Choosing a Phlebotomy Technician Course near Houma Louisiana

Picking the right phlebotomy technician training near Houma LA is an important initial step toward a fulfilling profession as a phlebotomist. It may seem like a difficult task to evaluate and compare all of the school options that are accessible to you. However it’s necessary that you do your due diligence to make sure that you obtain a quality education. In fact, most potential students start their search by considering two of the qualifiers that initially come to mind, which are cost and location. Yet another factor you might consider is whether to attend classes online or commute to a nearby campus. We’ll talk a bit more about online classes later in this article. What you need to keep in mind is that there is a lot more to comparing phlebotomy training programs than finding the closest or the cheapest one. Other factors including accreditation and reputation are also important considerations and must be part of your decision process as well. Toward that end, we will provide a list of questions that you should ask each of the phlebotomy schools you are assessing to help you choose the right one for you. But prior to doing that, let’s cover what a phlebotomist is and does, and then continue our conversation about online training.

Phlebotomist Job Description

A phlebotomist, or phlebotomy tech, draws blood from patients. While that is their main function, there is in fact much more to their job description. Before collecting a blood sample, a phlebotomist must check that the tools being employed are single use only and sterile. Following the collection, the sample must be accurately labeled with the patient’s information. Afterward, 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 delivers the blood to either an in-house lab or to an outside lab facility where it can be tested for such things as pregnancy, infectious diseases or blood type. Some Houma LA phlebotomists in fact work in labs and are accountable for ensuring that samples are analyzed correctly under the highest quality control procedures. And if those weren’t sufficient duties, they may be asked to instruct other phlebotomists in the drawing, delivery and follow-up process.

Where do Phlebotomists Work?

The most basic answer is wherever there are patients. Their workplaces are numerous and varied, such as Houma LA hospitals, medical clinics, nursing homes, or blood centers. They may be charged to draw blood samples from patients of of every age, from infants or toddlers to senior citizens. A number of phlebotomists, depending on their training and their practice, specialize in drawing blood from a specific type of patient. For example, those working in a nursing home or assisted living facility would only be collecting blood from elderly patients. If they are practicing in a maternity ward, they would be collecting blood from newborns and mothers exclusively. In contrast, phlebotomists working in a general hospital environment would be drawing blood from a wide variety of patients and would collect samples from different patients on a daily basis.

Phlebotomy Education, Certification and Licensing

There are primarily 2 kinds of programs that provide phlebotomy training in Houma LA, which are degree and certificate programs. The certificate program generally takes less than a year to complete and offers a basic education as well as the training on how to draw blood. It provides the fastest route to becoming a phlebotomy tech. An Associate of Science Degree in Clinical Laboratory Science, although not exclusively a phlebotomist degree, will include training on becoming a phlebotomy tech. Offered at junior and community colleges, they normally require two years to complete. Bachelor’s Degrees are not as available and as a 4 year program provide a more expansive background in lab sciences. Once you have finished your training, you will probably want to become certified. While not required in the majority of states, most employers require certification prior to hiring technicians. A few of the key 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 in order to practice as a phlebotomy tech, like Nevada and California. California and a handful of other states even require licensing. So it’s imperative that you choose a phlebotomy training program that not only supplies a premium education, but also preps you for any certification or licensing examinations that you are required or elect to take.

Online Phlebotomy Classes

First, let’s resolve one possible misconception. You can’t get all of your phlebotomy training online. A substantial part of the curriculum will be practical training and it will be conducted either in an approved Houma LA healthcare facility or an on-campus lab|an on-campus lab or an approved healthcare facility}. Numerous courses also require completing an internship prior to graduation. However since the non-practical portion of the training may be attended online, it may be a more convenient option for some students. As an added benefit, many online colleges are less expensive than their on-campus competitors. And some costs, including those for commuting or textbooks, may be reduced also. Just verify that the online phlebotomist college you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency (more on accreditation later). With both the comprehensive online and clinical training, you can receive a premium education with this approach to learning. If you are disciplined enough to study at home, then obtaining your degree or certificate online might be the ideal option for you.

Topics to Ask Phlebotomy Schools

Now that you have a basic understanding about what it takes to become a phlebotomy tech, it’s time to initiate your due diligence process. You might have already decided on the kind of program you want to enroll in, whether it be for a degree or a certificate. As we previously mentioned, the location of the Louisiana school is significant in addition to the cost of tuition. Maybe you have decided to enroll in an phlebotomist online college. All of these decisions are an important part of the procedure for choosing a program or school. But they are not the only considerations when making your decision. Following are a few questions that you need to ask about all of the Houma LA colleges you are considering before making your ultimate selection.

Is the Phlebotomist Program Specific to Louisiana? As earlier discussed, each state has its own laws for practicing as a phlebotomist. Several states require certification, while a few others require licensing. Every state has its own requirement regarding the minimum hours of clinical training completed prior to working as a phlebotomy tech. As a result, you may have to pass a State Board, certification or licensing examination. Therefore it’s extremely important to enroll in a phlebotomist program that meets the state specific requirements for Louisiana or the state where you will be practicing and preps you for any exams you may be required to take.

Is the Program Accredited? The phlebotomy program and school you enroll in should be accredited by a recognized regional or national accrediting organization, for example the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS). There are a number of advantages to graduating from an accredited school aside from an assurance of a quality education. First, if your program has not received accreditation, you will not be able to take a certification exam administered by any of the previously listed certifying organizations. Also, accreditation will help in securing loans or financial assistance, which are often unavailable for non-accredited schools in Houma LA. Last, graduating from an accredited school can make you more attractive to prospective employers in the job market.

What is the Program’s Reputation? In many states there is little or no regulation of phlebotomist colleges, so there are those that are not of the highest quality. So in addition to accreditation, it’s important to check the reputations of any schools 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 organizations for their reviews as well. You can even contact a few Houma LA area hospitals or clinics 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 Louisiana school licensing authority and find out if any complaints have been filed or if the schools are in full compliance.

Is Enough Training Provided? To begin with, contact the Louisiana regulator or the state regulator where you will be working to learn if there are any minimum requirements for the amount of training, both clinical and classroom. At a minimum, any Houma LA phlebotomy program that you are reviewing should provide at least 40 hours of classroom training (most require 120) and 120 hours of practical training. Anything lower than these minimums might indicate that the program is not comprehensive enough to offer adequate training.

Are Internships Included? Ask the Louisiana colleges you are considering if they have an internship program in collaboration with area health care facilities. They are the optimal way to obtain hands-on practical training typically not provided on campus. As an added benefit, internships can help students develop contacts within the local Houma LA healthcare community. And they are a plus on resumes also.

Is Job Placement Support Provided? Getting your first phlebotomist job will be much easier with the help of a job placement program. Inquire if the schools you are considering offer 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 a good reputation as well as an extensive network of professional contacts within the Houma LA medical community.

Are Class Times Compatible With Your Schedule? And last, it’s critical to make sure that the ultimate school you pick offers classes at times that are compatible with your active schedule. This is especially true if you opt to continue working while going to school. If you need to go to classes in the evenings or on weekends near Houma LA, check that they are offered at those times. Additionally, if you can only attend part-time, make sure it is an option as well. 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 policy is in case you need to miss any classes because of emergencies or illness.

Why Did You Choose to Be a Phlebotomist?

When prepping to interview for a Phlebotomy Tech position, it's advantageous to consider questions you could be asked. One of the things that hiring managers often ask Phlebotomy Tech prospects is "What drove you to choose Phlebotomy as a profession?". What the interviewer is trying to uncover is not merely the private reasons you might have for being Phlebotomy Tech, but also what attributes and skills you have that make you exceptional at what you do. You will undoubtedly be asked questions pertaining specifically to Phlebotomy, in addition to a significant number of typical interview questions, so you should ready a number of approaches about how you want to respond to them. Because there are so many variables that go into selecting a career, you can answer this primary question in a number of ways. When formulating an answer, try to include the reasons the work interests you as well as the abilities you have that make you an exceptional Phlebotomist and the best candidate for the position. Don't attempt to memorize an answer, but jot down several concepts and anecdotes that pertain to your personal experiences and strengths. Reading through sample answers can help you to formulate your own concepts, and provide ideas of what to include to impress the interviewer.

Find the Ideal Phlebotomist Course near Houma LA

Making certain that you enroll in the right phlebotomy training is an important first step toward your success in this gratifying medical care field. As we have addressed in this article, there are a number of factors that contribute toward the selection of a superior college. Phlebotomy training programs can be offered in a wide range of academic institutions, including community or junior colleges, trade schools, and colleges and universities that offer an extensive array of courses in medical care and health sciences. Course options can differ somewhat across the country as each state has its own requirements when it comes to phlebotomist training, certification and licensing. The most important point is that you need to thoroughly evaluate and compare each college before making your ultimate selection. By addressing the questions that we have furnished, you will be able to narrow down your options so that you can select the right college for you. And with the appropriate education, you can reach your goal of becoming a phlebotomist in Houma LA.

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