Selecting a Phlebotomy School near Portsmouth Rhode Island

Selecting the right phlebotomist training near Portsmouth RI is an important first step toward a gratifying profession as a phlebotomist. It might seem like a daunting task to investigate and compare all of the school alternatives that are available to you. However it’s vital that you do your due diligence to ensure that you obtain a superior education. In reality, a large number of prospective students start their search by considering two of the qualifiers that first come to mind, which are cost and location. Another factor you may consider is whether to attend online classes or commute to a local campus. We’ll review more about online classes later in this article. What’s important to remember is that there is much more to comparing phlebotomy training programs than finding the cheapest or the closest one. Other factors such as accreditation and reputation are also important considerations and should be part of your decision process as well. To assist in that effort, we will furnish a list of questions that you should ask each of the phlebotomy schools you are reviewing to help you select the best one for you. But before we do that, let’s cover what a phlebotomist is and does, and then continue our discussion about online classes.

Phlebotomist Work Summary

A phlebotomist, or phlebotomy tech, collects blood samples from patients. Although that is their main duty, there is in fact so much more to their job description. Prior to drawing a blood sample, a phlebotomist has to confirm that the instruments being utilized are single use only and sterile. After collection, the sample has to be properly labeled with the patient’s information. Next, paperwork must be correctly completed to be able to track the sample from the point of collection through the lab testing procedure. The phlebotomist then transports the blood to either an in-house lab or to an outside lab facility where it may be screened for such things as pregnancy, infectious diseases or blood type. Some Portsmouth RI phlebotomists in fact work in labs and are accountable for making sure that samples are analyzed correctly under the highest quality assurance procedures. And if those weren’t enough duties, they may be called upon to train other phlebotomists in the drawing, transport and follow-up process.

Where do Phlebotomists Practice?

The most basic answer is wherever patients are treated. Their work places are numerous and diverse, such as Portsmouth RI hospitals, medical clinics, long-term care facilities, or blood banks. They can be tasked to collect blood samples from patients of of every age, from babies or young children to seniors. Some phlebotomy techs, depending on their training and their practice, specialize in drawing blood from a specific type of patient. For example, those working in an assisted living facility or nursing home would solely be collecting 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 working in a general hospital environment would be drawing blood from a wide variety of patients and would work with new patients each day.

Phlebotomy Education, Licensing and Certification

There are essentially two kinds of programs that furnish phlebotomist training in Portsmouth RI, which are degree and certificate programs. The certificate program generally takes less than a year to complete and offers a general education together with the training on how to draw blood. It offers the fastest route to becoming a phlebotomy tech. An Associate of Science Degree in Clinical Laboratory Science, although not exclusively a phlebotomy degree, will provide training on becoming a phlebotomy tech. Available at community and junior colleges, they usually require two years to finish. Bachelor’s Degrees are not as available and as a 4 year program provide a more expansive background in lab sciences. After you have finished your training, you will probably want to be certified. Although not mandated 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 several states that do call for certification prior to practicing as a phlebotomy tech, such as California and Nevada. California and a handful of other states even require licensing. So it’s important that you choose a phlebotomist training program that not only supplies a quality education, but also readies you for any certification or licensing exams that you elect or are required to take.

Online Phlebotomy Classes

To start with, let’s resolve one possible misconception. You can’t receive all of your phlebotomist training online. A substantial component of the course of study will be clinical training and it will be performed either in an approved Portsmouth 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 in order to graduate. However since the non-clinical part of the training can be accessed online, it can be a more convenient option for some students. As an added benefit, some online programs are more affordable than their on-campus counterparts. And some expenses, such as those for textbooks or commuting, may be minimized as well. Just verify that the online phlebotomy college you enroll in is accredited by a national or regional accrediting agency (more on accreditation to follow). With both the comprehensive online and clinical training, you can obtain a quality education with this means of learning. If you are dedicated enough to learn at home, then earning your certificate or degree online may be the ideal option for you.

Topics to Ask Phlebotomy Colleges

Now that you have a general idea about what is involved in becoming a phlebotomist, it’s time to initiate your due diligence process. You may have already selected the type of program you wish to enroll in, whether it be for a degree or a certificate. As we previously mentioned, the location of the Rhode Island campus is important as well as the tuition expense. Possibly you have opted to enroll in an phlebotomy online college. Each of these decisions are a critical part of the procedure for selecting a school or program. But they are not the only considerations when arriving at your decision. Following are a few questions that you should ask about each of the Portsmouth RI programs you are considering before making your ultimate selection.

Is the Phlebotomy Program State Specific? As earlier discussed, each state has its own requirements for practicing as a phlebotomist. Some states require certification, while a few others mandate licensing. Each has its own prerequisite regarding the minimum amount of clinical training performed before working as a phlebotomy tech. As a result, you might have to pass a State Board, licensing or certification exam. Therefore it’s extremely important to enroll in a phlebotomist program that complies with the state specific requirements for Rhode Island or the state where you will be practicing and prepares you for all exams you may have to take.

Is the College Accredited? The phlebotomist program and school you enroll in should be accredited by a highly regarded national or regional accrediting organization, for example the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS). There are many advantages to graduating from an accredited program aside from an assurance of a superior education. First, if your program is not accredited, you will not qualify to take a certification examination offered by any of the previously listed certifying organizations. Next, accreditation will help in securing financial aid or loans, which are frequently not available for non-accredited colleges in Portsmouth RI. Finally, earning a certificate or a degree from an accredited college can make you more attractive to prospective employers in the job market.

What is the Program’s Ranking? In numerous states there is little or no regulation of phlebotomy colleges, so there are some that are not of the highest quality. So along with accreditation, it’s important to check the reputations of all schools you are reviewing. You can start by requesting references from the schools from employers where they refer their graduates as part of their job placement program. You can screen internet school reviews and rating services and solicit the accrediting agencies for their reviews also. You can also contact a few Portsmouth RI area hospitals or clinics that you might be interested in working for and ask if they can offer any insights. As a final thought, you can contact the Rhode Island school licensing authority and ask if any grievances have been filed or if the schools are in full compliance.

Is Plenty of Training Provided? 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 amount of training, both classroom and practical. As a minimum, any Portsmouth RI phlebotomist program that you are looking at should provide at least 40 hours of classroom training (most require 120) and 120 hours of clinical training. Anything below these minimums may indicate that the program is not comprehensive enough to provide adequate training.

Are Internship Programs Sponsored? Ask the Rhode Island schools you are reviewing if they have an internship program in collaboration with area health care facilities. They are the optimal way to receive hands-on practical training frequently not obtainable on campus. As an added benefit, internships can assist students establish relationships within the local Portsmouth RI health care community. And they are a plus on resumes also.

Is Job Placement Support Provided? Finding your first phlebotomist job will be much easier with the support of a job placement program. Ask if the schools you are looking at offer 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 college has both an excellent reputation together with a large network of professional contacts within the Portsmouth RI healthcare community.

Are Class Times Compatible With Your Schedule? Finally, it’s important to make sure that the final college you select offers classes at times that are compatible with your active schedule. This is particularly true if you opt to continue working while going to school. If you need to go to classes at night or on weekends near Portsmouth RI, make certain they are available at those times. Additionally, if you can only attend on a part-time basis, make sure it is an option also. Even if you have decided to attend online, with the clinical training requirement, make sure those hours can also be completed within your schedule. And ask what the make-up protocol is should you need to miss any classes because of emergencies or illness.

Why Did You Want to Become a Phlebotomist?

When prepping to interview for a Phlebotomy Tech position, it's advantageous to reflect on questions you may be asked. One of the things that recruiters often ask Phlebotomy Tech candidates is "What drove you to choose Phlebotomy as a career?". What the interviewer is trying to learn is not just the private reasons you might have for being Phlebotomy Tech, but additionally what attributes and abilities you possess that make you outstanding at what you do. You will probably be asked questions pertaining exclusively to Phlebotomy, as well as a certain number of standard interview questions, so you must prepare some approaches about how you would like to answer them. Because there are numerous factors that go into choosing a career, you can respond to this fundamental question in a multitude of ways. When preparing an answer, aim to include the reasons the profession appeals to you as well as the talents you have that make you an excellent Phlebotomist and the ideal choice for the position. Don't make an effort to memorize a response, but write down some concepts and talking points that relate to your personal strengths and experiences. Reading through sample responses can assist you to develop your own thoughts, and inspire ideas of what to include to enthuse the recruiter.

Find the Ideal Phlebotomist College near Portsmouth RI

Making certain that you select the most suitable phlebotomy training is an important first step toward your success in this rewarding health care field. As we have addressed in this article, there are several factors that go into the selection of a premium program. Phlebotomy training programs can be offered in a wide range 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. Course options may vary a bit from state to state as each state has its own mandates when it comes to phlebotomist training, certification and licensing. The most important point is that you need to thoroughly evaluate and compare each school prior to making your ultimate selection. By addressing the questions that we have presented, you will be able to fine tune your options so that you can select the best program for you. And with the proper education, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a phlebotomist in Portsmouth RI.

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