Picking a Phlebotomy Training Program near Penns Park Pennsylvania

Enrolling in the right phlebotomy technician school near Penns Park PA is an essential initial step toward a gratifying profession as a phlebotomist. It may seem like a daunting task to assess and compare each of the school options that are available to you. However it’s important that you do your due diligence to make certain that you obtain a superior education. In reality, many potential students begin the process by considering 2 of the qualifiers that initially come to mind, which are location and cost. An additional option you may look into is whether to attend classes online or commute to a local campus. We’ll talk more about online schools later in this article. What you need to remember is that there is much more to comparing phlebotomy training programs than finding the cheapest or the closest one. Other factors including reputation and accreditation are also important considerations and should be part of your selection process also. Toward that end, 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 best one for you. But prior to doing that, let’s address what a phlebotomist is and does, and then resume our discussion about online classes.

Phlebotomy Technician Career Description

A phlebotomist, or phlebotomy technician, draws blood from patients. Although that is their primary function, there is in fact far more to their job description. Before collecting a blood sample, a phlebotomist must verify that the instruments being utilized are sterile and single use only. Following the collection, the sample needs to be properly labeled with the patient’s data. Next, paperwork has to be properly completed in order to track the sample from the point of collection through the lab testing process. The phlebotomist then transports the blood to either an in-house lab or to an outside lab facility where it may be tested for such things as pregnancy, infectious diseases or blood type. Some Penns Park PA phlebotomists actually work in laboratories and are accountable for ensuring that samples are tested correctly using the highest quality assurance procedures. And if those weren’t enough duties, they can be required to instruct other phlebotomists in the drawing, delivery and follow-up process.

Where do Phlebotomy Techs Work?

The most basic response is wherever they treat patients. Their work environments are many and diverse, such as Penns Park PA hospitals, medical clinics, long-term care facilities, or blood banks. They may be charged to collect blood samples from patients of of every age, from babies or toddlers to senior citizens. A number of phlebotomists, depending on their practice and their training, specialize in collecting samples from a specific type of patient. For instance, those working in an assisted living facility or nursing home would only be drawing blood from older patients. If they are practicing in a maternity ward, they would be collecting blood from newborns and mothers solely. In contrast, phlebotomy technicians practicing in a general hospital environment would be drawing samples from a wide range of patients and would collect samples from different patients every day.

Phlebotomy Technician Training, Certification and Licensing

There are primarily two types of programs that furnish phlebotomist training in Penns Park PA, which are certificate and degree programs. The certificate program normally takes under a year to finish and provides a basic education along with the training on how to draw blood. It provides the quickest means to becoming a phlebotomist. An Associate of Science Degree in Clinical Laboratory Science, even though it’s not specifically a phlebotomist degree, will provide training on becoming a phlebotomy tech. Available at junior and community colleges, they normally take 2 years to finish. Bachelor’s Degrees are not as accessible and as a 4 year program furnish a more expansive background in lab sciences. Once you have finished your training, you will no doubt want to become certified. While not mandated in the majority of states, a number of employers look for certification before employing technicians. Some of the main certifying organizations 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 in order to practice as a phlebotomist, like Nevada and California. California and a handful of additional states even require licensing. So it’s important that you select a phlebotomist training program that not only supplies a premium education, but also prepares you for any certification or licensing examinations that you elect or are required to take.

Online Phlebotomy Colleges

To start with, let’s dispel one possible mistaken belief. You can’t get all of your phlebotomist training online. A significant portion of the course of study will be practical training and it will be conducted either in an approved Penns Park PA healthcare facility or an on-campus lab|an on-campus lab or an approved healthcare facility}. Many courses also require completion of an internship prior to graduation. However since the non-clinical part of the training may be accessed online, it can be a more convenient option for some students. As an additional benefit, a number of online classes are more affordable than their traditional competitors. And some expenses, such as those for textbooks or commuting, may be reduced as well. Just make certain that the online phlebotomist college you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization (more on accreditation later). With both the comprehensive clinical and online training, you can receive a premium education with this means of learning. If you are disciplined enough to study at home, then attaining your degree or certificate online may be the ideal option for you.

Subjects to Ask Phlebotomy Colleges

Since you now have a basic understanding about what it takes to become a phlebotomist, it’s time to initiate your due diligence process. You might have already selected the kind of program you wish to enroll in, whether it be for a certificate or a degree. As we previously mentioned, the location of the Pennsylvania campus is relevant in addition to the cost of tuition. Perhaps you have opted to enroll in an online phlebotomist program. Each of these decisions are a critical component of the procedure for picking a school or program. But they are not the only concerns when arriving at your decision. Following are a few questions that you need to ask about each of the Penns Park PA schools you are considering prior to making your ultimate decision.

Is the Phlebotomy Program State Specific? As previously mentioned, each state has its own requirements for practicing as a phlebotomy technician. Several states call for certification, while some others mandate licensing. Every state has its own requirement regarding the minimum amount of clinical training completed before working as a phlebotomy tech. Consequently, you might have to pass a State Board, certification or licensing examination. Therefore it’s extremely important to enroll in a phlebotomy program that satisfies the state specific requirements for Pennsylvania or the state where you will be working and preps you for any exams you may be required to take.

Is the School Accredited? The phlebotomist school and program you select should be accredited by a respected regional or national accrediting agency, such as the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS). There are a number of benefits to graduating from an accredited school aside from a guarantee of a premium education. First, if your program has not received accreditation, you will not be able to take a certification examination offered by any of the previously listed certifying agencies. Next, accreditation will help in obtaining financial aid or loans, which are often unavailable for non-accredited programs in Penns Park PA. Finally, earning a certificate or a degree from an accredited school can make you more attractive to future employers in the job market.

What is the Program’s Reputation? In a number of states there is minimal 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 schools you are considering. You can begin by requesting references from the schools from employers where they refer their students as part of their job assistance program. You can screen online school rating and review services and solicit the accrediting organizations for their reviews also. You can also contact a few Penns Park PA area clinics or hospitals that you might be interested in working for and find out if they can offer any recommendations. As a closing thought, you can contact the Pennsylvania school licensing authority and find out if any complaints have been filed or if the schools are in full compliance.

Is Ample Training Included? To begin with, 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. As a minimum, any Penns Park PA phlebotomy program that you are looking at should provide no less than 40 hours of classroom training (most require 120) and 120 hours of clinical training. Anything less than these minimums might indicate that the program is not comprehensive enough to offer sufficient training.

Are Internship Programs Included? Find out from the Pennsylvania schools you are looking at if they have an internship program in partnership with local medical facilities. They are the optimal means to obtain hands-on practical training often not provided on campus. As an added benefit, internships can help students develop relationships within the local Penns Park PA healthcare community. And they are a plus on resumes as well.

Is Job Placement Help Offered? Landing your first phlebotomy position will be much easier with the assistance of a job placement program. Find out if the programs you are looking at offer assistance and what their job placement percentage is. If a college has a high rate, meaning they place most of their students in positions, it’s an indication that the school has both an excellent reputation along with a substantial network of professional contacts within the Penns Park PA healthcare community.

Are Class Times Conveniently Scheduled? Finally, it’s critical to verify that the final college you pick offers classes at times that are compatible with your active lifestyle. This is particularly important if you choose to still work while attending college. If you can only attend classes at night or on weekends near Penns Park PA, make certain they are offered at those times. Also, if you can only attend on a part-time basis, verify it is an option also. Even if you have decided to study online, with the practical training requirement, make sure those hours can also be fulfilled within your schedule. And ask what the make-up procedure is in case you have to miss any classes because of emergencies or illness.

Why Did You Choose to Be a Phlebotomy Technician?

When getting ready to interview for a Phlebotomy Technician position, it's a good idea to review questions you may be asked. One of the things that interviewers often ask Phlebotomy Tech candidates is "What drove you to select Phlebotomy as a profession?". What the interviewer is attempting to uncover is not just the personal reasons you may have for becoming Phlebotomy Tech, but also what characteristics and skills you have that make you exceptional at what you do. You will likely be asked questions pertaining primarily to Phlebotomy, in addition to a significant number of standard interview questions, so you must prepare several ideas about how you would like to answer them. Since there are so many variables that go into choosing a career, you can respond to this fundamental question in a multitude of ways. When preparing an answer, attempt to include the reasons the profession appeals to you in addition to the talents you possess that make you an outstanding Phlebotomist and the leading candidate for the position. Don't attempt to memorize an answer, but jot down some ideas and anecdotes that relate to your personal experiences and strengths. Going over sample answers can help you to prepare your own thoughts, and provide ideas of what to include to wow the recruiter.

Find the Right Phlebotomist Program near Penns Park PA

Making sure that you choose the most suitable phlebotomy training is a critical first step toward your success in this fulfilling health care career position. As we have covered in this article, there are several factors that contribute toward the selection of a premium school. Phlebotomist certificate or degree programs can be found in a wide range of educational institutions, such as community or junior colleges, vocational schools, and colleges and universities that provide an extensive range of programs in healthcare and medical sciences. Training program options can differ slightly from state to state as each state has its own requirements when it pertains to phlebotomist training, licensing and certification. The most critical point is that you need to carefully research and compare each program prior to making your ultimate choice. By asking the questions that we have furnished, you will be able to fine tune your choices so that you can pick the ideal school for you. And with the appropriate training, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a phlebotomist in Penns Park PA.

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