Picking a Phlebotomy Technician Course near Hillside New Jersey

Picking the right phlebotomist school near Hillside NJ is an essential initial step toward a fulfilling profession as a phlebotomist. It may seem like a challenging task to analyze and compare each of the school alternatives that are available to you. However it’s important that you complete your due diligence to make sure that you obtain a superior education. In fact, many potential students begin the process by looking at two of the qualifiers that initially come to mind, which are location and cost. Another option you might consider is whether to attend classes online or commute to an area campus. We’ll review more about online schools later in this article. What’s important to remember is that there is a lot more to comparing phlebotomy training programs than finding the closest or the cheapest one. Other variables such as accreditation and reputation are also important considerations and must be part of your decision process also. Toward that end, we will furnish a list of questions that you should ask each of the phlebotomy schools you are evaluating to help you pick the right one for you. But before we do that, let’s address what a phlebotomist is and does, and then resume our conversation about online classes.

Phlebotomist Work Description

A phlebotomist, or phlebotomy technician, draws blood from patients. While that is their main responsibility, there is actually much more to their job description. Before collecting a blood sample, a phlebotomist must verify that the instruments being used are single use only and sterile. Following the collection, the sample must be properly labeled with the patient’s information. Afterward, 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. Many Hillside NJ phlebotomists actually work in labs and are responsible for making certain that samples are analyzed correctly using the highest quality control procedures. And if those weren’t enough duties, they can be asked to train other phlebotomists in the collection, transport and follow-up process.

Where do Phlebotomy Techs Practice?

The quickest response is wherever patients are treated. Their workplaces are many and diverse, including Hillside NJ medical clinics, hospitals, nursing homes, or blood centers. They may be tasked to draw blood samples from patients of of every age, from infants or toddlers to seniors. A number of phlebotomy techs, based on their training and their practice, specialize in drawing blood from a certain type of patient. For example, those practicing in an assisted living facility or nursing home would only be collecting blood from older patients. If they are working in a maternity ward, they would be drawing blood from mothers and newborns exclusively. In contrast, phlebotomy technicians working in a general hospital setting would be drawing samples from a wide range of patients and would work with new patients each day.

Phlebotomy Training, Certification and Licensing

There are basically 2 types of programs that provide phlebotomist training in Hillside NJ, which are certificate and degree programs. The certificate program usually takes less than a year to finish and offers a basic education as well as the training on how to draw blood. It provides the fastest method to becoming a phlebotomy tech. An Associate of Science Degree in Clinical Laboratory Science, although not specifically a phlebotomist degree, will provide training to become a phlebotomist. Offered at community and junior colleges, they usually take two years to complete. Bachelor’s Degrees are not as accessible and as a 4 year program provide a more expansive foundation in lab sciences. When you have finished your training, you will no doubt want to become certified. While not required in most states, a number of employers require certification prior to employing 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 require certification prior to practicing as a phlebotomist, such as California and Nevada. California and a few other states even require licensing. So it’s imperative that you pick a phlebotomy training program that not only provides a quality education, but also preps you for any licensing or certification examinations that you elect or are required to take.

Phlebotomy Online Certificates and Degrees

To start with, let’s dispel one potential mistaken belief. You can’t obtain all of your phlebotomy training online. A significant component of the program of studies will be clinical training and it will be conducted either in an approved Hillside NJ 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. But since the non-clinical portion of the training may be accessed online, it might be a more convenient option for some students. As an additional benefit, many online schools are more affordable than their on-campus counterparts. And some expenses, including those for textbooks or commuting, may be reduced as well. Just make sure that the online phlebotomist program you choose is accredited by a regional or national 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 disciplined enough to learn at home, then attaining your degree or certificate online might be the ideal option for you.

What to Ask Phlebotomy Schools

Now that you have a basic idea about what is involved in becoming a phlebotomy tech, it’s time to start your due diligence process. You might have already decided on 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 New Jersey school is important in addition to the cost of tuition. Maybe you have decided to enroll in an phlebotomy online program. Each of these decisions are a critical part of the process for selecting a school or program. But they are not the sole considerations when making your decision. Below we have provided a few questions that you need to ask about each of the Hillside NJ schools you are looking at before making your ultimate decision.

Is the Phlebotomist Program Specific to Your State? As previously mentioned, each state has its own regulations for practicing as a phlebotomist. Several states call for certification, while a few others mandate licensing. Each has its own prerequisite regarding the minimum amount of practical training performed before working as a phlebotomy tech. As a result, you might need to pass a State Board, licensing or certification exam. Therefore it’s extremely important to choose a phlebotomy program that meets the state specific requirements for New Jersey or the state where you will be practicing and readies you for any exams you may be required to take.

Is the School Accredited? The phlebotomist program and school you select should be accredited by a reputable 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 school aside from a guarantee of a premium education. To begin with, if your program has not received accreditation, you will not qualify to take a certification examination administered by any of the earlier listed certifying organizations. Next, accreditation will help in getting financial aid or loans, which are often unavailable for non-accredited schools in Hillside NJ. Last, earning a certificate or a degree from an accredited college can make you more desirable to future employers in the job market.

What is the College’s Ranking? In numerous states there is minimal or no regulation of phlebotomy colleges, so there are some that are not of the highest quality. So along with accreditation, it’s imperative to investigate the reputations of any colleges you are considering. 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 rating and review services and solicit the accrediting agencies for their reviews as well. You can even talk to some Hillside NJ local clinics or hospitals that you might be interested in working for and see if they can offer any recommendations. As a final thought, you can contact the New Jersey school licensing authority and find out if any grievances have been filed or if the schools are in full compliance.

Is Adequate Training Provided? First, contact the New Jersey 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 Hillside NJ phlebotomy program that you are looking at should provide at least 40 hours of classroom training (most require 120) and 120 hours of clinical training. Anything less than these minimums might indicate that the program is not expansive enough to provide adequate training.

Are Internships Provided? Ask the New Jersey colleges you are looking at if they have an internship program in partnership with local medical facilities. They are the optimal means to receive hands-on practical training frequently not available on campus. As an added benefit, internships can help students develop relationships within the local Hillside NJ medical community. And they look good on resumes also.

Is Job Placement Help Provided? Landing your first phlebotomy job will be a lot easier with the support of a job placement program. Ask if the colleges you are looking at provide assistance and what their job placement percentage is. If a school 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 Hillside NJ health care community.

Are Classes Offered to Fit Your Schedule? Finally, it’s crucial to confirm that the final college you pick provides classes at times that will accommodate your hectic lifestyle. This is especially important if you decide to still work while attending school. If you can only go to classes at night or on weekends near Hillside NJ, make certain they are available at those times. Also, if you can only attend part-time, make sure it is an option as well. And if you have decided to attend online, with the practical training requirement, make certain those hours can also be completed within your schedule. And ask what the make-up protocol is in case you need to miss any classes because of illness or emergencies.

Why Did You Decide to Become a Phlebotomist?

When prepping to interview for a Phlebotomist position, it's important to reflect on questions you might be asked. Among the questions that hiring managers frequently ask Phlebotomy Tech applicants is "What drove you to select Phlebotomy as a career?". What the interviewer is trying to discover is not just the private reasons you may have for being Phlebotomist, but additionally what characteristics and abilities you have that make you exceptional at what you do. You will probably be asked questions pertaining exclusively to Phlebotomy, along with a significant number of standard interview questions, so you need to ready several approaches about how you would like to address them. Because there are numerous factors that go into selecting a career, you can answer this primary question in a multitude of ways. When preparing an answer, attempt to include the reasons the profession appeals to you as well as the abilities you have that make you an exceptional Phlebotomy Tech and the leading choice for the job. Don't try to memorize a response, but jot down several concepts and topics that relate to your personal strengths and experiences. Reading through sample responses can assist you to prepare your own thoughts, and inspire ideas of what to discuss to wow the recruiter.

Find the Best Phlebotomist School near Hillside NJ

Making certain that you choose the ideal phlebotomist training is an important first step toward your success in this rewarding health care career position. As we have covered in this article, there are multiple factors that go into the selection of a superior program. Phlebotomist training programs are available in a number of academic institutions, such as community or junior colleges, vocational schools, and colleges and universities that offer a comprehensive assortment of programs in medical care and health sciences. Training program options may differ a bit across the country as every state has its own criteria when it concerns phlebotomy training, licensing and certification. The most important point is that you need to diligently screen and compare each program before making your final selection. By addressing the questions that we have furnished, you will be able to fine tune your choices so that you can select the right college for you. And with the appropriate education, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a phlebotomy technician in Hillside NJ.

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