Picking a Phlebotomy Technician Course near Elon College North Carolina

Choosing the right phlebotomist training near Elon College NC is a critical initial step toward a gratifying career as a phlebotomist. It might seem like a challenging task to evaluate and compare all of the training alternatives that are available to you. Nevertheless it’s necessary that you do your due diligence to ensure that you get a quality education. In fact, many students begin their search by considering two of the qualifiers that first come to mind, which are cost and location. Yet another factor you might consider is whether to attend online classes or commute to a nearby campus. We’ll review more about online schools later in this article. What’s important to keep in mind is that there is a lot more to checking out phlebotomy training programs than locating the closest or the cheapest one. Other variables including reputation and accreditation are also important considerations and must be part of your decision process as well. 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 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 schools.

Phlebotomist Job Description

A phlebotomist, or phlebotomy tech, draws blood from patients. Although that is their primary responsibility, there is actually far more to their job description. Before drawing a blood sample, a phlebotomist has to confirm that the tools being used are sterile and single use only. Following the collection, the sample must be properly labeled with the patient’s information. Afterward, paperwork has to be correctly 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 Elon College NC phlebotomists in fact work in labs and are accountable for making sure that samples are analyzed correctly using the highest quality control procedures. And if those weren’t enough responsibilities, they might be required to train other phlebotomists in the drawing, delivery and follow-up process.

Where are Phlebotomy Techs Employed?

The quickest response is wherever patients are treated. Their work places are numerous and diverse, including Elon College NC medical clinics, hospitals, long-term care facilities, or blood centers. They can be tasked to collect blood samples from patients of all ages, from infants or young children to seniors. A number of phlebotomy techs, based on their practice and their training, specialize in collecting samples from a certain kind of patient. For example, those working in a nursing home or assisted living facility would only be drawing blood from older patients. If they are practicing in a maternity ward, they would be drawing blood from mothers and newborns solely. In contrast, phlebotomists practicing in a general hospital setting would be drawing samples from a wide variety of patients and would collect samples from new patients every day.

Phlebotomist Education, Licensing and Certification

There are essentially 2 kinds of programs that offer phlebotomy training in Elon College NC, which are certificate and degree programs. The certificate program typically takes under a year to finish and furnishes a general 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 specifically a phlebotomist degree, will incorporate training on becoming a phlebotomist. Available at community and junior colleges, they typically require 2 years to finish. Bachelor’s Degrees are less accessible and as a four year program provide 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, most employers require certification prior to hiring technicians. A few 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 several states that do require certification prior to practicing as a phlebotomist, including California and Nevada. California and a handful of additional states even require licensing. So it’s imperative that you enroll in a phlebotomist training program that not only offers a quality education, but also prepares you for any certification or licensing exams that you elect or are required to take.

Online Phlebotomist Classes

To start with, let’s dispel one possible mistaken belief. You can’t get all of your phlebotomy training online. A good portion of the course of study will be practical training and it will be carried out either in an approved Elon College NC 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 attended online, it may be a more convenient alternative for many students. As an additional benefit, many online programs are more affordable than their on-campus counterparts. And some expenses, such as those for textbooks or commuting, may be minimized also. Just verify that the online phlebotomy college you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization (more on accreditation to follow). With both the comprehensive clinical and online training, you can obtain a superior education with this method of learning. If you are disciplined enough to learn at home, then earning your degree or certificate online may be the right choice for you.

Points to Ask Phlebotomist Schools

Since you now have a basic idea about what it takes to become a phlebotomist, it’s time to start your due diligence process. You might have already chosen the type of program you wish to enroll in, whether it be for a certificate or a degree. As we mentioned earlier, the location of the North Carolina college is relevant in addition to the cost of tuition. Maybe you have decided to enroll in an online phlebotomist college. Each of these decisions are a critical component of the procedure for choosing a school or program. But they are not the sole considerations when arriving at your decision. Following are a few questions that you need to ask about each of the Elon College NC schools you are reviewing prior to making your final selection.

Is the Phlebotomy Program Specific to Your State? As previously mentioned, each state has its own requirements for practicing as a phlebotomist. Several states call for certification, while a few others require licensing. Every state has its own requirement regarding the minimum amount of clinical training completed before working as a phlebotomy tech. Consequently, you might need to pass a State Board, licensing or certification examination. Therefore it’s very important to choose a phlebotomy program that complies with the state specific requirements for North Carolina or the state where you will be working and prepares you for any examinations you may be required to take.

Is the College Accredited? The phlebotomist school and program 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 several benefits to graduating from an accredited school in addition to a guarantee of a premium education. To begin with, if your program is not accredited, you will not qualify to sit for a certification exam offered by any of the earlier listed certifying organizations. Also, accreditation will help in securing financial aid or loans, which are often not available for non-accredited colleges in Elon College NC. Last, graduating from an accredited college can make you more attractive to future employers in the job market.

What is the School’s Reputation? In numerous states there is minimal or no regulation of phlebotomist colleges, so there are some that are not of the highest quality. So in addition to accreditation, it’s important to check out the reputations of any colleges you are looking at. You can begin by asking the schools for references from employers where they place their students as part of their job placement program. You can screen online school rating and review services and solicit the accrediting organizations for their reviews as well. You can even contact a few Elon College NC local hospitals or clinics that you might be interested in working for and see if they can provide any recommendations. As a final thought, you can contact the North Carolina school licensing authority and find out if any complaints have been filed or if the schools are in total compliance.

Is Enough Training Included? To begin with, contact the North Carolina regulator or the state regulator where you will be working to learn if there are any minimum requirements for the amount of training, both clinical and classroom. As a minimum, any Elon College NC phlebotomist program that you are considering should provide at least 40 hours of classroom training (most require 120) and 120 hours of practical training. Anything below these minimums may indicate that the program is not expansive enough to provide adequate training.

Are Internships Provided? Ask the North Carolina programs you are looking at if they have an internship program in collaboration with area healthcare facilities. They are the optimal way to receive hands-on practical training often not provided on campus. As an added benefit, internships can assist students establish contacts within the local Elon College NC healthcare community. And they are a plus on resumes also.

Is Job Placement Assistance Available? Finding your first phlebotomist job will be much easier with the support of a job placement program. Find out if the colleges you are looking at offer assistance and what their job placement percentage is. If a college has a higher rate, meaning they place the majority of their students in positions, it’s an indication that the program has both a good reputation along with a large network of professional contacts within the Elon College NC health care community.

Are Class Times Offered to Fit Your Schedule? And last, it’s important to verify that the final college you pick provides classes at times that are compatible with your active schedule. This is especially true if you opt to still work while going to college. If you can only attend classes at night or on weekends near Elon College NC, check that they are offered at those times. Also, if you can only attend on a part-time basis, confirm it is an option also. And if you have decided to attend online, with the clinical training requirement, make sure those hours can also be fulfilled within your schedule. And find out what the make-up policy is in case you have to miss any classes because of illness or emergencies.

Why Did You Decide to Become a Phlebotomy Technician?

When prepping to interview for a Phlebotomist position, it's advantageous to reflect on questions you might be asked. Among the questions that recruiters frequently ask Phlebotomist prospects is "What compelled you to choose Phlebotomy as a career?". What the interviewer is trying to discover is not merely the private reasons you might have for being Phlebotomy Tech, but also what attributes and talents you have that make you good at your profession. You will likely be asked questions relating specifically to Phlebotomy, along with a significant number of general interview questions, so you need to ready a number of approaches about how you would like to address them. Since there are several variables that go into selecting a career, you can respond to this primary question in a variety of ways. When readying an answer, try to include the reasons the work interests you as well as the strengths you possess that make you an excellent Phlebotomist and the perfiect candidate for the position. Don't try to memorize an answer, but jot down several concepts and topics that relate to your personal strengths and experiences. Going over sample responses can help you to develop your own thoughts, and inspire ideas of what to include to enthuse the recruiter.

Enroll in the Right Phlebotomist Course near Elon College NC

Making certain that you enroll in the right phlebotomy training is a critical first step toward your success in this fulfilling medical care field. As we have addressed in this article, there are several factors that contribute toward the selection of a premium college. Phlebotomy training programs can be found in a wide range of educational institutes, such as community or junior colleges, trade schools, and colleges and universities that provide an extensive array of programs in medical care and health sciences. Program offerings can vary a bit across the country as each state has its own prerequisites when it pertains to phlebotomist training, licensing and certification. The most important point is that you need to thoroughly research and compare each program before making your final selection. By asking the questions that we have furnished, you will be able to fine tune your options so that you can pick the best program for you. And with the appropriate training, you can reach your goal of becoming a phlebotomy technician in Elon College NC.

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