Picking a Phlebotomy School near Braintree Massachusetts

Enrolling in the right phlebotomy technician training near Braintree MA is an essential first step toward a rewarding profession as a phlebotomist. It might seem like a challenging undertaking to assess and compare each of the school alternatives that are available to you. However it’s necessary that you perform your due diligence to ensure that you get a quality education. In reality, a large number of potential students begin their search by looking at two of the qualifiers that initially come to mind, which are cost and location. An additional factor you might look into is whether to attend online classes or commute to an area campus. We’ll talk more about online schools later in this article. What’s important to keep in mind is that there is a lot more to comparing phlebotomy training programs than locating the cheapest or the closest one. Other variables such as reputation and accreditation are also significant considerations and should be part of your selection process too. Toward that end, we will provide a list of questions that you need to ask each of the phlebotomy schools you are evaluating to help you pick the best one for you. But prior to doing that, let’s address what a phlebotomist is and does, and then resume our discussion about online classes.

Phlebotomy Tech Work Description

A phlebotomist, or phlebotomy tech, collects blood samples from patients. Although that is their main responsibility, there is in fact much more to their job description. Prior to collecting a blood sample, a phlebotomist has to confirm that the instruments being used are sterile and single use only. After collection, the sample has to be properly labeled with the patient’s data. Afterward, paperwork has to be properly filled out in order to track the sample from the time of collection through the laboratory screening procedure. The phlebotomist then transports 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 Braintree MA phlebotomists in fact work in labs and are accountable for ensuring that samples are analyzed properly under the highest quality assurance procedures. And if those weren’t sufficient responsibilities, they may be asked to instruct other phlebotomists in the drawing, transport and follow-up process.

Where do Phlebotomists Practice?

The quickest response is wherever patients are treated. Their workplaces are numerous and diverse, including Braintree MA hospitals, medical clinics, long-term care facilities, or blood centers. They may be charged to draw blood samples from patients of of every age, from babies or young children to seniors. Some phlebotomists, depending on their practice and their training, 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 drawing blood from elderly patients. If they are practicing in a maternity ward, they would be collecting blood from mothers and newborns exclusively. In contrast, phlebotomists practicing in a general hospital setting would be collecting blood from a wide variety of patients and would work with different patients each day.

Phlebotomist Training, Certification and Licensing

There are basically two kinds of programs that offer phlebotomist training in Braintree MA, which are certificate and degree programs. The certificate program usually takes under a year to finish and provides a basic education as well as the training on how to draw blood. It provides the quickest method to becoming a phlebotomist. An Associate of Science Degree in Clinical Laboratory Science, although not exclusively a phlebotomy degree, will include training to become a phlebotomist. Offered at community and junior colleges, they normally require 2 years to complete. Bachelor’s Degrees are less accessible and as a 4 year program furnish a more comprehensive background in lab sciences. When you have finished your training, you will probably want to be certified. Although not mandated in most states, most employers look for certification before hiring technicians. A few of the principal certifying agencies include:

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

There are some states that do call for certification in order to practice as a phlebotomist, like California and Nevada. California and a few other states even require licensing. So it’s essential that you select a phlebotomy training program that not only offers a quality education, but also prepares you for any certification or licensing exams that you elect or are required to take.

Online Phlebotomy Classes

To begin with, let’s resolve one possible misconception. You can’t get all of your phlebotomist training online. A good portion of the curriculum will be clinical training and it will be performed either in an approved Braintree MA healthcare facility or an on-campus lab|an on-campus lab or an approved healthcare facility}. A large number of courses also require completion of an internship in order to graduate. But since the non-clinical part of the training can be accessed online, it might be a more practical option for many students. As an additional benefit, some online colleges are more affordable than their on-campus counterparts. And some costs, such as those for commuting or textbooks, may be minimized as well. Just confirm that the online phlebotomy college you select is accredited by a national or regional 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 dedicated enough to study at home, then earning your certificate or degree online might be the ideal option for you.

Points to Ask Phlebotomist Programs

Now that you have a basic idea about what it takes to become a phlebotomist, it’s time to initiate your due diligence process. You might have already selected the kind of program you intend to enroll in, whether it be for a degree or a certificate. As we mentioned earlier, the location of the Massachusetts school is important as well as the cost of tuition. Perhaps you have opted to enroll in an online phlebotomist college. All of these decisions are an important part of the procedure for selecting a program or school. But they are not the only considerations when arriving at your decision. Following are a few questions that you need to ask about each of the Braintree MA schools you are looking at before making your ultimate decision.

Is the Phlebotomist Program State Specific? As previously mentioned, each state has its own regulations for practicing as a phlebotomist. Some states call for certification, while a few others require licensing. Each has its own prerequisite regarding the minimum amount of clinical training performed prior to working as a phlebotomist. Consequently, you may have to pass a State Board, certification or licensing examination. Therefore it’s very important to enroll in a phlebotomy program that satisfies the state specific requirements for Massachusetts or the state where you will be working and readies you for all examinations you may be required to take.

Is the School Accredited? The phlebotomist school and program you enroll in should be accredited by a recognized regional or national accrediting agency, such as the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS). There are several advantages to graduating from an accredited program in addition to a guarantee of a superior education. To begin with, if your program is not accredited, you will not be able to sit for a certification examination administered by any of the earlier listed certifying agencies. Next, accreditation will help in obtaining financial aid or loans, which are frequently unavailable for non-accredited programs in Braintree MA. Last, graduating from an accredited school can make you more desirable to potential employers in the job market.

What is the School’s Reputation? In a number of states there is little or no regulation of phlebotomy schools, so there are those that are not of the highest caliber. So along with accreditation, it’s important to check out the reputations of any colleges you are reviewing. 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 research internet school rating and review services and solicit the accrediting agencies for their reviews also. You can even check with a few Braintree MA local clinics or hospitals that you may have an interest in working for and ask if they can provide any insights. As a closing thought, you can check with the Massachusetts school licensing authority and ask if any complaints have been filed or if the colleges are in full compliance.

Is Adequate Training Provided? To begin with, check with the Massachusetts regulator or the state regulator where you will be practicing to learn if there are any minimum requirements for the amount of training, both classroom and practical. As a minimum, any Braintree MA phlebotomist 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 below these minimums might signify that the program is not expansive enough to furnish sufficient training.

Are Internship Programs Sponsored? Ask the Massachusetts colleges you are looking at if they have an internship program in collaboration with area healthcare facilities. They are the optimal way to obtain hands-on clinical training typically not available on campus. As an added benefit, internships can help students develop contacts within the local Braintree MA medical community. And they are a plus on resumes also.

Is Job Placement Assistance Available? Getting your first phlebotomy position will be much easier with the assistance of a job placement program. Inquire if the programs you are reviewing provide assistance and what their job placement percentage is. If a college has a higher rate, meaning they place most of their students in positions, it’s an indication that the school has both a good reputation along with an extensive network of professional contacts within the Braintree MA medical community.

Are Class Times Offered to Fit Your Schedule? Finally, it’s critical to make sure that the final program you pick provides classes at times that are compatible with your hectic lifestyle. This is especially important if you decide to still work while going to school. If you need to attend classes at night or on weekends near Braintree MA, make certain they are available at those times. Also, if you can only attend part-time, confirm it is an option as well. Even if you have decided to attend online, with the clinical training requirement, make certain those hours can also be fulfilled within your schedule. And find out what the make-up policy is should you have to miss any classes as a result of emergencies or illness.

Why Did You Want to Be a Phlebotomy Technician?

When getting ready to interview for a Phlebotomy Technician job, it's helpful to review questions you might be asked. Among the questions that interviewers typically ask Phlebotomy Technician candidates is "What drove you to decide on Phlebotomy as a profession?". What the interviewer is hoping to uncover is not only the private reasons you might have for being Phlebotomy Tech, but also what attributes and talents you have that make you outstanding at your profession. You will likely be asked questions relating specifically to Phlebotomy, in addition to a significant number of routine interview questions, so you need to organize a number of ideas about how you would like to address them. Considering there are so many factors that go into selecting a career, you can answer this fundamental question in a number of ways. When readying an answer, attempt to include the reasons the profession interests you as well as the abilities you have that make you an outstanding Phlebotomy Technician and the ideal candidate for the position. Don't attempt to memorize a response, but write down some concepts and talking points that pertain to your personal experiences and strengths. Reviewing sample answers can assist you to prepare your own concepts, and give you ideas of what to discuss to impress the interviewer.

Choose the Right Phlebotomist Program near Braintree MA

Making sure that you choose the ideal phlebotomy training is an important first step toward your success in this fulfilling health care field. As we have addressed in this article, there are a number of factors that contribute toward the selection of a quality college. Phlebotomist certificate or degree programs can be available in a wide range of educational institutes, such as junior or community colleges, trade schools, and colleges and universities that provide a wide assortment of programs in medical care and health sciences. Program options can differ somewhat across the country as every state has its own mandates when it comes to phlebotomist training, certification and licensing. The most critical point is that you need to diligently research and compare each school before making your final choice. By asking the questions that we have furnished, you will be able to narrow down your options so that you can pick the best program for you. And with the proper education, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a phlebotomist in Braintree MA.

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