Selecting a Phlebotomy Course near Plainfield Illinois

Selecting the ideal phlebotomist school near Plainfield IL is an important initial step toward a rewarding career as a phlebotomist. It might seem like a difficult task to evaluate and compare each of the school options that are available to you. Nevertheless it’s necessary that you complete your due diligence to ensure that you receive a superior education. In fact, many students begin 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 a local campus. We’ll discuss more about online classes later in this article. What you need to keep in mind is that there is far more to checking out phlebotomy training programs than finding the closest or the cheapest one. Other factors including reputation and accreditation are also important considerations and should be part of your decision process too. To assist in that effort, we will provide a list of questions that you should 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 afterwards continue our discussion about online classes.

Phlebotomist Job Summary

A phlebotomist, or phlebotomy technician, draws blood from patients. Although that is their principal task, there is actually much more to their job description. Prior to collecting a blood sample, a phlebotomist has to confirm that the instruments being used are sterile and single use only. Following the collection, the sample needs to be correctly labeled with the patient’s data. Next, paperwork needs to be accurately filled out in order to track the sample from the point of collection through the lab screening procedure. The phlebotomist then transports the blood to either an in-house lab or to an outside lab facility where it can be tested for such things as infectious diseases, pregnancy or blood type. A number of Plainfield IL phlebotomists actually work in labs and are responsible for making certain that samples are tested correctly using the strictest quality control procedures. And if those weren’t enough duties, they might be required to instruct other phlebotomists in the drawing, delivery and follow-up process.

Where are Phlebotomy Techs Employed?

The quickest response is wherever patients are treated. Their work places are many and varied, including Plainfield IL hospitals, medical clinics, long-term care facilities, or blood banks. They can be tasked to collect blood samples from patients of of every age, from babies or toddlers to senior citizens. A number of phlebotomy techs, based on their training and their practice, specialize in collecting samples from a certain type of patient. For example, those practicing in a nursing home or assisted living facility would exclusively be drawing blood from elderly patients. If they are practicing in a maternity ward, they would be collecting blood from mothers and newborns solely. On the other hand, phlebotomists practicing in a general hospital environment would be collecting blood from a wide variety of patients and would work with different patients every day.

Phlebotomy Education, Certification and Licensing

There are primarily 2 kinds of programs that offer phlebotomist training in Plainfield IL, which are certificate and degree programs. The certificate program normally takes under 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 phlebotomist. An Associate of Science Degree in Clinical Laboratory Science, although not exclusively a phlebotomist degree, will incorporate training on becoming a phlebotomy tech. Available at junior and community colleges, they usually require two years to finish. Bachelor’s Degrees are less accessible and as a four year program provide a more comprehensive foundation in lab sciences. When you have finished your training, you will no doubt want to become certified. Although not mandated in most states, a number of employers look for certification prior to hiring technicians. A few of the primary 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 phlebotomist, such as Nevada and California. California and a few additional states even require licensing. So it’s essential that you choose a phlebotomist training program that not only offers a premium education, but also preps you for any certification or licensing examinations that you are required or elect to take.

Phlebotomist Online Colleges

To begin with, let’s dispel one potential misconception. You can’t get all of your phlebotomist training online. A significant portion of the curriculum will be practical training and it will be carried out either in an approved Plainfield IL healthcare facility or an on-campus lab|an on-campus lab or an approved healthcare facility}. Numerous courses also require completion of an internship prior to graduation. But since the non-practical component of the training can be attended online, it might be a more convenient alternative for many students. As an added benefit, many online colleges are more affordable than their traditional competitors. And some costs, including those for textbooks or commuting, may be lessened as well. Just confirm that the online phlebotomist college you enroll in is accredited by a national or regional accrediting organization (more on accreditation to follow). With both the comprehensive clinical and online training, you can obtain a quality 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 ideal choice for you.

What to Ask Phlebotomist Schools

Now that you have a basic idea about what is involved in becoming a phlebotomy tech, it’s time to start your due diligence process. You may have already decided on the kind of program you want to enroll in, whether it be for a degree or a certificate. As we mentioned earlier, the location of the Illinois college is relevant as well as the cost of tuition. Possibly you have opted to enroll in an phlebotomy online college. 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. Following are some questions that you should ask about each of the Plainfield IL colleges you are reviewing prior to making your ultimate selection.

Is the Phlebotomy Program Specific to Illinois? As previously mentioned, each state has its own laws for practicing as a phlebotomy technician. Several states call for certification, while some others require licensing. Every state has its own requirement regarding the minimum hours of practical training performed prior to working as a phlebotomist. Consequently, you might have to pass a State Board, licensing or certification examination. Therefore it’s extremely important to enroll in a phlebotomy program that satisfies the state specific requirements for Illinois or the state where you will be working and preps you for any examinations you may have to take.

Is the School Accredited? The phlebotomist program and school you choose should be accredited by a highly regarded national or regional accrediting organization, for example the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS). There are several advantages 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 take a certification exam administered by any of the earlier listed certifying organizations. Also, accreditation will help in securing financial aid or loans, which are often unavailable for non-accredited schools in Plainfield IL. Finally, graduating from an accredited college can make you more attractive to potential employers in the job market.

What is the College’s Ranking? In many states there is little or no regulation of phlebotomist schools, so there are those that are not of the highest quality. So along with accreditation, it’s important to check the reputations of any schools you are considering. You can start by requesting references from the schools from employers where they place their students as part of their job assistance program. You can research internet school reviews and rating services and ask the accrediting organizations for their reviews as well. You can even contact some Plainfield IL area hospitals or clinics that you may have an interest in working for and find out if they can offer any insights. As a final thought, you can check with the Illinois school licensing authority and ask if any grievances have been filed or if the colleges are in full compliance.

Is Adequate Training Provided? To begin with, check with the Illinois regulator or the state regulator where you will be working to learn if there are any minimum requirements for the length of training, both classroom and practical. As a minimum, any Plainfield IL phlebotomy 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 below these minimums may indicate that the program is not expansive enough to furnish sufficient training.

Are Internship Programs Provided? Ask the Illinois programs you are looking at if they have an internship program in partnership with local healthcare facilities. They are the ideal way to obtain hands-on clinical training often not available on campus. As an added benefit, internships can assist students develop contacts within the local Plainfield IL healthcare community. And they look good on resumes also.

Is Job Placement Support Available? Landing your first phlebotomist job will be much easier with the help of a job placement program. Find out if the programs you are looking at offer assistance and what their job placement rate is. If a school has a higher rate, meaning they place the majority of their students in jobs, it’s an indication that the college has both an excellent reputation along with a large network of professional contacts within the Plainfield IL health care community.

Are Classes Compatible With Your Schedule? And last, it’s important to verify that the final college you pick provides classes at times that are compatible with your active schedule. This is especially important if you decide to continue working while going to college. If you need to attend classes in the evenings or on weekends near Plainfield IL, make certain they are available at those times. Also, if you can only attend part-time, make sure it is an option also. Even if you have decided to study online, with the practical training requirement, make certain those hours can also be fulfilled within your schedule. And find out what the make-up procedure is in case you need to miss any classes because of emergencies or illness.

Why Did You Want to Become a Phlebotomist?

When prepping to interview for a Phlebotomist job, it's helpful to review questions you may be asked. Among the questions that hiring managers typically ask Phlebotomist prospects is "What made you pick Phlebotomy as a career?". What the interviewer is attempting to learn is not only the private reasons you may have for becoming Phlebotomy Tech, but also what qualities and talents you possess that make you exceptional at your profession. You will likely be asked questions pertaining primarily to Phlebotomy, in addition to a certain number of typical interview questions, so you should prepare several ideas about how you would like to address them. Considering there are so many factors that go into choosing a career, you can address this fundamental question in a number of ways. When readying an answer, aim to include the reasons the profession interests you in addition to the abilities you have that make you an excellent Phlebotomy Technician and the leading choice for the job. Don't make an effort to memorize a response, but take down several ideas and anecdotes that pertain to your personal experiences and strengths. Reviewing sample responses can help you to formulate your own thoughts, and give you ideas of what to discuss to impress the interviewer.

Enroll in the Best Phlebotomist College near Plainfield IL

Making certain that you choose the ideal phlebotomist training is a critical first step toward your success in this fulfilling healthcare field. As we have discussed in this article, there are multiple factors that go into the selection of a premium program. Phlebotomy training programs are available in a number of academic institutions, including community or junior colleges, trade schools, and colleges and universities that provide a comprehensive range of courses in medical care and health sciences. Course offerings may vary slightly from state to state as every state has its own mandates when it concerns phlebotomy training, licensing and certification. The most critical point is that you must carefully evaluate and compare each college before making your ultimate decision. By addressing the questions that we have furnished, you will be able to narrow down your options so that you can pick the ideal school for you. And with the proper training, you can reach your goal of becoming a phlebotomist in Plainfield IL.

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