completed prior to working as a phlebotomy tech. Consequently, you may have to pass a State Board, licensing or certification examination. Therefore it’s extremely important to select a phlebotomist program that satisfies the state specific requirements for Florida or the state where you will be working and prepares you for all exams you may have to take.

Is the School Accredited? The phlebotomist school and program you choose should be accredited by a recognized national or regional accrediting organization, for example the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS). There are a number of benefits to graduating from an accredited school in addition to an assurance of a superior education. First, if your program has not received accreditation, you will not qualify to take a certification exam offered by any of the previously listed certifying organizations. Also, accreditation will help in getting loans or financial assistance, which are often unavailable for non-accredited programs in Odessa FL. Last, earning a certificate or a degree from an accredited school can make you more attractive to potential employers in the job market.

What is the School’s Reputation? In a number of states there is little or no regulation of phlebotomy schools, so there are those that are not of the highest quality. So in addition to accreditation, it’s essential to investigate the reputations of any schools you are reviewing. You can begin by requesting references from the schools from employers where they place their students as part of their job assistance program. You can screen online school reviews and rating services and solicit the accrediting agencies for their reviews also. You can even contact several Odessa FL area hospitals or clinics that you might be interested in working for and see if they can offer any insights. As a final thought, you can contact the Florida school licensing authority and ask if any complaints have been filed or if the colleges are in total compliance.

Is Adequate Training Provided? First, contact the Florida regulator or 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 Odessa FL phlebotomy program that you are looking at 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 may signify that the program is not comprehensive enough to furnish adequate training.

Are Internships Sponsored? Ask the Florida colleges you are looking at if they have an internship program in collaboration with local medical facilities. They are the optimal way to get hands-on clinical training typically not provided on campus. As an additional benefit, internships can help students develop relationships within the local Odessa FL health care community. And they are a plus on resumes as well.

Is Job Placement Support Available? Getting your first phlebotomy job will be a lot easier with the support of a job placement program. Ask if the colleges you are looking at offer assistance and what their job placement rate is. If a school has a higher rate, meaning they place most 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 Odessa FL healthcare community.

Are Classes Available as Needed? And last, it’s critical to verify that the ultimate program you pick provides classes at times that will accommodate your hectic lifestyle. This is particularly true if you opt to still work while going to college. If you can only attend classes at night or on weekends near Odessa FL, make sure they are offered at those times. Additionally, 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 sure those hours can also be completed within your schedule. And find out what the make-up procedure is in case you have to miss any classes because of illness or emergencies.

Why Did You Choose to Be a Phlebotomy Technician?

When getting ready to interview for a Phlebotomy Technician position, it's helpful to consider questions you may be asked. Among the things that recruiters typically ask Phlebotomy Tech prospects is "What drove you to pick Phlebotomy as a profession?". What the interviewer is attempting to learn is not just the private reasons you might have for becoming Phlebotomy Tech, but also what qualities and skills you possess that make you exceptional at what you do. You will probably be asked questions pertaining exclusively to Phlebotomy, along with a certain number of standard interview questions, so you must ready a number of ideas about how you would like to respond to them. Given that there are so many variables that go into selecting a career, you can address this primary question in a variety of ways. When readying an answer, attempt to include the reasons the profession interests you in addition to the abilities you possess that make you an outstanding Phlebotomy Technician and the ideal candidate for the position. Don't try to memorize a response, but write down some concepts and topics that relate to your own strengths and experiences. Going over sample responses can help you to develop your own thoughts, and provide ideas of what to discuss to wow the recruiter.

Choose the Best Phlebotomy School near Odessa FL

Making certain that you enroll in the ideal phlebotomist 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 contribute toward the selection of a quality college. Phlebotomy training programs can be available in a number of academic institutes, such as community or junior colleges, vocational schools, and colleges and universities that provide a wide array of programs in medical care and health sciences. Course options can differ a bit across the country as each state has its own criteria when it concerns phlebotomist training, licensing and certification. The most critical point is that you must diligently research and compare each program before making your final choice. By asking the questions that we have furnished, you will be able to narrow down your choices so that you can select the best school for you. And with the appropriate training, you can achieve your goal of becoming a phlebotomist in Odessa FL.

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