Picking a Phlebotomy Training Program near Westmoreland New York

Picking the ideal phlebotomy training near Westmoreland NY is an essential first step toward a gratifying career as a phlebotomist. It may seem like a difficult undertaking to investigate and compare each of the school options that are available to you. However it’s necessary that you complete your due diligence to make sure that you obtain a quality education. In fact, most students begin the process 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 classes online or commute to a local campus. We’ll talk more about online schools later in this article. What you need to keep in mind is that there is much more to checking out phlebotomy training programs than locating the cheapest or the closest one. Other factors such as reputation and accreditation are also significant considerations and need to 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 evaluating to help you pick the best one for you. But before we do that, let’s address what a phlebotomist is and does, and then continue our discussion about online schools.

Phlebotomy Technician Career Description

A phlebotomist, or phlebotomy technician, collects blood samples from patients. While that is their primary function, there is in fact much more to their job description. Prior to drawing a blood sample, a phlebotomist must check that the instruments being employed are sterile and single use only. After collection, the sample must be accurately labeled with the patient’s information. Afterward, paperwork must be properly filled out to be able to track the sample from the point of collection through the laboratory screening 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 infectious diseases, pregnancy or blood type. A number of Westmoreland NY phlebotomists actually work in laboratories and are responsible for ensuring that samples are analyzed properly under the strictest quality control procedures. And if those weren’t sufficient duties, they might be asked to train other phlebotomists in the collection, transport and follow-up process.

Where are Phlebotomy Techs Employed?

The most basic answer is wherever they treat patients. Their work environments are many and varied, including Westmoreland NY medical clinics, hospitals, long-term care facilities, or blood centers. They can be charged to collect blood samples from patients of all ages, from infants or toddlers to seniors. Some phlebotomy techs, depending on their training and their practice, specialize in collecting samples from a certain kind of patient. For example, those practicing in an assisted living facility or nursing home would exclusively be collecting blood from older patients. If they are working in a maternity ward, they would be drawing blood from newborns and mothers exclusively. On the other hand, phlebotomists working in a general hospital setting would be collecting blood from a wide variety of patients and would collect samples from new patients on a daily basis.

Phlebotomy Technician Education, Licensing and Certification

There are essentially 2 types of programs that provide phlebotomy training in Westmoreland NY, which are degree and certificate programs. The certificate program generally takes under a year to finish and offers a basic education along with the training on how to draw blood. It provides the fastest means to becoming a phlebotomy tech. An Associate of Science Degree in Clinical Laboratory Science, even though it’s not specifically a phlebotomist degree, will provide training to become a phlebotomy tech. Available at junior and community colleges, they typically require two years to finish. Bachelor’s Degrees are less accessible and as a 4 year program offer a more expansive background in lab sciences. Once you have completed your training, you will probably want to get certified. While not required in the majority of states, most employers require certification prior to hiring technicians. A few of the primary 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 phlebotomy tech, including Nevada and California. California and a handful of other states even require licensing. So it’s essential that you choose a phlebotomy training program that not only supplies a superior education, but also prepares you for any certification or licensing examinations that you elect or are required to take.

Phlebotomy Online Training

To start with, let’s dispel one likely mistaken belief. You can’t receive all of your phlebotomist training online. A good part of the course of study will be clinical training and it will be performed either in an approved Westmoreland NY 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 prior to graduation. However since the non-practical part of the training can be attended online, it could be a more convenient alternative for some students. As an added benefit, some online programs are more affordable than their traditional competitors. And some expenditures, including those for commuting or textbooks, may be minimized as well. Just make sure that the online phlebotomist school you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization (more on accreditation later). With both the comprehensive online and clinical training, you can obtain a quality education with this means of learning. If you are dedicated enough to learn at home, then earning your certificate or degree online may be the ideal option for you.

Topics to Ask Phlebotomist Schools

Now that you have a general understanding about what it takes to become a phlebotomist, it’s time to start your due diligence process. You might 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 New York campus is relevant in addition to the tuition expense. Maybe you have decided to enroll in an online phlebotomist school. Each of these decisions are a critical part of the process for picking a school or program. But they are not the only considerations when arriving at your decision. Below we have provided several questions that you should ask about all of the Westmoreland NY colleges you are considering prior to making your ultimate selection.

Is the Phlebotomy Program State Specific? As mentioned previously, each state has its own requirements for practicing as a phlebotomist. Several states require certification, while a few others require licensing. Each has its own prerequisite regarding the minimum hours of practical training performed before practicing as a phlebotomy tech. Consequently, you might have to pass a State Board, certification or licensing exam. Therefore it’s very important to enroll in a phlebotomist program that fulfills the state specific requirements for New York or the state where you will be working and readies you for any exams you may have to take.

Is the College Accredited? The phlebotomist program and school you pick should be accredited by a highly regarded national or regional accrediting organization, such as the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS). There are several benefits to graduating from an accredited school aside from an assurance of a superior education. To begin with, if your program is not accredited, you will not be able to take a certification examination administered by any of the previously listed certifying agencies. Also, accreditation will help in getting financial aid or loans, which are often unavailable for non-accredited colleges in Westmoreland NY. Last, graduating from an accredited college can make you more attractive to prospective employers in the job market.

What is the Program’s Reputation? In numerous states there is minimal or no regulation of phlebotomy colleges, so there are those that are not of the highest caliber. So in addition to accreditation, it’s essential to check out the reputations of all schools you are considering. You can start by requesting references from the schools from employers where they place their students as part of their job placement program. You can research online school reviews and rating services and ask the accrediting agencies for their reviews as well. You can also check with a few Westmoreland NY area hospitals or clinics that you may have an interest in working for and ask if they can offer any insights. As a closing thought, you can check with the New York school licensing authority and ask if any grievances have been submitted or if the colleges are in total compliance.

Is Enough Training Provided? First, contact the New York regulator or the state regulator where you will be working to learn if there are any minimum requirements for the length of training, both clinical and classroom. As a minimum, any Westmoreland NY phlebotomy program that you are reviewing should provide no less than 40 hours of classroom training (the majority require 120) and 120 hours of practical training. Anything below these minimums may indicate that the program is not expansive enough to offer adequate training.

Are Internship Programs Sponsored? Ask the New York colleges you are looking at if they have an internship program in collaboration with local medical facilities. They are the ideal way to get hands-on clinical training typically not provided on campus. As an additional benefit, internships can assist students develop relationships within the local Westmoreland NY healthcare community. And they are a plus on resumes also.

Is Job Placement Help Provided? Getting your first phlebotomy position will be much easier with the help of a job placement program. Find out if the colleges you are reviewing offer 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 large network of professional contacts within the Westmoreland NY healthcare community.

Are Class Times Offered to Fit Your Schedule? Finally, it’s important to confirm that the ultimate program you select provides classes at times that will accommodate your active schedule. This is particularly true if you decide to still work while attending college. If you can only go to classes in the evenings or on weekends near Westmoreland NY, check that they are offered at those times. Also, 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 clinical training requirement, make sure those hours can also be fulfilled within your schedule. And find out what the make-up policy is should you need to miss any classes as a result of illness or emergencies.

Why Did You Desire to Be a Phlebotomist?

When getting ready to interview for a Phlebotomy Tech job, it's advantageous to consider questions you could be asked. Among the questions that hiring managers frequently ask Phlebotomy Technician candidates is "What compelled you to pick Phlebotomy as a career?". What the interviewer is trying to discover is not only the personal reasons you might have for becoming Phlebotomy Tech, but also what attributes and skills you possess that make you good at what you do. You will likely be asked questions relating primarily to Phlebotomy, along with a certain number of routine interview questions, so you should prepare several approaches about how you would like to answer them. Because there are numerous variables that go into choosing a career, you can address this fundamental question in a multitude of ways. When readying an answer, try to include the reasons the work interests you along with the abilities you possess that make you an excellent Phlebotomy Tech and the leading choice for the job. Don't try to memorize a response, but take down several concepts and anecdotes that pertain to your personal strengths and experiences. Reading through sample answers can assist you to prepare your own thoughts, and inspire ideas of what to include to wow the interviewer.

Select the Ideal Phlebotomist College near Westmoreland NY

Making sure that you pick the most suitable phlebotomy training is a critical first step toward your success in this fulfilling healthcare career position. As we have discussed in this article, there are multiple factors that go into the selection of a quality program. Phlebotomist certificate or degree programs are available in a variety of educational institutes, including community or junior colleges, trade schools, and colleges and universities that provide a wide array of programs in medical care and health sciences. Course options may vary slightly across the country as each state has its own criteria when it comes to phlebotomist training, certification and licensing. The most critical point is that you must diligently evaluate and compare each college prior to making your ultimate decision. By asking the questions that we have provided, you will be able to narrow down your options so that you can select the ideal program for you. And with the proper training, you can reach your goal of becoming a phlebotomy technician in Westmoreland NY.

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