Picking a Phlebotomy School near Palmer Lake Colorado

Picking the ideal phlebotomy school near Palmer Lake CO is a critical first step toward a gratifying career as a phlebotomist. It might seem like a challenging undertaking to evaluate and compare each of the school options that are accessible to you. Nevertheless it’s vital that you do your due diligence to make certain that you receive a quality education. In reality, a large number of prospective students start their search by looking at two of the qualifiers that first come to mind, which are cost and location. Yet another option you may consider is whether to attend classes online or commute to an area campus. We’ll discuss 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 reputation and accreditation are also significant considerations and need to be part of your selection process too. To assist in that effort, we will provide a list of questions that you need to ask each of the phlebotomy schools you are reviewing to help you choose the best one for you. But before we do that, let’s address what a phlebotomist is and does, and then resume our conversation about online training.

Phlebotomy Tech Job Description

A phlebotomist, or phlebotomy technician, draws blood from patients. Although that is their principal duty, there is actually much more to their job description. Prior to collecting a blood sample, a phlebotomist has to confirm that the instruments being utilized are single use only and sterile. After collection, the sample has to be properly labeled with the patient’s information. Afterward, paperwork has to be accurately filled out to be able to track the sample from the time of collection through the lab testing procedure. The phlebotomist then delivers the blood to either an in-house lab or to an outside lab facility where it may be tested for such things as pregnancy, infectious diseases or blood type. Many Palmer Lake CO phlebotomists actually work in labs and are in charge of making certain that samples are tested properly utilizing the strictest quality control procedures. And if those weren’t sufficient duties, they might be called upon to instruct other phlebotomists in the drawing, transport and follow-up process.

Where do Phlebotomy Techs Work?

The most basic answer is wherever they treat patients. Their work environments are many and varied, including Palmer Lake CO medical clinics, hospitals, nursing homes, or blood banks. They may be tasked to collect blood samples from patients of all ages, from babies or young children to seniors. A number of phlebotomists, depending on their training and their practice, specialize in drawing blood from a certain type of patient. For example, those working in an assisted living facility or nursing home would exclusively be collecting blood from senior patients. If they are working in a maternity ward, they would be collecting blood from mothers and newborns exclusively. On the other hand, phlebotomists practicing in a general hospital environment would be collecting samples from a wide variety of patients and would collect samples from new patients on a daily basis.

Phlebotomy Technician Education, Certification and Licensing

There are basically two kinds of programs that offer phlebotomy training in Palmer Lake CO, which are certificate and degree programs. The certificate program typically takes under a year to complete and provides a basic education together with the training on how to draw blood. It offers the fastest means to becoming a phlebotomist. An Associate of Science Degree in Clinical Laboratory Science, although not exclusively a phlebotomist degree, will include training to become a phlebotomist. Offered at junior and community colleges, they usually take two years to finish. Bachelor’s Degrees are not as available and as a four year program offer a more expansive background in lab sciences. Once you have finished your training, you will no doubt want to be certified. Although not required in most states, most employers look for certification before hiring technicians. A few of the key certifying agencies 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 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 enroll in a phlebotomist training program that not only supplies a quality education, but also readies you for any certification or licensing exams that you are required or elect to take.

Phlebotomy Online Colleges

To start with, let’s dispel one possible mistaken belief. You can’t get all of your phlebotomist training online. A significant part of the program of studies will be clinical training and it will be conducted either in an approved Palmer Lake CO healthcare facility or an on-campus lab|an on-campus lab or an approved healthcare facility}. Many courses also require completion of an internship prior to graduation. But since the non-practical component of the training may be attended online, it can be a more convenient alternative for some students. As an additional benefit, some online colleges are more affordable than their on-campus counterparts. And some expenditures, including those for commuting or textbooks, may be reduced as well. Just make sure that the online phlebotomist school you choose is accredited by a national or regional accrediting agency (more on accreditation later). With both the extensive online and clinical training, you can obtain a superior education with this means of learning. If you are disciplined enough to study at home, then obtaining your certificate or degree online might be the ideal choice for you.

What to Ask Phlebotomy Programs

Since you now have a general understanding about what is involved in becoming a phlebotomy tech, it’s time to begin your due diligence process. You might have already chosen the kind of program you want to enroll in, whether it be for a certificate or a degree. As we mentioned earlier, the location of the Colorado school is important as well as the cost of tuition. Possibly you have decided to enroll in an online phlebotomist college. Each of these decisions are an important component of the process for picking a school or program. But they are not the sole concerns when making your decision. Following are a few questions that you need to ask about each of the Palmer Lake CO programs you are looking at before making your final selection.

Is the Phlebotomy Program Specific to Colorado? As previously mentioned, each state has its own requirements for practicing as a phlebotomist. Some states require certification, while a few others mandate licensing. Every state has its own prerequisite regarding the minimum hours of practical training completed before working as a phlebotomy tech. As a result, you may need to pass a State Board, licensing or certification exam. Therefore it’s extremely important to enroll in a phlebotomy program that complies with the state specific requirements for Colorado or the state where you will be working and readies you for any examinations you may have to take.

Is the Program Accredited? The phlebotomist program and school you enroll in should be accredited by a highly regarded regional or national accrediting organization, for example the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS). There are a number of benefits to graduating from an accredited program in addition to an assurance of a premium education. First, if your program is not accredited, you will not be able to take a certification exam administered by any of the previously listed certifying organizations. Next, accreditation will help in getting financial aid or loans, which are frequently not available for non-accredited schools in Palmer Lake CO. Finally, earning a certificate or a degree from an accredited school can make you more attractive to future employers in the job market.

What is the College’s Reputation? In many states there is little or no regulation of phlebotomy colleges, so there are some that are not of the highest quality. So in addition to accreditation, it’s important to investigate the reputations of any colleges you are looking at. You can start by asking the schools for references from employers where they refer their students as part of their job placement program. You can research internet school reviews and rating services and ask the accrediting organizations for their reviews also. You can even contact several Palmer Lake CO local hospitals or clinics that you might have an interest in working for and find out if they can offer any recommendations. As a closing thought, you can contact the Colorado school licensing authority and find out if any grievances have been filed or if the colleges are in total compliance.

Is Adequate Training Included? To begin with, check with the Colorado regulator or the state regulator where you will be working to learn if there are any minimum requirements for the amount of training, both classroom and practical. At a minimum, any Palmer Lake CO phlebotomy program that you are looking at should furnish no less than 40 hours of classroom training (most require 120) and 120 hours of clinical training. Anything less than these minimums may signify that the program is not expansive enough to furnish adequate training.

Are Internships Sponsored? Find out from the Colorado programs you are considering if they have an internship program in partnership with area medical facilities. They are the optimal way to get hands-on clinical training often not obtainable on campus. As an added benefit, internships can assist students establish contacts within the local Palmer Lake CO healthcare community. And they are a plus on resumes also.

Is Job Placement Assistance Offered? Landing your first phlebotomist position will be much easier with the support of a job placement program. Ask if the programs you are reviewing provide assistance and what their job placement percentage is. If a school has a higher rate, signifying they place most of their students in jobs, it’s an indication that the program has both a good reputation along with a large network of professional contacts within the Palmer Lake CO medical community.

Are Class Times Available as Needed? Finally, it’s crucial to verify that the final program you choose provides classes at times that will accommodate your hectic lifestyle. This is particularly important if you decide to continue working while going to school. If you can only attend classes in the evenings or on weekends near Palmer Lake CO, make sure they are offered at those times. Additionally, if you can only attend part-time, verify it is an option also. Even if you have decided to study 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 need to miss any classes because of illness or emergencies.

Why Did You Desire to Be a Phlebotomy Tech?

When prepping to interview for a Phlebotomist position, it's a good idea to consider questions you may be asked. One of the things that interviewers often ask Phlebotomist candidates is "What made you select Phlebotomy as a career?". What the interviewer is trying to discover is not merely the personal reasons you might have for becoming Phlebotomist, but additionally what characteristics and abilities you possess that make you exceptional at your profession. You will probably be asked questions pertaining specifically to Phlebotomy, in addition to a certain number of routine interview questions, so you must ready several strategies about how you want to respond to them. Because there are so many factors that go into selecting a career, you can respond to this fundamental question in a multitude of ways. When readying an answer, attempt to include the reasons the work interests you as well as the abilities you possess that make you an excellent Phlebotomy Tech and the best candidate for the job. Don't make an effort to memorize a response, but write down several ideas and topics that relate to your personal strengths and experiences. Reviewing sample responses can help you to prepare your own thoughts, and inspire ideas of what to include to enthuse the interviewer.

Select the Right Phlebotomist College near Palmer Lake CO

Making certain that you select the most suitable phlebotomy training is an important first step toward your success in this gratifying medical care career position. As we have covered in this article, there are a number of factors that contribute toward the selection of a quality program. Phlebotomist certificate or degree programs can be available in a number of educational institutes, such as community or junior colleges, vocational schools, and colleges and universities that offer a comprehensive assortment of courses in medical care and health sciences. Training program offerings can differ somewhat across the country as each state has its own prerequisites when it concerns phlebotomy training, certification and licensing. The most important point is that you must thoroughly screen and compare each school prior to making your ultimate choice. By addressing the questions that we have presented, you will be able to fine tune your options so that you can pick the ideal college for you. And with the proper training, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a phlebotomist in Palmer Lake CO.

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