Selecting a Phlebotomy Technician Training Program near Shoreham New York

Selecting the ideal phlebotomy technician training near Shoreham NY is a critical first step toward a fulfilling profession as a phlebotomist. It may seem like a challenging undertaking to investigate and compare all of the training options that are available to you. However it’s important that you do your due diligence to ensure that you obtain a quality education. In fact, a large number of prospective students start the process by looking at 2 of the qualifiers that initially come to mind, which are location and cost. An additional option you might look into is whether to attend online classes or commute to a local campus. We’ll discuss a bit more about online classes 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 cheapest or the closest one. Other factors including reputation and accreditation are also important considerations and should be part of your decision process too. To assist in that effort, we will furnish a list of questions that you need to ask each of the phlebotomy schools you are reviewing to help you select the right one for you. But before we do that, let’s address what a phlebotomist is and does, and afterwards resume our discussion about online training.

Phlebotomy Technician Career Summary

A phlebotomist, or phlebotomy tech, draws blood from patients. While that is their main task, there is actually so much more to their job description. Prior to drawing a blood sample, a phlebotomist must check that the tools being employed are single use only and sterile. After collection, the sample has to be correctly labeled with the patient’s data. Next, paperwork has to be correctly filled out in order to track the sample from the point of collection through the laboratory testing procedure. The phlebotomist then transports the blood to either an an outside lab facility or an in-house lab where it may be screened for such things as pregnancy, infectious diseases or blood type. Some Shoreham NY phlebotomists actually work in laboratories and are in charge of ensuring that samples are analyzed correctly using the strictest quality assurance procedures. And if those weren’t sufficient responsibilities, they may be asked to instruct other phlebotomists in the collection, transport and follow-up process.

Where are Phlebotomy Techs Employed?

The easiest response is wherever there are patients. Their work places are many and varied, such as Shoreham NY medical clinics, hospitals, long-term care facilities, or blood banks. They may be tasked to collect blood samples from patients of all ages, from babies or toddlers to seniors. Some phlebotomy techs, depending on their training and their practice, specialize in drawing samples from a specific type of patient. For example, those practicing in a nursing home or assisted living facility would solely be collecting blood from elderly patients. If they are practicing in a maternity ward, they would be collecting blood from mothers and newborns exclusively. In contrast, phlebotomy technicians practicing in a general hospital environment would be drawing blood from a wide variety of patients and would collect samples from new patients on a daily basis.

Phlebotomist Education, Licensing and Certification

There are basically two types of programs that provide phlebotomy training in Shoreham NY, which are certificate and degree programs. The certificate program generally takes less than a year to complete and offers a general education along with the training on how to draw blood. It provides the quickest route to becoming a phlebotomy tech. An Associate of Science Degree in Clinical Laboratory Science, although not exclusively a phlebotomy degree, will provide training on becoming a phlebotomy tech. Offered at community and junior colleges, they typically take two years to finish. Bachelor’s Degrees are less accessible and as a four year program offer a more expansive background in lab sciences. When you have finished your training, you will no doubt want to be certified. Although not mandated in the majority of states, many employers require certification before 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 call for certification in order to practice as a phlebotomist, including California and Nevada. California and a few other states even require licensing. So it’s imperative that you choose a phlebotomist training program that not only offers a superior education, but also preps you for any certification or licensing exams that you are required or elect to take.

Phlebotomy Online Classes

First, let’s dispel one likely mistaken belief. You can’t obtain all of your phlebotomy training online. A substantial part of the course of study will be practical training and it will be conducted either in an approved Shoreham 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 in order to graduate. But since the non-clinical part of the training may be attended online, it can be a more convenient alternative for some students. As an added benefit, a number of online programs are less expensive than their on-campus competitors. And some expenses, for instance those for textbooks or commuting, may be lessened also. Just verify that the online phlebotomy college you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization (more on accreditation to follow). With both the extensive online and clinical training, you can obtain a quality education with this method of learning. If you are disciplined enough to study at home, then obtaining your certificate or degree online may be the best choice for you.

Points to Ask Phlebotomist Programs

Now that you have a general understanding about what is involved in becoming a phlebotomist, it’s time to begin your due diligence process. You might have already picked the kind of program you wish to enroll in, whether it be for a degree or a certificate. As we mentioned earlier, the location of the New York campus is significant in addition to the tuition expense. Perhaps you have decided to enroll in an online phlebotomist college. All of these decisions are an important part of the process for selecting a program or school. But they are not the sole considerations when making your decision. Following are a few questions that you should ask about each of the Shoreham NY programs you are looking at prior to making your ultimate selection.

Is the Phlebotomist Program State Specific? As mentioned previously, each state has its own regulations for practicing as a phlebotomy technician. Several states require certification, while a few others mandate licensing. Each has its own prerequisite regarding the minimum amount of clinical training completed prior to working as a phlebotomy tech. As a result, you might have to pass a State Board, licensing or certification 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 working and prepares you for any examinations you may have to take.

Is the Program Accredited? The phlebotomist program and school you pick should be accredited by a respected national or regional accrediting agency, such as the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS). There are many benefits to graduating from an accredited school in addition to a guarantee of a premium education. First, if your program has not received accreditation, you will not qualify to sit for a certification examination administered by any of the earlier listed certifying agencies. Also, accreditation will help in securing financial aid or loans, which are typically unavailable for non-accredited colleges in Shoreham NY. Last, graduating from an accredited college can make you more desirable to future employers in the job market.

What is the College’s Reputation? In numerous states there is little or no regulation of phlebotomist schools, so there are those that are not of the highest quality. So in addition to accreditation, it’s important to investigate the reputations of any schools you are looking at. You can begin by requesting references from the schools from employers where they place their students as part of their job placement program. You can screen online school reviews and rating services and solicit the accrediting organizations for their reviews as well. You can also talk to several Shoreham NY area clinics or hospitals that you might have an interest in working for and ask if they can offer any recommendations. As a final thought, you can contact the New York school licensing authority and find out if any grievances have been submitted or if the colleges are in full compliance.

Is Adequate Training Included? To begin with, check with the New York regulator or the state regulator where you will be practicing to find out if there are any minimum requirements for the amount of training, both classroom and practical. At a minimum, any Shoreham NY phlebotomist program that you are reviewing should provide at least 40 hours of classroom training (most require 120) and 120 hours of clinical training. Anything lower than these minimums might indicate that the program is not expansive enough to provide sufficient training.

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

Is Job Placement Support Offered? Getting your first phlebotomy position 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 rate is. If a college has a high rate, meaning they place the majority of their students in positions, it’s an indication that the school has both a good reputation together with an extensive network of professional contacts within the Shoreham NY healthcare community.

Are Classes Compatible With Your Schedule? Finally, it’s important to make sure that the ultimate program you select offers classes at times that are compatible with your hectic schedule. This is particularly true if you opt to continue working while attending school. If you can only go to classes in the evenings or on weekends near Shoreham NY, check that they are offered at those times. Additionally, if you can only attend part-time, confirm it is an option as well. And if you have decided to study online, with the practical 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 due to illness or emergencies.

Why Did You Choose to Become a Phlebotomist?

When prepping to interview for a Phlebotomy Tech job, it's advantageous to reflect on questions you may be asked. Among the questions that hiring managers frequently ask Phlebotomy Tech applicants is "What compelled you to decide on Phlebotomy as a profession?". What the interviewer is hoping to discover is not merely the private reasons you may have for becoming Phlebotomy Tech, but additionally what characteristics and abilities you possess that make you good at what you do. You will probably be asked questions pertaining specifically to Phlebotomy, as well as a significant number of routine interview questions, so you need to ready a number of approaches about how you would like to answer them. Given that there are so many variables that go into selecting a career, you can answer this primary question in a multitude of ways. When readying an answer, try to include the reasons the work appeals to you as well as the strengths you have that make you an exceptional Phlebotomy Technician and the leading choice for the job. Don't make an effort to memorize an answer, but write down a few concepts and talking points that relate to your own experiences and strengths. Reading through sample responses can help you to prepare your own thoughts, and give you ideas of what to include to enthuse the recruiter.

Select the Best Phlebotomy School near Shoreham NY

Making sure that you enroll in the most suitable phlebotomy training is an important first step toward your success in this gratifying medical care field. As we have covered in this article, there are a number of factors that go into the selection of a superior college. Phlebotomist certificate or degree programs are offered in a wide range of academic institutions, such as junior or community colleges, vocational schools, and colleges and universities that provide a wide array of programs in healthcare and medical sciences. Course offerings can differ a bit across the country as every state has its own mandates when it pertains to phlebotomy training, certification and licensing. The most critical point is that you need to diligently evaluate and compare each school prior to making your ultimate choice. By asking the questions that we have presented, you will be able to narrow down your choices so that you can select the ideal program for you. And with the proper education, you can reach your goal of becoming a phlebotomist in Shoreham NY.

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