Choosing a Phlebotomy Technician Course near West Cornwall Connecticut

Choosing the right phlebotomist school near West Cornwall CT is an essential initial step toward a fulfilling career as a phlebotomist. It might seem like a challenging undertaking to assess and compare all of the school alternatives that are available to you. However it’s vital that you complete your due diligence to make sure that you receive a quality education. In reality, most potential students start the process by considering 2 of the qualifiers that first come to mind, which are location and cost. Yet another option you may consider is whether to attend online classes or commute to a nearby campus. We’ll review more about online schools later in this article. What’s important to keep in mind is that there is much more to checking out phlebotomy training programs than locating the cheapest or the closest one. Other factors including reputation and accreditation are also important considerations and should be part of your decision process also. Toward that end, we will provide a list of questions that you should ask each of the phlebotomy schools you are reviewing to help you pick the right one for you. But prior to doing that, let’s address what a phlebotomist is and does, and afterwards resume our conversation about online training.

Phlebotomy Technician Job Summary

A phlebotomist, or phlebotomy technician, collects blood samples from patients. While that is their main duty, there is actually far more to their job description. Prior to collecting a blood sample, a phlebotomist must check that the instruments being used are single use only and sterile. Following the collection, the sample must be properly labeled with the patient’s data. Next, paperwork must be correctly completed in order to track the sample from the time of collection through the laboratory screening procedure. The phlebotomist then delivers the blood to either an in-house lab or to an outside lab facility where it can be tested for such things as infectious diseases, pregnancy or blood type. Many West Cornwall CT phlebotomists in fact work in laboratories and are responsible for ensuring that samples are analyzed correctly utilizing the strictest quality control procedures. And if those weren’t sufficient duties, they might be required to train other phlebotomists in the collection, transport and follow-up process.

Where do Phlebotomists Work?

The easiest response is wherever there are patients. Their work places are numerous and diverse, such as West Cornwall CT medical clinics, hospitals, long-term care facilities, or blood centers. They can be charged to collect blood samples from patients of of every age, from babies or young children to senior citizens. Some phlebotomy techs, depending on their training and their practice, specialize in drawing blood from a certain type of patient. For instance, those working in a nursing home or assisted living facility would solely be drawing blood from senior patients. If they are working in a maternity ward, they would be collecting blood from newborns and mothers exclusively. On the other hand, phlebotomists practicing in a general hospital setting would be collecting samples from a wide range of patients and would work with new patients on a daily basis.

Phlebotomist Training, Licensing and Certification

There are essentially two types of programs that offer phlebotomy training in West Cornwall CT, which are degree and certificate programs. The certificate program typically takes under a year to finish and furnishes a basic 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, even though it’s not exclusively a phlebotomy degree, will include training on becoming a phlebotomist. Offered at community and junior colleges, they usually require two years to complete. Bachelor’s Degrees are not as available and as a four year program furnish a more expansive background in lab sciences. When you have completed your training, you will no doubt want to become certified. While not mandated in most states, many employers look for certification before hiring 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 some states that do call for certification prior to practicing as a phlebotomist, such as California and Nevada. California and a few other states even require licensing. So it’s important that you pick a phlebotomy training program that not only offers a quality education, but also prepares you for any licensing or certification exams that you elect or are required to take.

Phlebotomist Online Schools

First, let’s dispel one likely mistaken belief. You can’t get all of your phlebotomy training online. A significant component of the program of studies will be practical training and it will be conducted either in an approved West Cornwall CT healthcare facility or an on-campus lab|an on-campus lab or an approved healthcare facility}. Numerous courses also require completion of an internship prior to graduation. However since the non-clinical portion of the training may be attended online, it might be a more practical alternative for many students. As an added benefit, some online classes are less expensive than their traditional competitors. And some expenditures, such as those for textbooks or commuting, may be lowered also. Just make certain that the online phlebotomist college you enroll in is accredited by a national or regional accrediting agency (more on accreditation later). With both the extensive clinical and online training, you can receive a premium education with this approach to learning. If you are disciplined enough to learn at home, then earning your degree or certificate online might be the right choice for you.

What to Ask Phlebotomist Schools

Since you now have a basic idea about what is involved in becoming a phlebotomist, it’s time to begin your due diligence process. You might have already chosen the type of program you intend to enroll in, whether it be for a degree or a certificate. As we mentioned earlier, the location of the Connecticut campus is relevant in addition to the tuition expense. Maybe you have opted to enroll in an online phlebotomy college. All of these decisions are an important part of the procedure for picking a program or school. But they are not the only considerations when making your decision. Following are several questions that you need to ask about all of the West Cornwall CT colleges you are reviewing before making your ultimate selection.

Is the Phlebotomist Program Specific to Your State? As earlier discussed, each state has its own laws for practicing as a phlebotomy technician. Some states call for certification, while a few others require licensing. Every state has its own prerequisite regarding the minimum amount of clinical training performed prior to working as a phlebotomy tech. Consequently, you may need to pass a State Board, certification or licensing exam. Therefore it’s very important to select a phlebotomist program that fulfills the state specific requirements for Connecticut or the state where you will be practicing and readies you for any examinations you may be required to take.

Is the Program Accredited? The phlebotomy program and school you pick should be accredited by a respected national or regional accrediting organization, for example the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS). There are a number of advantages to graduating from an accredited program aside from a guarantee of a premium education. To begin with, if your program is not accredited, you will not qualify to take a certification exam offered by any of the earlier listed certifying agencies. Next, accreditation will help in obtaining financial aid or loans, which are frequently unavailable for non-accredited colleges in West Cornwall CT. Last, graduating from an accredited school can make you more attractive to potential employers in the job market.

What is the Program’s Ranking? In many states there is minimal or no regulation of phlebotomist schools, so there are those that are not of the highest quality. So along with accreditation, it’s imperative to check out the reputations of all schools you are considering. 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 reviews and rating services and solicit the accrediting organizations for their reviews also. You can also check with some West Cornwall CT area hospitals or clinics that you might have an interest in working for and see if they can offer any recommendations. As a closing thought, you can check with the Connecticut school licensing authority and find out if any grievances have been submitted or if the colleges are in full compliance.

Is Plenty of Training Provided? To begin with, contact the Connecticut 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. At a minimum, any West Cornwall CT phlebotomy 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 less than these minimums may signify that the program is not comprehensive enough to furnish adequate training.

Are Internship Programs Sponsored? Ask the Connecticut schools you are looking at if they have an internship program in collaboration with area medical facilities. They are the ideal way to get hands-on clinical training often not available on campus. As an additional benefit, internships can assist students develop relationships within the local West Cornwall CT healthcare community. And they look good on resumes also.

Is Job Placement Assistance Provided? Getting your first phlebotomist position will be much easier with the assistance of a job placement program. Ask if the programs you are looking at provide assistance and what their job placement rate is. If a school has a higher rate, meaning they place most of their students in positions, it’s an indication that the college has both an excellent reputation along with a substantial network of professional contacts within the West Cornwall CT health care community.

Are Class Times Compatible With Your Schedule? Finally, it’s important to make sure that the final school you pick offers classes at times that are compatible with your busy schedule. This is particularly true if you opt to continue working while going to college. If you can only go to classes in the evenings or on weekends near West Cornwall CT, make certain they are available at those times. Additionally, if you can only attend part-time, confirm it is an option also. And if you have decided to study online, with the practical training requirement, make certain those hours can also be completed within your schedule. And find out what the make-up procedure is in case you need to miss any classes because of illness or emergencies.

Why Did You Decide to Become a Phlebotomy Technician?

When preparing to interview for a Phlebotomy Technician position, it's helpful to consider questions you might be asked. Among the questions that recruiters frequently ask Phlebotomy Tech prospects is "What drove you to select Phlebotomy as a profession?". What the interviewer is trying to uncover is not only the private reasons you might have for being Phlebotomy Tech, but also what qualities and talents you possess that make you exceptional at what you do. You will undoubtedly be asked questions relating specifically to Phlebotomy, in addition to a certain number of routine interview questions, so you need to ready several strategies about how you would like to respond to them. Given that there are numerous factors that go into selecting a career, you can respond to this primary question in a multitude of ways. When preparing an answer, try to include the reasons the work interests you along with the abilities you have that make you an excellent Phlebotomy Technician and the perfiect candidate for the position. Don't attempt to memorize a response, but write down several concepts and topics that pertain to your own strengths and experiences. Reviewing sample answers can assist you to formulate your own thoughts, and give you ideas of what to include to enthuse the interviewer.

Select the Ideal Phlebotomist Course near West Cornwall CT

Making sure that you pick the right phlebotomy training is an important first step toward your success in this fulfilling healthcare career position. As we have addressed in this article, there are multiple factors that go into the selection of a premium college. Phlebotomy certificate or degree programs can be available in a variety of educational institutes, such as junior or community colleges, vocational schools, and colleges and universities that offer a wide array of courses in healthcare and medical sciences. Program offerings can vary slightly across the country as every state has its own prerequisites when it concerns phlebotomy training, certification and licensing. The most important point is that you must carefully screen 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 choices so that you can pick the right school for you. And with the appropriate education, you can realize your goal of becoming a phlebotomy technician in West Cornwall CT.

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