Selecting a Phlebotomy Technician Course near Winston Salem North Carolina

Choosing the right phlebotomy training near Winston Salem NC is an important first step toward a rewarding profession as a phlebotomist. It may seem like a daunting task to assess and compare all of the school options that are available to you. Nevertheless it’s vital that you complete your due diligence to ensure that you obtain a quality education. In reality, most potential students begin their search by looking at two of the qualifiers that initially come to mind, which are location and cost. An additional option you may look into is whether to attend online classes or commute to a local campus. We’ll review more about online classes later in this article. What you need to remember is that there is far more to checking out phlebotomy training programs than locating the closest or the cheapest one. Other factors such as reputation and accreditation are also important considerations and should be part of your decision process as well. To assist in that effort, we will supply 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 then resume our conversation about online schools.

Phlebotomy Tech Work Summary

A phlebotomist, or phlebotomy tech, draws blood from patients. While that is their primary responsibility, there is actually far more to their job description. Before collecting a blood sample, a phlebotomist must confirm that the instruments being employed are sterile and single use only. Following the collection, the sample must be correctly labeled with the patient’s data. Afterward, paperwork must be correctly filled out in order to track the sample from the point of collection through the lab 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 infectious diseases, pregnancy or blood type. Many Winston Salem NC phlebotomists in fact work in labs and are in charge of making certain that samples are analyzed properly utilizing the strictest quality control procedures. And if those weren’t sufficient responsibilities, they might be asked to train other phlebotomists in the drawing, delivery and follow-up process.

Where do Phlebotomy Techs Work?

The quickest response is wherever there are patients. Their workplaces are many and varied, including Winston Salem NC medical clinics, hospitals, long-term care facilities, or blood banks. They can be assigned to draw blood samples from patients of of every age, from babies or young children to senior citizens. A number of phlebotomy techs, based on their training and their practice, specialize in drawing blood from a certain type of patient. For instance, those practicing in an assisted living facility or nursing home would only be collecting blood from elderly patients. If they are practicing in a maternity ward, they would be collecting blood from newborns and mothers solely. On the other hand, phlebotomists practicing in a general hospital setting would be collecting samples from a wide range of patients and would collect samples from different patients every day.

Phlebotomist Training, Licensing and Certification

There are primarily 2 kinds of programs that provide phlebotomy training in Winston Salem NC, which are certificate and degree programs. The certificate program normally takes under a year to complete and provides 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 exclusively a phlebotomy degree, will provide training to become a phlebotomist. Available at community and junior colleges, they typically take two years to complete. Bachelor’s Degrees are not as available and as a 4 year program offer a more extensive background in lab sciences. When you have finished your training, you will probably want to get certified. While not required in the majority of states, many employers look for 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 a few states that do call for certification prior to practicing as a phlebotomist, including California and Nevada. California and a few other states even require licensing. So it’s essential that you choose a phlebotomist training program that not only supplies a superior education, but also preps you for any certification or licensing exams that you are required or elect to take.

Online Phlebotomy Certificates and Degrees

To begin with, let’s resolve one possible mistaken belief. You can’t get all of your phlebotomy training online. A substantial part of the curriculum will be practical training and it will be performed either in an approved Winston Salem NC healthcare facility or an on-campus lab|an on-campus lab or an approved healthcare facility}. A large number of courses also require completing an internship in order to graduate. But since the non-clinical part of the training can be attended online, it might be a more practical option for many students. As an added benefit, many online colleges are less expensive than their traditional counterparts. And some expenses, including those for textbooks or commuting, may be lowered also. Just make certain that the online phlebotomy college you enroll in is accredited by a national or regional accrediting organization (more on accreditation later). With both the extensive online and clinical training, you can receive a superior education with this approach to learning. If you are disciplined enough to learn at home, then attaining your degree or certificate online may be the best choice for you.

What to Ask Phlebotomist Programs

Since you now have a general understanding about what it takes to become a phlebotomy tech, it’s time to begin your due diligence process. You may have already chosen the type of program you wish to enroll in, whether it be for a degree or a certificate. As we mentioned earlier, the location of the North Carolina college is significant as well as the tuition expense. Perhaps you have opted to enroll in an online phlebotomy school. Each of these decisions are an important part of the procedure for selecting a school or program. But they are not the only concerns when making your decision. Below we have provided some questions that you should ask about each of the Winston Salem NC programs you are looking at prior to making your ultimate selection.

Is the Phlebotomist Program Specific to North Carolina? As mentioned previously, each state has its own laws for practicing as a phlebotomy technician. Several states require certification, while some others mandate licensing. Each has its own prerequisite regarding the minimum hours of practical training performed prior to working as a phlebotomist. Consequently, you might need to pass a State Board, licensing or certification examination. Therefore it’s very important to select a phlebotomist program that satisfies the state specific requirements for North Carolina or the state where you will be practicing and preps you for any exams you may be required to take.

Is the School Accredited? The phlebotomy program and school you pick 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 program in addition to a guarantee of a superior education. First, if your program has not received accreditation, you will not qualify to take a certification examination offered by any of the previously listed certifying agencies. Next, accreditation will help in securing financial aid or loans, which are typically unavailable for non-accredited colleges in Winston Salem NC. Last, earning a certificate or a degree from an accredited college can make you more attractive to potential employers in the job market.

What is the School’s Ranking? In many states there is little or no regulation of phlebotomy schools, so there are those that are not of the highest quality. So along with accreditation, it’s essential to check out the reputations of any colleges you are looking at. You can start by asking the schools for references from employers where they refer their students as part of their job assistance program. You can research online school rating and review services and solicit the accrediting agencies for their reviews as well. You can also check with some Winston Salem NC area hospitals or clinics that you may have an interest in working for and see if they can offer any insights. As a final thought, you can check with the North Carolina school licensing authority and find out if any complaints have been submitted or if the schools are in full compliance.

Is Ample Training Included? To begin with, contact the North Carolina regulator or the state regulator where you will be working to find out if there are any minimum requirements for the amount of training, both clinical and classroom. As a minimum, any Winston Salem NC phlebotomist program that you are looking at should provide at least 40 hours of classroom training (the majority require 120) and 120 hours of clinical training. Anything below these minimums may indicate that the program is not expansive enough to provide sufficient training.

Are Internship Programs Provided? Find out from the North Carolina programs you are reviewing if they have an internship program in partnership with local healthcare facilities. They are the ideal way to obtain hands-on practical training often not provided on campus. As an additional benefit, internships can help students develop relationships within the local Winston Salem NC medical community. And they look good on resumes as well.

Is Job Placement Assistance Available? Getting your first phlebotomy position will be much easier with the support of a job placement program. Inquire if the schools you are considering provide 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 program has both a good reputation as well as an extensive network of professional contacts within the Winston Salem NC medical community.

Are Class Times Conveniently Scheduled? And last, it’s critical to make sure that the final program you pick provides classes at times that will accommodate your busy lifestyle. This is especially important if you decide to continue working while attending school. If you need to attend classes at night or on weekends near Winston Salem NC, make certain they are available at those times. Also, if you can only attend on a part-time basis, verify 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 find out what the make-up protocol is in case you have to miss any classes as a result of illness or emergencies.

Why Did You Want to Be a Phlebotomist?

When prepping to interview for a Phlebotomy Technician job, it's advantageous to reflect on questions you might be asked. One of the questions that recruiters frequently ask Phlebotomy Tech applicants is "What drove you to choose Phlebotomy as a profession?". What the interviewer is hoping to uncover is not just the private reasons you may have for becoming Phlebotomy Tech, but additionally what qualities and abilities you possess that make you good at what you do. You will probably be asked questions pertaining primarily to Phlebotomy, as well as a certain number of general interview questions, so you should ready several strategies about how you want to respond to them. Because there are numerous variables that go into selecting a career, you can address this fundamental question in a variety of ways. When preparing an answer, try to include the reasons the work interests you as well as the talents you possess that make you an excellent Phlebotomy Technician and the leading choice for the job. Don't attempt to memorize an answer, but take down some ideas and talking points that pertain to your personal strengths and experiences. Reviewing sample answers can assist you to formulate your own thoughts, and provide ideas of what to include to enthuse the recruiter.

Enroll in the Ideal Phlebotomy College near Winston Salem NC

Making certain that you pick the ideal phlebotomist training is an essential first step toward your success in this gratifying healthcare career position. As we have covered in this article, there are multiple factors that go into the selection of a quality school. Phlebotomy certificate or degree programs are found in a number of educational institutes, such as community or junior colleges, vocational schools, and colleges and universities that provide a comprehensive array of courses in medical care and health sciences. Training program offerings can vary somewhat across the country as every state has its own criteria when it pertains to phlebotomist training, certification and licensing. The most critical point is that you must diligently research and compare each school prior to making your final selection. By addressing the questions that we have provided, you will be able to fine tune your options so that you can pick the ideal program for you. And with the appropriate training, you can realize your goal of becoming a phlebotomist in Winston Salem NC.

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