Selecting a Phlebotomy Technician School near North Providence Rhode Island

Choosing the ideal phlebotomy school near North Providence RI is an important first step toward a rewarding career as a phlebotomist. It may seem like a challenging task to assess and compare each of the school options that are accessible to you. Nevertheless it’s necessary that you perform your due diligence to make certain that you receive a quality education. In reality, many students start their search by looking at two of the qualifiers that initially come to mind, which are cost and location. Another option you may consider is whether to attend online classes or commute to a nearby campus. We’ll review a bit 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 variables including reputation and accreditation are also important considerations and must be part of your selection process too. Toward that end, we will provide 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 cover what a phlebotomist is and does, and afterwards resume our discussion about online training.

Phlebotomy Technician Career Summary

A phlebotomist, or phlebotomy tech, draws blood from patients. Although that is their main duty, there is in fact so much more to their job description. Before collecting a blood sample, a phlebotomist has to check that the tools being employed are sterile and single use only. After collection, the sample needs to be properly labeled with the patient’s data. Afterward, paperwork must be correctly completed in order to track the sample from the point of collection through the lab testing procedure. The phlebotomist then delivers 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 North Providence RI phlebotomists in fact work in labs and are responsible for ensuring that samples are tested properly under the highest quality control procedures. And if those weren’t enough responsibilities, they might be called upon to instruct other phlebotomists in the drawing, delivery and follow-up process.

Where do Phlebotomy Techs Practice?

The simplest response is wherever patients are treated. Their work places are many and varied, such as North Providence RI hospitals, medical clinics, long-term care facilities, or blood centers. They may be tasked to draw blood samples from patients of all ages, from infants or toddlers to senior citizens. Some phlebotomists, depending on their training and their practice, specialize in collecting samples from a particular type of patient. For example, those working in a nursing home or assisted living facility would exclusively be collecting blood from older patients. If they are working in a maternity ward, they would be drawing blood from mothers and newborns exclusively. In contrast, phlebotomy technicians working in a general hospital setting would be drawing samples from a wide range of patients and would work with new patients each day.

Phlebotomy Training, Licensing and Certification

There are basically two types of programs that furnish phlebotomy training in North Providence RI, which are certificate and degree programs. The certificate program usually takes less than a year to complete and provides a basic education together with the training on how to draw blood. It offers the quickest route to becoming a phlebotomist. An Associate of Science Degree in Clinical Laboratory Science, although not specifically a phlebotomy degree, will incorporate training to become a phlebotomy tech. Available at community and junior colleges, they usually take two years to finish. Bachelor’s Degrees are not as accessible and as a four year program offer a more comprehensive background in lab sciences. When you have completed your training, you will probably want to be certified. Although not mandated in the majority of states, a number of employers look for certification prior to hiring technicians. A few of the primary 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 phlebotomy tech, like Nevada and California. California and a few additional states even require licensing. So it’s imperative that you pick a phlebotomist training program that not only offers a quality education, but also prepares you for any certification or licensing exams that you are required or elect to take.

Phlebotomy Online Schools

To start with, let’s resolve one potential misconception. You can’t get all of your phlebotomist training online. A significant portion of the program of studies will be clinical training and it will be conducted either in an approved North Providence RI 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 prior to graduation. However since the non-clinical component of the training can be attended online, it might be a more practical alternative for many students. As an added benefit, some online programs are more affordable than their on-campus competitors. And some costs, including those for commuting or textbooks, may be lessened also. Just make certain that the online phlebotomy college you select is accredited by a national or regional accrediting agency (more on accreditation to follow). 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 study at home, then earning your degree or certificate online might be the ideal choice for you.

Questions to Ask Phlebotomist Schools

Since you now have a basic idea about what it takes to become a phlebotomy tech, it’s time to start your due diligence process. You might have already picked the kind of program you intend to enroll in, whether it be for a degree or a certificate. As we previously mentioned, the location of the Rhode Island college is relevant as well as the cost of tuition. Possibly you have decided to enroll in an phlebotomy online school. All of these decisions are an important component of the procedure for selecting a program or school. But they are not the only concerns when arriving at your decision. Below we have provided some questions that you need to ask about all of the North Providence RI schools you are reviewing prior to making your final decision.

Is the Phlebotomy Program Specific to Your State? As mentioned previously, each state has its own laws for practicing as a phlebotomy technician. Some states call for certification, while a few others require licensing. Each has its own requirement regarding the minimum amount of practical training performed prior to practicing as a phlebotomist. As a result, you might have to pass a State Board, certification or licensing examination. Therefore it’s very important to choose a phlebotomist program that satisfies the state specific requirements for Rhode Island or the state where you will be practicing and readies you for all exams you may have to take.

Is the Program Accredited? The phlebotomy program and school you enroll in should be accredited by a highly regarded regional or national accrediting agency, such as the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS). There are many advantages to graduating from an accredited program in addition to a guarantee of a premium 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 organizations. Also, accreditation will help in obtaining loans or financial assistance, which are frequently unavailable for non-accredited programs in North Providence RI. Last, earning a certificate or a degree from an accredited school can make you more attractive to potential employers in the job market.

What is the Program’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 essential to check the reputations of all schools 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 assistance program. You can screen internet school rating and review services and ask the accrediting organizations for their reviews as well. You can also talk to a few North Providence RI local hospitals or clinics that you might be interested in working for and find out if they can offer any insights. As a closing thought, you can contact the Rhode Island school licensing authority and find out if any grievances have been submitted or if the colleges are in total compliance.

Is Enough Training Included? To begin with, contact the Rhode Island regulator or the state regulator where you will be working to find out if there are any minimum requirements for the length of training, both classroom and practical. At a minimum, any North Providence RI phlebotomy program that you are looking at should provide no less than 40 hours of classroom training (most require 120) and 120 hours of practical training. Anything lower than these minimums might indicate that the program is not comprehensive enough to offer adequate training.

Are Internships Included? Find out from the Rhode Island programs you are reviewing if they have an internship program in partnership with local health care facilities. They are the optimal way to obtain hands-on clinical training typically not provided on campus. As an added benefit, internships can help students establish relationships within the local North Providence RI 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 assistance of a job placement program. Find out if the schools you are considering offer assistance and what their job placement rate is. If a college has a high rate, meaning they place the majority of their students in jobs, it’s an indication that the program has both a good reputation along with a large network of professional contacts within the North Providence RI healthcare community.

Are Classes Available as Needed? And last, it’s critical to make sure that the ultimate college you pick offers classes at times that will accommodate your busy lifestyle. This is particularly important if you opt to continue working while attending college. If you can only go to classes at night or on weekends near North Providence RI, check that they are offered at those times. Also, if you can only attend part-time, verify it is an option as well. 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 procedure is in case you need to miss any classes because of emergencies or illness.

Why Did You Decide to Be a Phlebotomy Tech?

When preparing to interview for a Phlebotomy Tech position, it's helpful to reflect on questions you might be asked. One of the things that interviewers often ask Phlebotomist prospects is "What drove you to choose Phlebotomy as a career?". What the interviewer is trying to uncover is not just the private reasons you might have for being Phlebotomist, but also what characteristics and abilities you have that make you exceptional at your profession. You will probably be asked questions pertaining specifically to Phlebotomy, as well as a certain number of routine interview questions, so you need to prepare a number of approaches about how you want to address them. Considering there are numerous factors that go into selecting a career, you can address this primary question in a multitude of ways. When formulating an answer, aim to include the reasons the work interests you as well as the talents you have that make you an outstanding Phlebotomist and the leading candidate for the position. Don't make an effort to memorize a response, but take down a few ideas and anecdotes that pertain to your own experiences and strengths. Going over sample responses can assist you to develop your own concepts, and give you ideas of what to include to wow the recruiter.

Choose the Right Phlebotomy School near North Providence RI

Making certain that you pick the ideal phlebotomy training is a critical first step toward your success in this rewarding health care career position. As we have covered in this article, there are multiple factors that contribute toward the selection of a premium program. Phlebotomy certificate or degree programs can be offered in a variety of educational institutes, such as junior or community colleges, vocational schools, and colleges and universities that provide an extensive assortment of courses in healthcare and medical sciences. Training program offerings may vary a bit from state to state as every state has its own criteria when it pertains to phlebotomy training, licensing and certification. The most important point is that you must thoroughly screen and compare each college prior to making your ultimate selection. By addressing the questions that we have furnished, you will be able to narrow down your choices so that you can select the best college for you. And with the appropriate training, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a phlebotomy technician in North Providence RI.

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