Choosing a Phlebotomy Course near Decatur Michigan

Selecting the right phlebotomist school near Decatur MI is an essential first step toward a fulfilling profession as a phlebotomist. It may seem like a challenging task to evaluate and compare each of the school alternatives that are accessible to you. Nevertheless it’s important that you perform your due diligence to ensure that you get a quality education. In reality, many prospective students begin their search by looking at 2 of the qualifiers that initially come to mind, which are location and cost. Yet another option you might look into is whether to attend online classes or commute to a local campus. We’ll discuss more about online classes later in this article. What’s important to remember is that there is much more to comparing phlebotomy training programs than finding the closest or the cheapest one. Other variables including reputation and accreditation are also significant considerations and must be part of your decision process as well. Toward that end, we will supply a list of questions that you should ask each of the phlebotomy schools you are reviewing 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 resume our conversation about online training.

Phlebotomy Technician Job Description

A phlebotomist, or phlebotomy tech, draws blood from patients. While that is their principal responsibility, there is actually so much more to their job description. Before drawing a blood sample, a phlebotomist must verify that the tools being utilized are sterile and single use only. After collection, the sample has to be properly labeled with the patient’s data. Afterward, paperwork must be properly filled out 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 screened for such things as pregnancy, infectious diseases or blood type. Many Decatur MI phlebotomists in fact work in laboratories and are accountable for making certain that samples are tested correctly under the highest quality assurance procedures. And if those weren’t enough responsibilities, they might be called upon to train 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 many and diverse, including Decatur MI hospitals, medical clinics, long-term care facilities, or blood centers. They can be charged to collect blood samples from patients of of every age, from babies or young children to seniors. Some phlebotomy techs, depending on their training and their practice, specialize in collecting samples from a particular kind of patient. For example, those practicing in a nursing home or assisted living facility would only be drawing blood from older patients. If they are practicing in a maternity ward, they would be drawing blood from newborns and mothers 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 every day.

Phlebotomy Training, Licensing and Certification

There are basically 2 types of programs that furnish phlebotomy training in Decatur MI, which are degree and certificate programs. The certificate program normally takes less than a year to complete and offers a basic education along with 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, even though it’s not exclusively a phlebotomy degree, will include training to become a phlebotomy tech. Available at community and junior colleges, they normally require two years to complete. Bachelor’s Degrees are less accessible and as a four year program furnish a more expansive foundation in lab sciences. When you have completed your training, you will no doubt want to be certified. While not mandated in most states, a number of employers look for certification prior to employing technicians. Some 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 some states that do call for certification prior to practicing as a phlebotomist, such as Nevada and California. California and a handful of additional states even require licensing. So it’s essential that you choose a phlebotomist training program that not only offers a premium education, but also prepares you for any certification or licensing exams that you are required or elect to take.

Online Phlebotomist Schools

First, let’s resolve one likely misconception. You can’t obtain all of your phlebotomy training online. A significant portion of the course of study will be practical training and it will be carried out either in an approved Decatur MI healthcare facility or an on-campus lab|an on-campus lab or an approved healthcare facility}. A large number of courses also require completing an internship prior to graduation. However since the non-clinical part of the training may be attended online, it could be a more convenient alternative for some students. As an added benefit, some online colleges are more affordable than their traditional competitors. And some expenditures, including those for commuting or textbooks, may be lowered also. Just verify that the online phlebotomy school you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization (more on accreditation to follow). With both the extensive clinical and online training, you can obtain a superior education with this method of learning. If you are disciplined enough to learn at home, then attaining your degree or certificate online may be the ideal option for you.

What to Ask Phlebotomy Schools

Since you now have a basic idea about what is involved in becoming a phlebotomist, it’s time to start your due diligence process. You may have already chosen 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 Michigan college is important in addition to the tuition expense. Maybe you have opted to enroll in an phlebotomy online college. All of these decisions are a critical component of the process for picking a program or school. But they are not the sole considerations when making your decision. Below we have provided some questions that you need to ask about all of the Decatur MI schools you are considering prior to making your ultimate decision.

Is the Phlebotomist Program State Specific? As mentioned previously, each state has its own laws for practicing as a phlebotomy technician. Several states call for certification, while a few others require licensing. Every state has its own requirement regarding the minimum amount of clinical training completed prior to working as a phlebotomist. As a result, you may have to pass a State Board, certification or licensing examination. Therefore it’s very important to select a phlebotomist program that complies with the state specific requirements for Michigan or the state where you will be practicing and preps you for all examinations you may have to take.

Is the School Accredited? The phlebotomy school and program you select should be accredited by a reputable national or regional accrediting agency, such as the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS). There are a number of benefits to graduating from an accredited school aside from an assurance of a quality education. To begin with, if your program has not received accreditation, you will not be able to take a certification exam administered by any of the earlier listed certifying agencies. Next, accreditation will help in securing loans or financial assistance, which are often not available for non-accredited colleges in Decatur MI. Finally, graduating from an accredited college can make you more desirable to prospective employers in the job market.

What is the School’s Reputation? In many states there is minimal or no regulation of phlebotomy schools, so there are some that are not of the highest caliber. So in addition to accreditation, it’s imperative to investigate the reputations of all schools you are looking at. You can start by requesting references from the schools from employers where they place their graduates as part of their job placement program. You can research online school rating and review services and solicit the accrediting organizations for their reviews also. You can also talk to several Decatur MI area hospitals or clinics that you may be interested in working for and see if they can offer any insights. As a closing thought, you can check with the Michigan school licensing authority and ask if any complaints have been filed or if the colleges are in total compliance.

Is Ample Training Included? First, check with the Michigan 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. As a minimum, any Decatur MI phlebotomist program that you are looking at should furnish 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 comprehensive enough to offer adequate training.

Are Internship Programs Sponsored? Ask the Michigan programs you are looking at if they have an internship program in partnership with local healthcare facilities. They are the optimal means to obtain hands-on clinical training typically not available on campus. As an added benefit, internships can help students develop contacts within the local Decatur MI health care community. And they look good on resumes also.

Is Job Placement Help Provided? Landing your first phlebotomy position will be a lot easier with the assistance of a job placement program. Find out if the schools you are reviewing provide assistance and what their job placement percentage is. If a school has a high rate, meaning they place the majority of their students in positions, it’s an indication that the program has both a good reputation together with a substantial network of professional contacts within the Decatur MI health care community.

Are Class Times Offered to Fit Your Schedule? Finally, it’s crucial to confirm that the final program you choose provides classes at times that are compatible with your active lifestyle. This is particularly true if you choose to continue working while attending school. If you can only attend classes in the evenings or on weekends near Decatur MI, make certain they are available at those times. Additionally, if you can only attend part-time, make sure it is an option also. And 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 procedure is should you have to miss any classes because of emergencies or illness.

Why Did You Decide to Be a Phlebotomist?

When getting ready to interview for a Phlebotomy Tech position, it's a good idea to review questions you could be asked. Among the questions that hiring managers typically ask Phlebotomist candidates is "What compelled you to decide on Phlebotomy as a career?". What the interviewer is trying to discover is not only the private reasons you might have for being Phlebotomist, but also what attributes and skills you have that make you outstanding at what you do. You will likely be asked questions relating exclusively to Phlebotomy, in addition to a certain number of general interview questions, so you need to ready a number of ideas about how you would like to address them. Considering there are so many variables that go into selecting a career, you can answer this fundamental question in a number of ways. When preparing an answer, try to include the reasons the profession interests you as well as the abilities you have that make you an excellent Phlebotomist and the best choice for the position. Don't try to memorize a response, but take down some concepts and topics that relate to your personal strengths and experiences. Going over sample answers can help you to prepare your own concepts, and inspire ideas of what to include to enthuse the recruiter.

Choose the Right Phlebotomist Program near Decatur MI

Making certain that you select the ideal phlebotomy training is an essential first step toward your success in this gratifying healthcare career position. As we have discussed in this article, there are several factors that go into the selection of a premium program. Phlebotomy certificate or degree programs are available in a variety of educational institutes, such as community or junior colleges, trade schools, and colleges and universities that provide a wide range of programs in healthcare and medical sciences. Program options may vary a bit from state to state as each state has its own requirements when it pertains to phlebotomy training, licensing and certification. The most critical point is that you need to carefully evaluate and compare each college before making your final choice. By addressing the questions that we have provided, you will be able to fine tune your choices so that you can pick the best program for you. And with the appropriate training, you can realize your goal of becoming a phlebotomy technician in Decatur MI.

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