Choosing a Phlebotomy School near Palmyra New York

Enrolling in the right phlebotomist training near Palmyra NY is an essential first step toward a fulfilling career as a phlebotomist. It might seem like a difficult task to evaluate and compare each of the school options that are accessible to you. However it’s vital that you complete your due diligence to make sure that you get a quality education. In reality, a large number of students start the process by looking at two of the qualifiers that initially come to mind, which are cost and location. Yet another factor you might look into is whether to attend classes online or commute to a local campus. We’ll discuss a bit 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 cheapest or the closest one. Other variables including reputation and accreditation are also important considerations and need to be part of your decision process too. Toward that end, we will furnish a list of questions that you need to ask each of the phlebotomy schools you are assessing to help you choose the best 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 Work Summary

A phlebotomist, or phlebotomy technician, draws blood from patients. Although that is their principal duty, there is actually so much more to their job description. Prior to collecting a blood sample, a phlebotomist has to check that the instruments being utilized are single use only and sterile. Following the collection, the sample must be accurately labeled with the patient’s data. Next, paperwork has to be accurately filled out in order to track the sample from the time of collection through the laboratory screening procedure. The phlebotomist then transports the blood to either an in-house lab or to an outside lab facility where it may be screened for such things as pregnancy, infectious diseases or blood type. A number of Palmyra NY phlebotomists actually work in laboratories and are responsible for making certain that samples are analyzed correctly utilizing the strictest quality assurance procedures. And if those weren’t sufficient duties, they may be required to instruct other phlebotomists in the collection, transport and follow-up process.

Where do Phlebotomy Techs Work?

The most basic response is wherever they treat patients. Their workplaces are many and diverse, including Palmyra NY medical clinics, hospitals, long-term care facilities, or blood centers. They may be charged to draw blood samples from patients of of every age, from infants or toddlers to senior citizens. Some phlebotomy techs, based on their training and their practice, specialize in collecting samples from a specific kind of patient. For instance, those working in a nursing home or assisted living facility would only be collecting blood from senior patients. If they are practicing in a maternity ward, they would be collecting blood from mothers and newborns solely. In contrast, phlebotomists working in a general hospital setting would be drawing blood from a wide variety of patients and would work with different patients each day.

Phlebotomy Training, Licensing and Certification

There are basically two types of programs that offer phlebotomist training in Palmyra NY, which are certificate and degree programs. The certificate program generally takes under a year to finish and provides a general education as well as the training on how to draw blood. It offers the quickest method to becoming a phlebotomist. An Associate of Science Degree in Clinical Laboratory Science, although not exclusively a phlebotomy degree, will provide training on becoming a phlebotomist. Offered at community and junior colleges, they typically take 2 years to complete. Bachelor’s Degrees are not as available and as a four year program offer a more extensive background in lab sciences. When you have finished your training, you will no doubt want to get certified. While not mandated in most states, many employers require certification prior to hiring technicians. Some of the main 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, such as Nevada and California. California and a handful of additional states even require licensing. So it’s imperative that you pick a phlebotomy training program that not only furnishes a premium education, but also prepares you for any licensing or certification examinations 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 substantial portion of the curriculum will be clinical training and it will be carried out either in an approved Palmyra NY healthcare facility or an on-campus lab|an on-campus lab or an approved healthcare facility}. Numerous courses also require completion of an internship in order to graduate. But since the non-clinical component of the training can be accessed online, it might be a more convenient alternative for many students. As an added benefit, some online classes are less expensive than their traditional competitors. And some costs, including those for commuting or textbooks, may be lessened as well. Just verify that the online phlebotomist program you enroll in is accredited by a national or regional accrediting organization (more on accreditation later). With both the comprehensive clinical and online training, you can obtain a superior education with this method of learning. If you are dedicated enough to learn at home, then obtaining your certificate or degree online may be the best choice for you.

Questions to Ask Phlebotomist Colleges

Now that you have a basic understanding about what it takes to become a phlebotomy tech, it’s time to initiate your due diligence process. You might have already decided on the type of program you want to enroll in, whether it be for a degree or a certificate. As we previously mentioned, the location of the New York college is relevant as well as the tuition expense. Possibly you have decided to enroll in an online phlebotomist college. Each of these decisions are a critical component of the process for selecting a program or school. But they are not the only considerations when arriving at your decision. Below we have provided several questions that you should ask about each of the Palmyra NY colleges you are looking at before making your ultimate decision.

Is the Phlebotomy Program State Specific? As earlier discussed, each state has its own requirements for practicing as a phlebotomist. Several states call for certification, while a few others require licensing. Each has its own prerequisite regarding the minimum hours of practical training completed before working as a phlebotomist. Consequently, you might have to pass a State Board, certification or licensing examination. Therefore it’s very important to select a phlebotomy program that meets the state specific requirements for New York or the state where you will be practicing and readies you for all exams you may have to take.

Is the School Accredited? The phlebotomy program and school you enroll in should be accredited by a respected regional or national accrediting organization, for example the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS). There are several benefits to graduating from an accredited program aside from an assurance of a quality education. First, if your program has not received accreditation, you will not be able to take a certification exam administered by any of the previously listed certifying organizations. Next, accreditation will help in securing financial aid or loans, which are often unavailable for non-accredited schools in Palmyra NY. Finally, graduating from an accredited school can make you more attractive to prospective employers in the job market.

What is the College’s Reputation? In many states there is minimal or no regulation of phlebotomist schools, so there are some that are not of the highest caliber. So along with accreditation, it’s essential to check out the reputations of all colleges you are considering. You can start by requesting references from the schools from employers where they place their students as part of their job assistance program. You can screen online school rating and review services and ask the accrediting agencies for their reviews as well. You can even talk to several Palmyra NY area hospitals or clinics that you may be interested in working for and find out if they can offer any recommendations. As a final thought, you can check with the New York school licensing authority and ask if any complaints have been filed or if the colleges are in full compliance.

Is Sufficient Training Included? To begin with, contact the New York 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. As a minimum, any Palmyra NY phlebotomist program that you are reviewing should provide no less than 40 hours of classroom training (most require 120) and 120 hours of clinical training. Anything less than these minimums might signify that the program is not expansive enough to offer sufficient training.

Are Internships Sponsored? Find out from the New York schools you are considering if they have an internship program in collaboration with area health care facilities. They are the ideal way to obtain hands-on practical training often not available on campus. As an added benefit, internships can assist students establish contacts within the local Palmyra NY health care community. And they look good on resumes also.

Is Job Placement Help Available? Getting your first phlebotomy position will be much easier with the support of a job placement program. Inquire if the colleges you are reviewing 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 college has both an excellent reputation as well as a large network of professional contacts within the Palmyra NY health care community.

Are Classes Conveniently Scheduled? Finally, it’s critical to confirm that the final college you choose offers classes at times that are compatible with your active schedule. This is especially important if you choose to continue working while attending school. If you need to go to classes in the evenings or on weekends near Palmyra NY, make sure they are offered at those times. Also, if you can only attend part-time, confirm it is an option as well. Even if you have decided to attend online, with the practical training requirement, make sure those hours can also be completed within your schedule. And ask what the make-up policy is in case you need to miss any classes because of emergencies or illness.

Why Did You Desire to Become a Phlebotomy Tech?

When getting ready to interview for a Phlebotomist job, it's important to review questions you could be asked. One of the things that hiring managers frequently ask Phlebotomy Technician candidates is "What drove you to pick Phlebotomy as a career?". What the interviewer is hoping to uncover is not merely the personal reasons you may have for being Phlebotomy Tech, but also what attributes and talents you possess that make you good at what you do. You will probably be asked questions pertaining exclusively to Phlebotomy, along with a significant number of typical interview questions, so you should organize a number of approaches about how you want to answer them. Since there are several variables that go into selecting a career, you can respond to this primary question in a multitude of ways. When readying an answer, try to include the reasons the work appeals to you along with the strengths you have that make you an outstanding Phlebotomy Tech and the perfiect candidate for the job. Don't try to memorize an answer, but write down some ideas and topics that relate to your own experiences and strengths. Reading through sample answers can assist you to develop your own thoughts, and give you ideas of what to discuss to enthuse the recruiter.

Choose the Ideal Phlebotomist Course near Palmyra NY

Making certain that you enroll in the ideal phlebotomy training is an essential first step toward your success in this rewarding healthcare career position. As we have discussed in this article, there are multiple factors that contribute toward the selection of a premium college. Phlebotomist certificate or degree programs are found in a number of educational institutes, including junior or community colleges, trade schools, and colleges and universities that provide an extensive array of courses in healthcare and medical sciences. Course options can differ a bit across the country as every state has its own mandates when it concerns phlebotomist training, certification and licensing. The most important point is that you need to diligently research and compare each school prior to making your final decision. By asking the questions that we have presented, you will be able to narrow down your options so that you can select the ideal college for you. And with the appropriate education, you can realize your goal of becoming a phlebotomist in Palmyra NY.

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