Selecting a Phlebotomy Technician Training Program near Confluence Pennsylvania

Choosing the right phlebotomist school near Confluence PA is a critical initial step toward a rewarding profession as a phlebotomist. It might seem like a daunting undertaking to investigate and compare each of the training options that are available to you. However it’s necessary that you do your due diligence to ensure that you get a quality education. In fact, many students begin the process by looking at 2 of the qualifiers that initially come to mind, which are location and cost. Yet another option you might look into is whether to attend online classes or commute to a nearby campus. We’ll review 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 closest or the cheapest one. Other factors such as accreditation and reputation are also significant considerations and need to be part of your decision process as well. Toward that end, we will supply 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 prior to doing that, let’s cover what a phlebotomist is and does, and afterwards continue our discussion about online training.

Phlebotomist Work Summary

A phlebotomist, or phlebotomy technician, draws blood from patients. Although that is their main duty, there is in fact much more to their job description. Prior to drawing a blood sample, a phlebotomist must check that the tools being employed are sterile and single use only. After collection, the sample must be accurately labeled with the patient’s information. Afterward, paperwork needs to be correctly filled out to be able 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. Many Confluence PA phlebotomists actually work in labs and are in charge of making sure that samples are analyzed properly using the strictest quality control procedures. And if those weren’t enough responsibilities, they may be required to instruct other phlebotomists in the drawing, transport and follow-up process.

Where are Phlebotomists Employed?

The quickest answer is wherever patients are treated. Their workplaces are many and diverse, including Confluence PA hospitals, medical clinics, long-term care facilities, or blood centers. They can be tasked to collect blood samples from patients of of every age, from infants or toddlers to senior citizens. Some phlebotomy techs, depending on their training and their practice, specialize in drawing samples from a certain kind of patient. For example, those working in a nursing home or assisted living facility would exclusively be collecting blood from senior patients. If they are practicing in a maternity ward, they would be drawing blood from newborns and mothers exclusively. In contrast, phlebotomists working in a general hospital setting would be drawing samples from a wide variety of patients and would collect samples from new patients each day.

Phlebotomy Training, Licensing and Certification

There are primarily 2 kinds of programs that furnish phlebotomist training in Confluence PA, which are degree and certificate programs. The certificate program generally takes less than a year to finish and offers a general education together with the training on how to draw blood. It provides the quickest method to becoming a phlebotomy tech. An Associate of Science Degree in Clinical Laboratory Science, although not specifically a phlebotomist degree, will include training to become a phlebotomist. Offered at community and junior colleges, they typically take two years to complete. Bachelor’s Degrees are not as available and as a four year program provide a more comprehensive background in lab sciences. When you have completed your training, you will no doubt want to be certified. Although not required in the majority of states, many employers look for 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 some states that do call for certification prior to practicing as a phlebotomy tech, including California and Nevada. California and a few other states even require licensing. So it’s imperative that you select a phlebotomy training program that not only supplies a quality education, but also preps you for any certification or licensing exams that you elect or are required to take.

Phlebotomist Online Schools

To start with, let’s resolve one possible misconception. You can’t get all of your phlebotomist training online. A good part of the course of study will be clinical training and it will be carried out either in an approved Confluence PA 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 may be attended online, it might be a more convenient option for some students. As an added benefit, a number of online classes are more affordable than their traditional competitors. And some expenses, including those for commuting or textbooks, may be minimized also. Just confirm that the online phlebotomy program 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 obtain a quality education with this approach to learning. If you are disciplined enough to study at home, then attaining your degree or certificate online might be the ideal option for you.

Topics to Ask Phlebotomist Colleges

Now that you have a general idea about what it takes to become a phlebotomist, it’s time to start your due diligence process. You may have already picked the kind of program you intend to enroll in, whether it be for a certificate or a degree. As we previously mentioned, the location of the Pennsylvania school is important in addition to the tuition expense. Maybe you have decided to enroll in an phlebotomy online program. All of these decisions are an important part of the process for selecting a school or program. But they are not the sole considerations when arriving at your decision. Following are several questions that you need to ask about each of the Confluence PA schools you are considering prior to making your ultimate decision.

Is the Phlebotomy Program State Specific? As mentioned previously, each state has its own requirements for practicing as a phlebotomist. Several states require certification, while a few others mandate licensing. Every state has its own requirement regarding the minimum hours of practical training completed before practicing as a phlebotomist. As a result, you may need to pass a State Board, licensing or certification examination. Therefore it’s extremely important to choose a phlebotomist program that fulfills the state specific requirements for Pennsylvania or the state where you will be practicing and preps you for any exams you may be required to take.

Is the College Accredited? The phlebotomist program and school you enroll in should be accredited by a recognized national or regional accrediting agency, for example the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS). There are many benefits to graduating from an accredited school in addition to an assurance of a premium education. To begin with, if your program has not received accreditation, you will not qualify to take a certification examination offered by any of the previously listed certifying organizations. Also, accreditation will help in obtaining loans or financial assistance, which are typically unavailable for non-accredited schools in Confluence PA. Last, earning a certificate or a degree from an accredited school can make you more desirable to future employers in the job market.

What is the School’s Ranking? In numerous states there is little or no regulation of phlebotomist schools, so there are some that are not of the highest caliber. So in addition to accreditation, it’s important to investigate the reputations of any colleges 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 research internet school rating and review services and solicit the accrediting organizations for their reviews also. You can also contact some Confluence PA area clinics or hospitals that you might have an interest in working for and find out if they can provide any insights. As a closing thought, you can contact the Pennsylvania school licensing authority and ask if any grievances have been submitted or if the schools are in total compliance.

Is Adequate Training Provided? First, contact the Pennsylvania regulator or the state regulator where you will be practicing to learn if there are any minimum requirements for the amount of training, both clinical and classroom. At a minimum, any Confluence PA phlebotomy program that you are reviewing should provide at least 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 furnish sufficient training.

Are Internship Programs Provided? Find out from the Pennsylvania programs you are looking at if they have an internship program in collaboration with regional health care facilities. They are the optimal way to obtain hands-on practical training typically not available on campus. As an additional benefit, internships can help students establish relationships within the local Confluence PA health care community. And they look good on resumes also.

Is Job Placement Help Provided? Landing your first phlebotomist job will be much easier with the help of a job placement program. Ask if the programs you are reviewing 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 together with a substantial network of professional contacts within the Confluence PA medical community.

Are Classes Available as Needed? Finally, it’s critical to verify that the final college you select offers classes at times that are compatible with your hectic schedule. This is particularly true if you opt to continue working while going to college. If you need to attend classes in the evenings or on weekends near Confluence PA, make sure they are offered at those times. Also, if you can only attend on a part-time basis, make sure it is an option also. Even if you have decided to study online, with the clinical training requirement, make sure those hours can also be fulfilled within your schedule. And ask what the make-up procedure is should you have to miss any classes due to emergencies or illness.

Why Did You Want to Be a Phlebotomy Tech?

When preparing to interview for a Phlebotomy Tech job, it's advantageous to review questions you may be asked. Among the things that hiring managers typically ask Phlebotomy Tech candidates is "What drove you to pick Phlebotomy as a career?". What the interviewer is hoping to uncover is not only the personal reasons you might have for being Phlebotomist, but also what attributes 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 certain number of standard interview questions, so you must ready some strategies about how you want to respond to them. Since there are numerous factors that go into selecting a career, you can respond to this primary question in a variety of ways. When readying an answer, aim to include the reasons the profession appeals to you along with the strengths you possess that make you an excellent Phlebotomist and the ideal candidate for the job. Don't try to memorize an answer, but write down some ideas and talking points that relate to your personal experiences and strengths. Reviewing sample responses can assist you to develop your own thoughts, and inspire ideas of what to discuss to enthuse the interviewer.

Select the Best Phlebotomy Program near Confluence PA

Making sure that you enroll in the most suitable phlebotomist training is an important first step toward your success in this fulfilling healthcare field. As we have addressed in this article, there are a number of factors that go into the selection of a superior program. Phlebotomist certificate or degree programs are available in a wide range of academic institutions, including community or junior colleges, trade schools, and colleges and universities that offer a wide range of courses in medical care and health sciences. Training program offerings can vary a bit across the country as every state has its own requirements when it concerns phlebotomy training, certification and licensing. The most important point is that you need to carefully evaluate and compare each program before making your ultimate decision. By asking the questions that we have furnished, you will be able to narrow down your options so that you can select the ideal program for you. And with the appropriate education, you can achieve your goal of becoming a phlebotomist in Confluence PA.

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