Picking a Phlebotomist Training Program near Osawatomie Kansas

Picking the ideal phlebotomy technician school near Osawatomie KS is an important first step toward a fulfilling career as a phlebotomist. It may seem like a difficult task to investigate and compare each of the school options that are available to you. Nevertheless it’s important that you do your due diligence to ensure that you obtain a superior education. In reality, many students start the process by looking at two of the qualifiers that initially come to mind, which are cost and location. An additional option you might look into is whether to attend classes online or commute to a local campus. We’ll review a bit more about online classes later in this article. What you need to remember is that there is a lot more to checking out phlebotomy training programs than locating the cheapest or the closest one. Other variables including accreditation and reputation are also important considerations and should be part of your decision process also. Toward that end, we will provide a list of questions that you need to 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 then continue our discussion about online schools.

Phlebotomist Career Summary

A phlebotomist, or phlebotomy tech, collects blood samples from patients. While that is their primary duty, there is actually so much more to their job description. Prior to collecting a blood sample, a phlebotomist needs to confirm that the tools being employed are sterile and single use only. Following the collection, the sample needs to be accurately labeled with the patient’s data. Afterward, paperwork has to be properly filled out in order to track the sample from the point of collection through the laboratory testing process. The phlebotomist then delivers the blood to either an in-house lab or to an outside lab facility where it can be screened for such things as pregnancy, infectious diseases or blood type. A number of Osawatomie KS phlebotomists in fact work in laboratories and are responsible for ensuring that samples are tested properly under the strictest quality assurance procedures. And if those weren’t enough duties, they might be asked to train other phlebotomists in the drawing, delivery and follow-up process.

Where do Phlebotomy Techs Work?

The quickest response is wherever patients are treated. Their workplaces are many and diverse, including Osawatomie KS medical clinics, hospitals, long-term care facilities, or blood banks. They may be assigned to collect blood samples from patients of of every age, from infants or toddlers to seniors. Some phlebotomists, depending on their training and their practice, specialize in drawing samples from a certain type of patient. For example, those working in an assisted living facility or nursing home would only be collecting blood from older patients. If they are working in a maternity ward, they would be drawing blood from mothers and newborns solely. On the other hand, phlebotomy technicians practicing in a general hospital setting would be collecting blood from a wide range of patients and would work with new patients on a daily basis.

Phlebotomy Education, Certification and Licensing

There are primarily two types of programs that provide phlebotomy training in Osawatomie KS, which are degree and certificate programs. The certificate program usually takes under a year to finish and provides a general education as well as the training on how to draw blood. It provides the quickest method to becoming a phlebotomy tech. An Associate of Science Degree in Clinical Laboratory Science, although not exclusively a phlebotomy degree, will provide training to become a phlebotomist. Available at community and junior colleges, they normally require 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. After you have finished your training, you will no doubt want to become certified. Although not mandated in the majority of states, a number of employers require certification prior to employing technicians. Some of the principal certifying organizations include:

• National Phlebotomy Association
• National Healthcareer Association (NHA)
• American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP)
• American Medical Technologists (AMT)

There are a few states that do require certification prior to practicing as a phlebotomy tech, such as Nevada and California. California and a handful of additional states even require licensing. So it’s important that you pick a phlebotomist training program that not only supplies a superior education, but also readies you for any certification or licensing examinations that you are required or elect to take.

Online Phlebotomy Training

To begin with, let’s dispel one likely mistaken belief. You can’t receive all of your phlebotomist training online. A significant component of the curriculum will be clinical training and it will be conducted either in an approved Osawatomie KS healthcare facility or an on-campus lab|an on-campus lab or an approved healthcare facility}. Many courses also require completing an internship in order to graduate. But since the non-clinical part of the training may be accessed online, it may be a more practical option for some students. As an additional benefit, a number of online colleges are more affordable than their traditional competitors. And some costs, such as those for commuting or textbooks, may be minimized as well. Just make sure that the online phlebotomist college you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization (more on accreditation to follow). With both the comprehensive online and clinical training, you can receive a quality education with this method of learning. If you are dedicated enough to study at home, then earning your certificate or degree online might be the best option for you.

Topics to Ask Phlebotomy Colleges

Since you now have a general idea about what it takes to become a phlebotomist, it’s time to begin your due diligence process. You may have already picked the kind of program you intend to enroll in, whether it be for a certificate or a degree. As we mentioned earlier, the location of the Kansas school is relevant as well as the tuition expense. Possibly you have opted to enroll in an online phlebotomy school. All of these decisions are a critical part of the process for selecting a program or school. But they are not the sole considerations when arriving at your decision. Below we have provided several questions that you should ask about all of the Osawatomie KS schools you are considering before making your ultimate decision.

Is the Phlebotomy Program Specific to Your State? As mentioned previously, each state has its own requirements for practicing as a phlebotomist. Some states call for certification, while a few others require licensing. Every state has its own requirement regarding the minimum hours of clinical training completed before working as a phlebotomy tech. Consequently, you may need to pass a State Board, licensing or certification examination. Therefore it’s very important to select a phlebotomy program that meets the state specific requirements for Kansas or the state where you will be practicing and readies you for any exams you may have to take.

Is the College Accredited? The phlebotomy program and school 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 several benefits to graduating from an accredited school in addition to an assurance of a quality education. To begin with, if your program has not received accreditation, you will not be able to sit for a certification examination administered by any of the earlier listed certifying organizations. Next, accreditation will help in obtaining loans or financial assistance, which are frequently not available for non-accredited colleges in Osawatomie KS. Last, graduating from an accredited school can make you more attractive to prospective employers in the job market.

What is the School’s Reputation? In many states there is little or no regulation of phlebotomy schools, so there are some that are not of the highest caliber. So along with accreditation, it’s important to investigate the reputations of all colleges you are reviewing. You can start by requesting references from the schools from employers where they place their graduates as part of their job assistance program. You can screen internet school rating and review services and ask the accrediting agencies for their reviews also. You can also check with a few Osawatomie KS local clinics or hospitals that you may be interested in working for and ask if they can offer any recommendations. As a final thought, you can contact the Kansas school licensing authority and find out if any grievances have been filed or if the schools are in full compliance.

Is Plenty of Training Included? First, contact the Kansas regulator or the state regulator where you will be practicing to learn if there are any minimum requirements for the amount of training, both clinical and classroom. As a minimum, any Osawatomie KS phlebotomist program that you are reviewing should furnish no less than 40 hours of classroom training (the majority require 120) and 120 hours of practical training. Anything below these minimums might signify that the program is not expansive enough to offer adequate training.

Are Internship Programs Sponsored? Find out from the Kansas programs you are considering if they have an internship program in collaboration with local healthcare facilities. They are the ideal way to get hands-on practical training typically not obtainable on campus. As an additional benefit, internships can help students establish relationships within the local Osawatomie KS health care community. And they are a plus on resumes also.

Is Job Placement Help Offered? Finding your first phlebotomist position will be a lot easier with the support of a job placement program. Inquire if the colleges you are looking at provide assistance and what their job placement rate is. If a school has a high rate, signifying they place the majority of their students in positions, it’s an indication that the school has both an excellent reputation together with an extensive network of professional contacts within the Osawatomie KS healthcare community.

Are Class Times Conveniently Scheduled? Finally, it’s important to make sure that the final college you select provides classes at times that are compatible with your active schedule. This is particularly true if you decide to continue working while going to school. If you need to go to classes in the evenings or on weekends near Osawatomie KS, make sure they are offered at those times. Also, if you can only attend part-time, make sure it is an option also. Even if you have decided to attend online, with the clinical training requirement, make certain those hours can also be completed within your schedule. And ask what the make-up policy is in case you need to miss any classes because of emergencies or illness.

Why Did You Choose to Be a Phlebotomist?

When getting ready to interview for a Phlebotomy Technician job, it's helpful to reflect on questions you could be asked. One of the questions that hiring managers frequently ask Phlebotomy Tech applicants is "What compelled you to decide on Phlebotomy as a career?". What the interviewer is attempting to learn is not just the personal reasons you might have for being Phlebotomist, but also what attributes and skills you possess that make you outstanding at what you do. You will probably be asked questions pertaining exclusively to Phlebotomy, as well as a significant number of standard interview questions, so you should ready some ideas about how you want to respond to them. Given that there are so many factors that go into selecting a career, you can answer this primary question in a variety of ways. When preparing an answer, try to include the reasons the work interests you in addition to the talents you have that make you an exceptional Phlebotomist and the ideal candidate for the position. Don't try to memorize an answer, but jot down some ideas and anecdotes that relate to your own experiences and strengths. Reading through sample responses can assist you to prepare your own concepts, and give you ideas of what to include to impress the recruiter.

Enroll in the Right Phlebotomist Course near Osawatomie KS

Making sure that you pick the most suitable phlebotomist training is an important first step toward your success in this rewarding medical care career position. As we have discussed in this article, there are a number of factors that go into the selection of a superior program. Phlebotomist certificate or degree programs can be found in a number of educational institutions, including community or junior colleges, vocational schools, and colleges and universities that provide a comprehensive range of courses in medical care and health sciences. Training program options can vary a bit across the country as each state has its own prerequisites when it pertains to phlebotomy training, licensing and certification. The most critical point is that you need to diligently evaluate and compare each college prior to making your final decision. By addressing the questions that we have presented, you will be able to narrow down your options so that you can select the ideal school for you. And with the appropriate education, you can realize your goal of becoming a phlebotomy technician in Osawatomie KS.

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