Picking a Phlebotomy Course near Waukegan Illinois

Picking the right phlebotomist school near Waukegan IL is an essential initial step toward a fulfilling profession as a phlebotomist. It may seem like a challenging undertaking to assess and compare all of the school alternatives that are accessible to you. Nevertheless it’s important that you do your due diligence to ensure that you obtain a quality education. In reality, many potential students begin the process by looking at two of the qualifiers that first come to mind, which are location and cost. An additional factor you might consider is whether to attend classes online or commute to a nearby campus. We’ll review more about online schools later in this article. What’s important to keep in mind is that there is a lot more to checking out phlebotomy training programs than locating the cheapest or the closest one. Other factors including reputation and accreditation are also important considerations and should be part of your decision process also. To assist in that effort, we will supply a list of questions that you should ask each of the phlebotomy schools you are evaluating to help you select the right one for you. But prior to doing that, let’s cover what a phlebotomist is and does, and afterwards continue our conversation about online training.

Phlebotomy Tech Job Summary

A phlebotomist, or phlebotomy tech, draws blood from patients. While that is their principal task, there is in fact so much 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 needs to be properly labeled with the patient’s information. Afterward, paperwork needs to be properly 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 may be screened for such things as pregnancy, infectious diseases or blood type. Some Waukegan IL phlebotomists actually work in labs and are accountable for making certain that samples are analyzed correctly utilizing the highest quality control procedures. And if those weren’t sufficient duties, they might be required to train other phlebotomists in the collection, delivery and follow-up process.

Where do Phlebotomists Practice?

The quickest response is wherever there are patients. Their workplaces are many and diverse, such as Waukegan IL hospitals, medical clinics, nursing homes, or blood banks. They may be tasked to draw blood samples from patients of all ages, from infants or young children to senior citizens. A number of phlebotomy techs, depending on their practice and their training, specialize in collecting blood from a certain kind of patient. For instance, those practicing in an assisted living facility or nursing home would exclusively be collecting blood from elderly patients. If they are practicing in a maternity ward, they would be collecting blood from newborns and mothers exclusively. On the other hand, phlebotomy technicians working in a general hospital environment would be collecting samples from a wide variety of patients and would collect samples from different patients every day.

Phlebotomy Training, Licensing and Certification

There are essentially 2 types of programs that provide phlebotomy training in Waukegan IL, which are certificate and degree programs. The certificate program usually takes under a year to complete and provides a basic education along with the training on how to draw blood. It offers the quickest method to becoming a phlebotomist. An Associate of Science Degree in Clinical Laboratory Science, although not specifically a phlebotomy degree, will provide training on becoming a phlebotomy tech. Available at community and junior colleges, they typically take 2 years to complete. Bachelor’s Degrees are not as available and as a four year program furnish a more comprehensive foundation in lab sciences. After you have completed your training, you will probably want to become certified. While not mandated in the majority of states, a number of employers require certification before employing technicians. Some of the primary 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 phlebotomy tech, such as California and Nevada. California and a few additional states even require licensing. So it’s important that you pick a phlebotomy training program that not only supplies a superior education, but also preps you for any certification or licensing examinations that you are required or elect to take.

Phlebotomist Online Training

To begin with, let’s dispel one possible misconception. You can’t get all of your phlebotomist training online. A good part of the curriculum will be practical training and it will be conducted either in an approved Waukegan IL healthcare facility or an on-campus lab|an on-campus lab or an approved healthcare facility}. Numerous courses also require completing an internship in order to graduate. But since the non-practical part of the training can be attended online, it can be a more practical option for some students. As an additional benefit, a number of online schools are less expensive than their on-campus competitors. And some expenses, for instance those for textbooks or commuting, may be minimized as well. Just make sure that the online phlebotomy college you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency (more on accreditation later). With both the comprehensive clinical and online training, you can obtain a quality education with this approach to learning. If you are disciplined enough to learn at home, then attaining your degree or certificate online may be the ideal choice for you.

Points to Ask Phlebotomist Programs

Now that you have a general idea about what it takes to become a phlebotomist, it’s time to initiate your due diligence process. You might have already chosen the type of program you want to enroll in, whether it be for a certificate or a degree. As we mentioned earlier, the location of the Illinois college is relevant in addition to the tuition expense. Maybe you have decided to enroll in an online phlebotomist school. Each of these decisions are an important part of the procedure for choosing a program or school. But they are not the only concerns when arriving at your decision. Below we have provided a few questions that you need to ask about all of the Waukegan IL colleges you are considering before making your final selection.

Is the Phlebotomist Program State Specific? As previously mentioned, each state has its own laws for practicing as a phlebotomy technician. Several states require certification, while a few others mandate licensing. Each has its own requirement regarding the minimum amount of practical training performed before working as a phlebotomist. As a result, you might need to pass a State Board, licensing or certification examination. Therefore it’s extremely important to choose a phlebotomy program that meets the state specific requirements for Illinois or the state where you will be practicing and prepares you for any exams you may be required to take.

Is the Program Accredited? The phlebotomy school and program you choose should be accredited by a highly regarded regional or national accrediting agency, such as the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS). There are several benefits to graduating from an accredited program in addition to an assurance of a superior education. First, if your program is not accredited, you will not qualify to take a certification exam administered by any of the earlier listed certifying organizations. Also, accreditation will help in obtaining loans or financial assistance, which are frequently unavailable for non-accredited programs in Waukegan IL. Finally, earning a certificate or a degree from an accredited school can make you more attractive to future employers in the job market.

What is the School’s Reputation? In a number of states there is little or no regulation of phlebotomy colleges, so there are some that are not of the highest caliber. So along with accreditation, it’s imperative to investigate the reputations of all schools you are looking at. 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 reviews and rating services and solicit the accrediting organizations for their reviews as well. You can also contact some Waukegan IL local clinics or hospitals that you might have an interest in working for and find out if they can offer any recommendations. 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, contact the Illinois regulator or the state regulator where you will be practicing to learn if there are any minimum requirements for the length of training, both classroom and practical. As a minimum, any Waukegan IL phlebotomist program that you are reviewing should furnish no less than 40 hours of classroom training (most require 120) and 120 hours of clinical training. Anything below these minimums might indicate that the program is not expansive enough to offer adequate training.

Are Internship Programs Included? Find out from the Illinois colleges you are reviewing if they have an internship program in partnership with area medical facilities. They are the ideal way to receive hands-on practical training often not available on campus. As an additional benefit, internships can assist students develop contacts within the local Waukegan IL healthcare community. And they are a plus on resumes as well.

Is Job Placement Help Available? Getting your first phlebotomy job will be a lot easier with the help of a job placement program. Ask if the programs you are reviewing provide assistance and what their job placement percentage is. If a school has a higher rate, signifying they place the majority of their students in positions, it’s an indication that the program has both a good reputation along with an extensive network of professional contacts within the Waukegan IL health care community.

Are Class Times Compatible With Your Schedule? Finally, it’s crucial to verify that the final college you choose offers classes at times that will accommodate your busy lifestyle. This is especially important if you opt to continue working while going to school. If you can only go to classes in the evenings or on weekends near Waukegan IL, make sure they are available at those times. Additionally, if you can only attend on a part-time basis, confirm it is an option also. Even if you have decided to attend online, with the practical training requirement, make certain 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 as a result of illness or emergencies.

Why Did You Choose to Be a Phlebotomist?

When getting ready to interview for a Phlebotomy Tech position, it's advantageous to review questions you may be asked. Among the questions that hiring managers typically ask Phlebotomist applicants is "What made you choose Phlebotomy as a career?". What the interviewer is trying to learn is not just the private reasons you might have for becoming Phlebotomist, but additionally what qualities and talents you have that make you exceptional at what you do. You will undoubtedly be asked questions pertaining exclusively to Phlebotomy, in addition to a significant number of standard interview questions, so you should prepare several ideas about how you want to address them. Given that there are numerous factors that go into choosing a career, you can answer this fundamental question in a number of ways. When readying an answer, aim to include the reasons the work appeals to you along with the abilities you possess that make you an excellent Phlebotomy Technician and the ideal candidate for the job. Don't try to memorize a response, but jot 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 provide ideas of what to include to wow the interviewer.

Enroll in the Right Phlebotomy College near Waukegan IL

Making sure that you pick 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 quality school. Phlebotomist certificate or degree programs can be available in a variety of educational institutions, such as community or junior colleges, trade schools, and colleges and universities that provide a wide assortment of courses in healthcare and medical sciences. Course options may vary somewhat from state to state as every state has its own mandates when it concerns phlebotomy training, certification and licensing. The most critical point is that you need to thoroughly screen and compare each college prior to making your ultimate selection. By asking the questions that we have presented, you will be able to narrow down your choices so that you can pick the ideal college for you. And with the proper education, you can achieve your goal of becoming a phlebotomist in Waukegan IL.

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