Picking a Phlebotomy School near Harrison New Jersey

Picking the right phlebotomy school near Harrison NJ is a critical initial step toward a fulfilling profession as a phlebotomist. It might seem like a daunting undertaking to evaluate and compare each of the school options that are available to you. However it’s important that you do your due diligence to ensure that you receive a superior education. In fact, a large number of prospective students start the process by considering 2 of the qualifiers that initially come to mind, which are cost and location. Yet another factor you may look into is whether to attend classes online or commute to an area campus. We’ll discuss more about online schools later in this article. What’s important to keep in mind is that there is much more to comparing phlebotomy training programs than locating the closest or the cheapest one. Other variables including 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 should ask each of the phlebotomy schools you are reviewing to help you select the ideal one for you. But before we do that, let’s cover what a phlebotomist is and does, and then resume our discussion about online training.

Phlebotomy Technician Job Summary

A phlebotomist, or phlebotomy tech, draws blood from patients. Although that is their principal responsibility, there is in fact far more to their job description. Prior to drawing a blood sample, a phlebotomist has to confirm that the instruments being used are sterile and single use only. After collection, the sample needs to be correctly labeled with the patient’s data. Next, paperwork must be correctly completed in order to track the sample from the point of collection through the lab screening process. The phlebotomist then delivers the blood to either an in-house lab or to an outside lab facility where it can be screened for such things as pregnancy, infectious diseases or blood type. Some Harrison NJ phlebotomists in fact work in labs and are in charge of making certain that samples are analyzed properly using the strictest quality control procedures. And if those weren’t enough responsibilities, they might be asked to instruct other phlebotomists in the drawing, transport and follow-up process.

Where are Phlebotomy Techs Employed?

The quickest answer is wherever patients are treated. Their workplaces are numerous and diverse, such as Harrison NJ medical clinics, hospitals, nursing homes, or blood banks. They can be charged to draw blood samples from patients of of every age, from babies or toddlers to seniors. A number of phlebotomists, based on their training and their practice, specialize in collecting blood from a particular kind of patient. For example, those working in a nursing home or assisted living facility would solely be collecting blood from senior patients. If they are practicing in a maternity ward, they would be drawing blood from mothers and newborns exclusively. On the other hand, phlebotomy technicians practicing in a general hospital environment would be drawing samples from a wide variety of patients and would work with new patients on a daily basis.

Phlebotomist Education, Certification and Licensing

There are essentially 2 types of programs that offer phlebotomist training in Harrison NJ, which are degree and certificate programs. The certificate program typically takes less than a year to complete and provides a general education together with the training on how to draw blood. It offers the quickest route to becoming a phlebotomist. An Associate of Science Degree in Clinical Laboratory Science, although not specifically a phlebotomy degree, will include training on becoming a phlebotomist. Offered at community and junior colleges, they normally require two years to complete. Bachelor’s Degrees are not as accessible and as a 4 year program provide a more extensive foundation in lab sciences. Once you have finished your training, you will probably want to become certified. While not required in the majority of states, a number of 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 several states that do call for certification in order to practice as a phlebotomy tech, including Nevada and California. California and a handful of additional states even require licensing. So it’s important that you choose a phlebotomist training program that not only offers a superior education, but also prepares you for any licensing or certification exams that you elect or are required to take.

Online Phlebotomist Colleges

First, let’s resolve one possible misconception. You can’t get all of your phlebotomy training online. A significant portion of the program of studies will be clinical training and it will be performed either in an approved Harrison NJ healthcare facility or an on-campus lab|an on-campus lab or an approved healthcare facility}. Numerous courses also require completing an internship in order to graduate. But since the non-clinical component of the training may be accessed online, it can be a more practical option for some students. As an additional benefit, many online schools are less expensive than their on-campus competitors. And some costs, such as those for commuting or textbooks, may be minimized also. Just verify that the online phlebotomist program you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization (more on accreditation later). With both the extensive online and clinical training, you can obtain a quality education with this method of learning. If you are dedicated enough to learn at home, then earning your certificate or degree online may be the right option for you.

Points to Ask Phlebotomy Schools

Since you now have a general idea about what is involved in becoming a phlebotomist, it’s time to start your due diligence process. You may have already picked the type of program you want to enroll in, whether it be for a certificate or a degree. As we mentioned earlier, the location of the New Jersey school is relevant in addition to the cost of tuition. Possibly you have opted to enroll in an online phlebotomy college. All of these decisions are an important component of the procedure for choosing a program or school. But they are not the only concerns when making your decision. Following are a few questions that you need to ask about all of the Harrison NJ programs you are reviewing prior to making your ultimate selection.

Is the Phlebotomy Program State Specific? As earlier discussed, each state has its own requirements for practicing as a phlebotomy technician. Several states require certification, while some others mandate licensing. Every state has its own prerequisite regarding the minimum amount of clinical training performed before working as a phlebotomist. As a result, you might need to pass a State Board, licensing or certification examination. Therefore it’s very important to choose a phlebotomist program that fulfills the state specific requirements for New Jersey or the state where you will be practicing and preps you for any exams you may have to take.

Is the School Accredited? The phlebotomy school and program you enroll in should be accredited by a highly regarded regional or national accrediting agency, for example 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 has not received accreditation, you will not be able to take a certification examination administered by any of the earlier listed certifying agencies. Next, accreditation will help in securing financial aid or loans, which are often unavailable for non-accredited programs in Harrison NJ. Last, graduating from an accredited school can make you more desirable to future employers in the job market.

What is the Program’s Reputation? In many states there is minimal or no regulation of phlebotomy colleges, 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 looking at. You can begin by requesting references from the schools from employers where they refer their students as part of their job assistance program. You can screen online school reviews and rating services and ask the accrediting organizations for their reviews also. You can also talk to a few Harrison NJ local hospitals or clinics that you might be interested in working for and see if they can provide any insights. As a final thought, you can contact the New Jersey school licensing authority and ask if any complaints have been submitted or if the schools are in total compliance.

Is Adequate Training Provided? To begin with, contact the New Jersey regulator or the state regulator where you will be working to learn if there are any minimum requirements for the length of training, both classroom and practical. As a minimum, any Harrison NJ phlebotomist program that you are looking at should furnish at least 40 hours of classroom training (most require 120) and 120 hours of clinical training. Anything lower than these minimums may indicate that the program is not expansive enough to provide sufficient training.

Are Internship Programs Sponsored? Ask the New Jersey colleges you are looking at if they have an internship program in partnership with regional health care facilities. They are the ideal way to receive hands-on clinical training often not available on campus. As an additional benefit, internships can help students develop relationships within the local Harrison NJ healthcare community. And they look good on resumes as well.

Is Job Placement Support Available? Landing your first phlebotomy position will be a lot easier with the support of a job placement program. Inquire if the programs you are considering offer assistance and what their job placement rate is. If a college has a high rate, signifying they place most of their students in jobs, it’s an indication that the college has both an excellent reputation as well as an extensive network of professional contacts within the Harrison NJ health care community.

Are Classes Available as Needed? Finally, it’s important to make sure that the ultimate program you select provides classes at times that are compatible with your active lifestyle. This is especially important if you choose to still work while attending school. If you need to attend classes in the evenings or on weekends near Harrison NJ, check that they are offered at those times. Additionally, if you can only attend on a part-time basis, verify it is an option also. And if you have decided to attend online, with the practical training requirement, make certain those hours can also be fulfilled within your schedule. And find out what the make-up protocol is should you need to miss any classes due to illness or emergencies.

Why Did You Want to Be a Phlebotomist?

When getting ready to interview for a Phlebotomist position, it's important to consider questions you may be asked. One of the questions that recruiters frequently ask Phlebotomy Technician prospects is "What drove you to choose Phlebotomy as a career?". What the interviewer is attempting to uncover is not merely the personal reasons you might have for becoming Phlebotomist, but also what characteristics and skills you possess that make you good at your profession. You will likely be asked questions pertaining exclusively to Phlebotomy, in addition to a significant number of standard interview questions, so you should ready a number of approaches about how you would like to answer them. Since there are so many variables that go into choosing a career, you can answer this primary question in a number of ways. When readying an answer, try to include the reasons the work appeals to you along with the talents you possess that make you an exceptional Phlebotomy Tech and the leading candidate for the job. Don't try to memorize an answer, but take down several ideas and topics that relate to your personal experiences and strengths. Going over sample answers can help you to formulate your own concepts, and provide ideas of what to include to impress the interviewer.

Find the Best Phlebotomy School near Harrison NJ

Making sure that you select the most suitable phlebotomy training is an important first step toward your success in this rewarding health care career position. As we have addressed in this article, there are multiple factors that go into the selection of a premium school. Phlebotomy certificate or degree programs can be offered in a number of educational institutes, including community or junior colleges, vocational schools, and colleges and universities that provide a wide array of programs in healthcare and medical sciences. Program offerings can vary somewhat from state to state as every state has its own criteria when it comes to phlebotomist training, certification and licensing. The most important point is that you must carefully evaluate and compare each college before making your ultimate choice. By asking the questions that we have furnished, you will be able to fine tune your choices so that you can select the best school for you. And with the proper education, you can achieve your goal of becoming a phlebotomy technician in Harrison NJ.

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