Selecting a Phlebotomy School near Owensboro Kentucky

Selecting the ideal phlebotomy training near Owensboro KY is an essential first step toward a rewarding career as a phlebotomist. It might seem like a difficult undertaking to investigate and compare each of the school alternatives that are accessible to you. However it’s necessary that you complete your due diligence to make sure that you get a superior education. In fact, most students begin their search by looking at 2 of the qualifiers that initially come to mind, which are location and cost. An additional factor you might look into is whether to attend online classes or commute to a nearby campus. We’ll talk more about online classes 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 variables including reputation and accreditation are also significant considerations and must be part of your decision process too. 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 select the best one for you. But before we do that, let’s address what a phlebotomist is and does, and then resume our discussion about online training.

Phlebotomy Tech Job Summary

A phlebotomist, or phlebotomy tech, draws blood from patients. Although that is their principal duty, there is actually much more to their job description. Before collecting a blood sample, a phlebotomist needs to verify that the instruments being employed are single use only and sterile. Following the collection, the sample has to be correctly labeled with the patient’s data. Afterward, paperwork must be accurately completed to be able to track the sample from the point of collection through the lab screening procedure. 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 infectious diseases, pregnancy or blood type. Some Owensboro KY phlebotomists actually work in laboratories and are in charge of making sure that samples are tested correctly under the strictest quality assurance procedures. And if those weren’t enough responsibilities, they might be asked to train other phlebotomists in the drawing, delivery and follow-up process.

Where are Phlebotomists Employed?

The easiest response is wherever patients are treated. Their work environments are numerous and diverse, such as Owensboro KY hospitals, medical clinics, long-term care facilities, or blood banks. They can be tasked to collect blood samples from patients of all ages, from infants or toddlers to senior citizens. A number of phlebotomy techs, based on their training and their practice, specialize in drawing samples from a specific kind of patient. For instance, those working in a nursing home or assisted living facility would exclusively be collecting blood from senior patients. If they are working in a maternity ward, they would be drawing blood from newborns and mothers exclusively. In contrast, phlebotomy technicians working in a general hospital setting would be collecting samples from a wide variety of patients and would collect samples from different patients each day.

Phlebotomist Education, Licensing and Certification

There are basically two kinds of programs that furnish phlebotomist training in Owensboro KY, which are degree and certificate programs. The certificate program usually takes less than a year to finish and provides a general education as well as the training on how to draw blood. It provides the fastest route to becoming a phlebotomist. An Associate of Science Degree in Clinical Laboratory Science, even though it’s not specifically a phlebotomist degree, will incorporate training on becoming a phlebotomy tech. Available at junior and community colleges, they typically take 2 years to complete. Bachelor’s Degrees are not as accessible and as a 4 year program offer a more comprehensive background in lab sciences. Once you have completed your training, you will no doubt want to be certified. While not required in most states, many employers require certification before employing technicians. Some 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, including California and Nevada. California and a handful of additional states even require licensing. So it’s important that you choose a phlebotomy training program that not only supplies a superior education, but also readies you for any certification or licensing exams that you elect or are required to take.

Online Phlebotomy Classes

First, let’s resolve one likely mistaken belief. You can’t get all of your phlebotomist training online. A substantial portion of the curriculum will be clinical training and it will be performed either in an approved Owensboro KY 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 portion of the training may be accessed online, it could be a more practical alternative for many students. As an additional benefit, a number of online programs are more affordable than their traditional competitors. And some expenditures, including those for commuting or textbooks, may be lowered as well. Just make certain that the online phlebotomist college you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization (more on accreditation later). With both the comprehensive clinical and online training, you can obtain a quality education with this means of learning. If you are disciplined enough to study at home, then obtaining your degree or certificate online may be the best choice for you.

Questions to Ask Phlebotomist Programs

Since you now have a basic idea about what is involved in becoming a phlebotomy tech, it’s time to begin your due diligence process. You might have already picked the kind of program you intend to enroll in, whether it be for a degree or a certificate. As we previously mentioned, the location of the Kentucky campus is important as well as the tuition expense. Possibly you have decided to enroll in an online phlebotomy program. Each of these decisions are an important part of the process for selecting a school or program. But they are not the sole concerns when making your decision. Below we have provided a few questions that you need to ask about each of the Owensboro KY schools you are reviewing before making your final selection.

Is the Phlebotomist Program State Specific? As earlier discussed, each state has its own regulations for practicing as a phlebotomy technician. Some states call for certification, while a few others require licensing. Every state has its own prerequisite regarding the minimum hours of practical training completed prior to practicing as a phlebotomist. As a result, you may need to pass a State Board, licensing or certification examination. Therefore it’s very important to choose a phlebotomy program that satisfies the state specific requirements for Kentucky or the state where you will be practicing and preps you for any examinations you may have to take.

Is the Program Accredited? The phlebotomist program and school you select should be accredited by a respected regional or national accrediting organization, such as the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS). There are several benefits to graduating from an accredited program aside from an assurance of a premium education. First, if your program is not accredited, you will not be able to take a certification exam offered by any of the earlier listed certifying agencies. Next, accreditation will help in obtaining financial aid or loans, which are frequently not available for non-accredited colleges in Owensboro KY. 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 Program’s Reputation? In numerous states there is little or no regulation of phlebotomist schools, so there are some that are not of the highest quality. So in addition to accreditation, it’s important to check the reputations of any schools you are considering. You can start by asking the schools for references from employers where they refer their graduates as part of their job assistance program. You can screen internet school reviews and rating services and solicit the accrediting organizations for their reviews as well. You can even contact a few Owensboro KY local clinics or hospitals that you might be interested in working for and see if they can offer any recommendations. As a closing thought, you can contact the Kentucky school licensing authority and ask if any grievances have been submitted or if the colleges are in total compliance.

Is Ample Training Included? To begin with, check with the Kentucky 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 Owensboro KY phlebotomy program that you are reviewing should provide no less than 40 hours of classroom training (most require 120) and 120 hours of practical training. Anything lower than these minimums may signify that the program is not expansive enough to provide sufficient training.

Are Internships Provided? Find out from the Kentucky programs you are reviewing if they have an internship program in partnership with local healthcare facilities. They are the ideal means to receive hands-on clinical training often not available on campus. As an additional benefit, internships can assist students establish relationships within the local Owensboro KY healthcare community. And they look good on resumes as well.

Is Job Placement Assistance Available? Finding your first phlebotomy job will be much easier with the help of a job placement program. Inquire if the schools you are reviewing provide assistance and what their job placement percentage is. If a school has a higher rate, meaning they place most of their students in jobs, it’s an indication that the school has both a good reputation together with a large network of professional contacts within the Owensboro KY health care community.

Are Classes Conveniently Scheduled? And last, it’s critical to make sure that the final school you choose offers classes at times that are compatible with your hectic lifestyle. This is especially true if you decide to continue working while attending college. If you can only go to classes at night or on weekends near Owensboro KY, make sure 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 completed within your schedule. And find out what the make-up protocol is in case you have to miss any classes because of emergencies or illness.

Why Did You Want to Be a Phlebotomist?

When prepping to interview for a Phlebotomist job, it's helpful to consider questions you might be asked. Among the questions that recruiters typically ask Phlebotomy Technician prospects is "What drove you to decide on Phlebotomy as a profession?". What the interviewer is hoping to discover is not merely the personal reasons you might have for becoming Phlebotomy Tech, but additionally what qualities and talents you possess that make you outstanding at what you do. You will probably be asked questions relating specifically to Phlebotomy, along with a significant number of typical interview questions, so you need to organize several ideas about how you want to respond to them. Because there are numerous factors that go into choosing a career, you can address this fundamental question in a number of ways. When formulating an answer, try to include the reasons the profession appeals to you in addition to the strengths you possess that make you an outstanding Phlebotomy Technician and the ideal candidate for the position. Don't attempt to memorize an answer, but write down a few ideas and anecdotes that pertain to your own experiences and strengths. Going over sample responses can help you to formulate your own concepts, and provide ideas of what to discuss to impress the recruiter.

Find the Ideal Phlebotomist Course near Owensboro KY

Making sure that you enroll in the ideal phlebotomy training is an essential first step toward your success in this fulfilling healthcare field. As we have discussed in this article, there are multiple factors that contribute toward the selection of a premium college. Phlebotomist certificate or degree programs are available in a variety of academic institutions, such as junior or community colleges, trade schools, and colleges and universities that offer a wide range of courses in healthcare and medical sciences. Program offerings may vary somewhat across the country as every state has its own mandates when it concerns phlebotomist training, licensing and certification. The most important point is that you must carefully research and compare each school before making your ultimate decision. By asking the questions that we have provided, you will be able to fine tune your options so that you can pick the right college for you. And with the appropriate education, you can reach your goal of becoming a phlebotomist in Owensboro KY.

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