Selecting a Phlebotomy School near Lansing Iowa

Enrolling in the right phlebotomist training near Lansing IA is an important initial step toward a gratifying profession as a phlebotomist. It may seem like a daunting task to investigate and compare all of the school options that are accessible to you. Nevertheless it’s vital that you complete your due diligence to make certain that you obtain a quality education. In reality, many students begin their search 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 a local campus. We’ll talk a bit more about online schools later in this article. What’s important to remember is that there is far more to comparing phlebotomy training programs than locating the cheapest or the closest one. Other variables including reputation and accreditation are also significant considerations and need to be part of your decision process as well. To assist in that effort, we will supply a list of questions that you need to ask each of the phlebotomy schools you are assessing to help you pick the best one for you. But before we do that, let’s cover what a phlebotomist is and does, and then continue our conversation about online schools.

Phlebotomist Career Summary

A phlebotomist, or phlebotomy tech, collects blood samples from patients. While that is their principal task, there is in fact far more to their job description. Prior to drawing a blood sample, a phlebotomist has to verify that the instruments being employed are sterile and single use only. Following the collection, the sample needs to be correctly labeled with the patient’s data. Afterward, paperwork has to be correctly completed in order to track the sample from the point of collection through the lab testing procedure. The phlebotomist then delivers the blood to either an an outside lab facility or an in-house lab where it may be tested for such things as pregnancy, infectious diseases or blood type. A number of Lansing IA phlebotomists actually work in laboratories and are responsible for ensuring that samples are tested correctly utilizing the highest quality assurance procedures. And if those weren’t enough responsibilities, they may be called upon to instruct other phlebotomists in the drawing, delivery and follow-up process.

Where do Phlebotomists Practice?

The easiest response is wherever there are patients. Their work environments are numerous and diverse, including Lansing IA hospitals, medical clinics, long-term care facilities, or blood banks. They can be tasked to draw blood samples from patients of of every age, from infants or young children to seniors. A number of phlebotomists, depending on their training and their practice, specialize in drawing blood from a specific kind of patient. For example, those practicing in an assisted living facility or nursing home would solely be drawing blood from older patients. If they are practicing in a maternity ward, they would be drawing blood from mothers and newborns solely. In contrast, phlebotomy technicians practicing in a general hospital environment would be drawing blood from a wide variety of patients and would collect samples from new patients every day.

Phlebotomy Technician Training, Certification and Licensing

There are essentially 2 types of programs that provide phlebotomist training in Lansing IA, which are degree and certificate programs. The certificate program usually takes less than a year to finish and offers a basic education along with the training on how to draw blood. It provides 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 include training to become a phlebotomy tech. Available at community and junior colleges, they typically take 2 years to finish. Bachelor’s Degrees are not as accessible and as a 4 year program offer a more expansive foundation in lab sciences. When you have finished your training, you will probably want to be certified. While not required in the majority of states, a number of employers look for certification prior to hiring technicians. A few of the main 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 phlebotomy tech, such as Nevada and California. California and a handful of other states even require licensing. So it’s important that you pick a phlebotomy training program that not only furnishes a premium education, but also preps you for any licensing or certification exams that you elect or are required to take.

Online Phlebotomist Certificates and Degrees

To start with, let’s dispel one potential mistaken belief. You can’t get all of your phlebotomy training online. A significant portion of the course of study will be practical training and it will be performed either in an approved Lansing IA 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-clinical portion of the training may be attended online, it might be a more practical option for many students. As an additional benefit, a number of online schools are more affordable than their on-campus competitors. And some expenses, such as those for textbooks or commuting, may be minimized also. Just confirm that the online phlebotomy program you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency (more on accreditation later). With both the extensive clinical and online training, you can receive a superior education with this method of learning. If you are disciplined enough to study at home, then attaining your degree or certificate online might be the right choice for you.

Points to Ask Phlebotomy Colleges

Since you now have a general idea about what is involved in becoming a phlebotomist, it’s time to begin 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 Iowa campus is relevant as well as the tuition expense. Perhaps you have decided to enroll in an phlebotomy online school. Each of these decisions are an important part of the process for selecting a program or school. But they are not the sole considerations when arriving at your decision. Following are a few questions that you should ask about each of the Lansing IA programs you are reviewing prior to making your final selection.

Is the Phlebotomist Program State Specific? As mentioned previously, each state has its own regulations for practicing as a phlebotomist. Some states require certification, while a few others mandate licensing. Every state has its own requirement regarding the minimum amount of practical training performed prior to practicing as a phlebotomist. Consequently, you may need to pass a State Board, licensing or certification examination. Therefore it’s very important to choose a phlebotomist program that fulfills the state specific requirements for Iowa or the state where you will be working and preps you for any exams you may have to take.

Is the Program Accredited? The phlebotomist school and program you enroll in should be accredited by a reputable national or regional accrediting agency, for example the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS). There are several benefits to graduating from an accredited program aside from a guarantee of a premium education. To begin with, if your program has not received accreditation, you will not qualify to take a certification examination administered by any of the previously listed certifying agencies. Next, accreditation will help in obtaining loans or financial assistance, which are frequently not available for non-accredited schools in Lansing IA. Last, graduating from an accredited college can make you more desirable to future employers in the job market.

What is the College’s Ranking? In many states there is little or no regulation of phlebotomy colleges, so there are some that are not of the highest quality. So along with accreditation, it’s imperative to investigate the reputations of any schools you are considering. You can start by asking the schools for references from employers where they refer their students as part of their job assistance program. You can research internet school reviews and rating services and solicit the accrediting agencies for their reviews as well. You can also contact several Lansing IA local hospitals or clinics that you may have an interest in working for and ask if they can provide any recommendations. As a closing thought, you can check with the Iowa school licensing authority and ask if any complaints have been filed or if the schools are in total compliance.

Is Plenty of Training Provided? To begin with, contact the Iowa regulator or the state regulator where you will be working to find out if there are any minimum requirements for the length of training, both clinical and classroom. At a minimum, any Lansing IA 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 lower than these minimums might indicate that the program is not expansive enough to offer sufficient training.

Are Internships Sponsored? Find out from the Iowa schools you are considering if they have an internship program in collaboration with regional medical facilities. They are the ideal means to get hands-on practical training frequently not provided on campus. As an added benefit, internships can help students develop relationships within the local Lansing IA medical community. And they look good on resumes also.

Is Job Placement Support Offered? Getting your first phlebotomy position will be much easier with the help of a job placement program. Find out if the colleges you are looking at provide assistance and what their job placement rate is. If a school has a high rate, meaning they place most of their students in positions, it’s an indication that the college has both an excellent reputation along with a large network of professional contacts within the Lansing IA healthcare community.

Are Class Times Offered to Fit Your Schedule? And last, it’s critical to verify that the final school you pick provides classes at times that are compatible with your hectic schedule. This is particularly important if you choose to still work while going to school. If you need to attend classes in the evenings or on weekends near Lansing IA, make certain they are available at those times. Additionally, if you can only attend part-time, verify it is an option as well. And if you have decided to attend 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 due to emergencies or illness.

Why Did You Choose to Be a Phlebotomy Tech?

When prepping to interview for a Phlebotomist job, it's a good idea to review questions you might be asked. One of the questions that interviewers frequently ask Phlebotomist prospects is "What drove you to select Phlebotomy as a profession?". What the interviewer is hoping to uncover is not only the personal reasons you might have for becoming Phlebotomist, but also what qualities and talents you possess that make you exceptional at your profession. You will likely be asked questions pertaining exclusively to Phlebotomy, as well as a significant number of typical interview questions, so you should prepare a number of ideas about how you would like to respond to them. Given that there are so many factors that go into choosing a career, you can answer this fundamental question in a number of ways. When preparing an answer, attempt to include the reasons the work interests you as well as the strengths you possess that make you an excellent Phlebotomy Tech and the ideal candidate for the job. Don't attempt to memorize a response, but jot down several ideas and talking points that relate to your own experiences and strengths. Reviewing sample responses can help you to formulate your own concepts, and inspire ideas of what to include to enthuse the recruiter.

Select the Right Phlebotomist Course near Lansing IA

Making sure that you pick the ideal phlebotomy training is a critical first step toward your success in this gratifying healthcare career position. As we have addressed in this article, there are a number of factors that contribute toward the selection of a superior school. Phlebotomist training programs are offered in a variety of academic institutes, including community or junior colleges, vocational schools, and colleges and universities that offer an extensive array of courses in medical care and health sciences. Training program offerings may vary slightly across the country as each state has its own prerequisites when it pertains to phlebotomist training, licensing and certification. The most important point is that you need to thoroughly screen and compare each college prior to making your final decision. By addressing the questions that we have provided, you will be able to fine tune your options so that you can select the right school for you. And with the proper training, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a phlebotomy technician in Lansing IA.

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