Choosing a Phlebotomist Training Program near Tupper Lake New York

Choosing the ideal phlebotomy technician school near Tupper Lake NY is an essential initial step toward a rewarding profession as a phlebotomist. It may seem like a challenging task to analyze and compare all of the school options that are available to you. However it’s necessary that you do your due diligence to ensure that you receive a quality education. In fact, most potential students start the process by considering two of the qualifiers that initially come to mind, which are location and cost. An additional factor you may look into is whether to attend online classes or commute to a nearby campus. We’ll review a bit 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 locating the cheapest or the closest one. Other variables including accreditation and reputation are also important considerations and need to be part of your selection process also. Toward that end, we will furnish a list of questions that you should ask each of the phlebotomy schools you are assessing to help you select the ideal one for you. But prior to doing that, let’s address what a phlebotomist is and does, and afterwards resume our discussion about online schools.

Phlebotomy Tech Career Summary

A phlebotomist, or phlebotomy tech, collects blood samples from patients. Although that is their principal task, there is in fact far more to their job description. Before collecting a blood sample, a phlebotomist has to verify that the instruments being used are sterile and single use only. After collection, the sample must be accurately labeled with the patient’s data. Next, paperwork must be properly completed in order to track the sample from the time of collection through the lab screening procedure. The phlebotomist then delivers the blood to either an an outside lab facility or an in-house lab where it may be tested for such things as pregnancy, infectious diseases or blood type. A number of Tupper Lake NY phlebotomists in fact work in labs and are responsible for ensuring that samples are tested properly using the strictest quality assurance procedures. And if those weren’t sufficient responsibilities, they might be required to instruct other phlebotomists in the collection, transport and follow-up process.

Where do Phlebotomists Practice?

The most basic response is wherever they treat patients. Their work environments are numerous and diverse, such as Tupper Lake NY hospitals, medical clinics, nursing homes, or blood centers. They can be charged to draw blood samples from patients of all ages, from infants or toddlers to senior citizens. A number of phlebotomy techs, depending on their practice and their training, specialize in drawing samples from a particular kind of patient. For example, those working in a nursing home or assisted living facility would solely be drawing blood from elderly patients. If they are working in a maternity ward, they would be collecting blood from mothers and newborns exclusively. On the other hand, phlebotomy technicians working in a general hospital setting would be collecting blood from a wide variety of patients and would work with different patients each day.

Phlebotomy Training, Certification and Licensing

There are essentially two kinds of programs that furnish phlebotomist training in Tupper Lake NY, which are certificate and degree programs. The certificate program usually takes less than a year to complete and furnishes a basic education together with the training on how to draw blood. It provides the fastest route to becoming a phlebotomist. An Associate of Science Degree in Clinical Laboratory Science, although not exclusively a phlebotomist degree, will provide training to become a phlebotomist. Available at community and junior colleges, they typically require 2 years to complete. Bachelor’s Degrees are less available and as a 4 year program furnish a more comprehensive background in lab sciences. Once you have completed your training, you will no doubt want to get certified. While not mandated in the majority of states, many employers look for certification prior to 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 several states that do call for certification prior to practicing as a phlebotomy tech, including Nevada and California. California and a handful of other states even require licensing. So it’s imperative that you enroll in a phlebotomy training program that not only offers a quality education, but also readies you for any certification or licensing examinations that you elect or are required to take.

Online Phlebotomy Certificates and Degrees

To begin with, let’s resolve one possible misconception. You can’t obtain all of your phlebotomy training online. A substantial part of the program of studies will be clinical training and it will be carried out either in an approved Tupper Lake 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 prior to graduation. However since the non-practical portion of the training may be accessed online, it might be a more convenient option for some students. As an added benefit, a number of online schools are less expensive than their on-campus competitors. And some expenses, including those for commuting or textbooks, may be minimized as well. Just confirm that the online phlebotomist college you select is accredited by a national or regional accrediting agency (more on accreditation later). With both the comprehensive clinical and online training, you can receive a quality education with this means of learning. If you are disciplined enough to study at home, then attaining your degree or certificate online might be the right choice for you.

Subjects to Ask Phlebotomy Colleges

Since you now have a general idea about what it takes to become a phlebotomist, it’s time to begin your due diligence process. You may have already selected 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 relevant in addition to the cost of tuition. Maybe you have decided to enroll in an phlebotomist online college. All of these decisions are an important part 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 a few questions that you need to ask about all of the Tupper Lake NY programs you are looking at prior to making your final decision.

Is the Phlebotomy Program State Specific? As earlier discussed, each state has its own regulations for practicing as a phlebotomist. Several states require certification, while a few others require licensing. Each has its own requirement regarding the minimum amount of clinical training completed prior to working as a phlebotomy tech. As a result, you may have to pass a State Board, certification or licensing examination. Therefore it’s very important to choose a phlebotomy program that fulfills 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 School Accredited? The phlebotomist school and program you pick should be accredited by a reputable 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 an assurance of a quality education. To begin with, if your program is not accredited, you will not be able to take a certification examination administered by any of the previously listed certifying agencies. Also, accreditation will help in obtaining financial aid or loans, which are frequently unavailable for non-accredited programs in Tupper Lake NY. Finally, graduating from an accredited school can make you more attractive to future employers in the job market.

What is the Program’s Reputation? In many states there is little or no regulation of phlebotomist colleges, so there are those that are not of the highest caliber. So in addition to accreditation, it’s essential to check the reputations of any schools you are considering. You can begin by asking the schools for references from employers where they refer their students as part of their job placement program. You can screen online school rating and review services and ask the accrediting agencies for their reviews also. You can also talk to a few Tupper Lake NY area clinics or hospitals that you might be interested in working for and find out if they can offer any recommendations. As a final thought, you can contact the New York school licensing authority and ask if any complaints have been submitted or if the schools are in total compliance.

Is Adequate Training Included? First, 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 clinical and classroom. At a minimum, any Tupper Lake NY phlebotomy program that you are reviewing should provide at least 40 hours of classroom training (the majority require 120) and 120 hours of clinical training. Anything less than these minimums may indicate that the program is not expansive enough to furnish adequate training.

Are Internships Included? Ask the New York colleges you are reviewing if they have an internship program in partnership with local healthcare facilities. They are the optimal means to obtain hands-on practical training typically not available on campus. As an added benefit, internships can help students establish contacts within the local Tupper Lake NY medical community. And they look good on resumes also.

Is Job Placement Help Offered? Landing your first phlebotomist job will be much easier with the help of a job placement program. Find out if the schools you are considering offer assistance and what their job placement rate is. If a school has a higher rate, meaning they place the majority of their students in jobs, it’s an indication that the college has both an excellent reputation as well as a large network of professional contacts within the Tupper Lake NY medical community.

Are Classes Available as Needed? And last, it’s crucial to verify that the ultimate college you select provides classes at times that will accommodate your active schedule. This is particularly true if you decide to continue working while attending college. If you can only go to classes in the evenings or on weekends near Tupper Lake NY, make sure they are offered at those times. Additionally, if you can only attend on a part-time basis, confirm it is an option also. Even 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 procedure is should you need to miss any classes due to illness or emergencies.

Why Did You Decide to Become a Phlebotomy Tech?

When preparing to interview for a Phlebotomy Technician position, it's a good idea to reflect on questions you could be asked. One of the things that recruiters often ask Phlebotomy Tech candidates is "What compelled you to decide on Phlebotomy as a career?". What the interviewer is trying to uncover is not merely the personal reasons you may have for becoming Phlebotomist, but additionally what attributes and abilities you possess that make you good at what you do. You will undoubtedly be asked questions pertaining primarily to Phlebotomy, as well as a certain number of standard interview questions, so you need to organize a number of strategies about how you want to answer them. Given that there are numerous factors that go into choosing a career, you can address this primary question in a number of ways. When readying an answer, try to include the reasons the profession interests you as well as the strengths you have that make you an excellent Phlebotomist and the perfiect choice for the job. Don't try to memorize an answer, but jot down a few concepts and talking points that pertain to your own experiences and strengths. Reviewing sample answers can assist you to develop your own thoughts, and give you ideas of what to discuss to impress the interviewer.

Choose the Ideal Phlebotomy College near Tupper Lake NY

Making sure that you choose the right phlebotomy training is an essential first step toward your success in this fulfilling health care field. As we have covered in this article, there are multiple factors that go into the selection of a quality program. Phlebotomist training programs are available in a wide range of academic institutes, such as junior or community colleges, trade schools, and colleges and universities that offer a comprehensive assortment of courses in healthcare and medical sciences. Course options can differ a bit across the country as every state has its own criteria when it comes to phlebotomy training, certification and licensing. The most important point is that you need to carefully screen and compare each college before making your final choice. By asking the questions that we have presented, you will be able to narrow down your options so that you can select the right program for you. And with the appropriate education, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a phlebotomy technician in Tupper Lake NY.

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