Selecting a Phlebotomist School near Chattanooga Tennessee

Choosing the right phlebotomy training near Chattanooga TN is an important first step toward a fulfilling career as a phlebotomist. It may seem like a difficult task to evaluate and compare each of the school options that are accessible to you. Nevertheless it’s vital that you do your due diligence to make sure that you obtain a superior education. In fact, many students start the process 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 talk more about online schools later in this article. What’s important to remember is that there is far more to comparing phlebotomy training programs than finding the cheapest or the closest one. Other factors including reputation and accreditation are also significant considerations and must be part of your decision process as well. To assist in that effort, we will provide a list of questions that you should ask each of the phlebotomy schools you are assessing to help you pick the right one for you. But before we do that, let’s address what a phlebotomist is and does, and afterwards resume our conversation about online training.

Phlebotomy Tech Work 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. Prior to drawing a blood sample, a phlebotomist needs to verify that the instruments being utilized are sterile and single use only. Following the collection, the sample has to be correctly labeled with the patient’s data. Next, paperwork has to be properly filled out to be able to track the sample from the point of collection through the laboratory screening process. 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. Many Chattanooga TN phlebotomists actually work in laboratories and are accountable for making certain that samples are tested correctly utilizing the strictest quality control procedures. And if those weren’t sufficient responsibilities, they might be required to train other phlebotomists in the drawing, delivery and follow-up process.

Where do Phlebotomy Techs Practice?

The most basic answer is wherever they treat patients. Their workplaces are many and varied, such as Chattanooga TN medical clinics, hospitals, nursing homes, or blood banks. They may be charged to collect blood samples from patients of of every age, from babies or young children to senior citizens. A number of phlebotomy techs, depending on their practice and their training, specialize in drawing blood from a certain kind of patient. For instance, those practicing in an assisted living facility or nursing home would exclusively be drawing blood from elderly patients. If they are practicing in a maternity ward, they would be drawing blood from mothers and newborns exclusively. On the other hand, phlebotomists working in a general hospital environment would be drawing samples from a wide variety of patients and would work with different patients each day.

Phlebotomist Education, Certification and Licensing

There are primarily 2 kinds of programs that provide phlebotomist training in Chattanooga TN, which are degree and certificate programs. The certificate program typically takes under a year to finish and furnishes a general education along with the training on how to draw blood. It provides the quickest route to becoming a phlebotomist. An Associate of Science Degree in Clinical Laboratory Science, although not exclusively a phlebotomy degree, will incorporate training to become a phlebotomist. Available at community and junior colleges, they normally take 2 years to finish. Bachelor’s Degrees are not as available and as a 4 year program furnish a more extensive background in lab sciences. Once you have finished your training, you will probably want to get certified. While not required in the majority of states, most employers require certification prior to hiring technicians. A few of the principal certifying organizations 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 in order to practice as a phlebotomy tech, including California and Nevada. California and a few additional states even require licensing. So it’s essential that you pick a phlebotomist training program that not only provides a superior education, but also prepares you for any certification or licensing exams that you elect or are required to take.

Phlebotomy Online Training

To start with, let’s resolve one possible misconception. You can’t receive all of your phlebotomist training online. A good part of the course of study will be practical training and it will be conducted either in an approved Chattanooga TN healthcare facility or an on-campus lab|an on-campus lab or an approved healthcare facility}. A large number of courses also require completion of an internship in order to graduate. However since the non-practical part of the training can be attended online, it may be a more practical option for some students. As an added benefit, some online programs are more affordable than their traditional counterparts. And some costs, including those for commuting or textbooks, may be lessened as well. Just make certain that the online phlebotomy college you select is accredited by a national or regional accrediting organization (more on accreditation to follow). With both the extensive online and clinical training, you can obtain a premium education with this method of learning. If you are disciplined enough to learn at home, then earning your certificate or degree online might be the right option for you.

Questions to Ask Phlebotomy Colleges

Now that you have a basic idea about what it takes to become a phlebotomy tech, it’s time to begin your due diligence process. You might have already selected the kind of program you wish to enroll in, whether it be for a degree or a certificate. As we mentioned earlier, the location of the Tennessee campus is significant in addition to the tuition expense. Possibly you have opted to enroll in an online phlebotomist program. All of these decisions are a critical part of the process for selecting a program or school. But they are not the only considerations when making your decision. Following are a few questions that you should ask about each of the Chattanooga TN colleges you are reviewing before making your final decision.

Is the Phlebotomy Program Specific to Your State? As earlier discussed, each state has its own laws for practicing as a phlebotomy technician. Some states require certification, while some others mandate licensing. Each has its own requirement regarding the minimum amount of practical training performed before working as a phlebotomist. Consequently, you may have to pass a State Board, certification or licensing exam. Therefore it’s very important to choose a phlebotomy program that satisfies the state specific requirements for Tennessee or the state where you will be working and readies you for all exams you may be required to take.

Is the College Accredited? The phlebotomist school and program you select should be accredited by a highly regarded national or regional 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 an assurance of a quality 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 organizations. Next, accreditation will help in getting financial aid or loans, which are frequently not available for non-accredited schools in Chattanooga TN. Finally, graduating from an accredited school can make you more desirable to prospective employers in the job market.

What is the School’s Reputation? In many 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 essential to investigate the reputations of any colleges you are considering. You can begin by requesting references from the schools from employers where they place their graduates as part of their job assistance program. You can research online school rating and review services and ask the accrediting agencies for their reviews as well. You can even talk to several Chattanooga TN 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 check with the Tennessee school licensing authority and ask if any complaints have been submitted or if the colleges are in total compliance.

Is Plenty of Training Provided? First, check with the Tennessee regulator or the state regulator where you will be practicing to find out if there are any minimum requirements for the length of training, both classroom and practical. As a minimum, any Chattanooga TN phlebotomist program that you are reviewing 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 furnish adequate training.

Are Internships Sponsored? Find out from the Tennessee programs you are looking at if they have an internship program in partnership with regional medical facilities. They are the optimal means to receive hands-on practical training often not available on campus. As an additional benefit, internships can help students develop contacts within the local Chattanooga TN medical community. And they look good on resumes as well.

Is Job Placement Assistance Offered? Getting your first phlebotomist job will be a lot easier with the assistance of a job placement program. Find out if the schools you are looking at provide assistance and what their job placement percentage is. If a college has a high rate, meaning they place the majority of their students in jobs, it’s an indication that the school has both a good reputation as well as a substantial network of professional contacts within the Chattanooga TN health care community.

Are Class Times Conveniently Scheduled? And last, it’s crucial to verify that the final school you choose provides classes at times that will accommodate your busy schedule. This is particularly true if you opt to still work while going to school. If you need to go to classes in the evenings or on weekends near Chattanooga TN, check that they are offered at those times. Also, if you can only attend part-time, 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 fulfilled within your schedule. And find out what the make-up protocol is in case you have to miss any classes because of illness or emergencies.

Why Did You Choose to Become a Phlebotomy Tech?

When getting ready to interview for a Phlebotomist job, it's important to consider questions you could be asked. One of the questions that recruiters frequently ask Phlebotomist prospects is "What drove you to choose Phlebotomy as a profession?". What the interviewer is attempting to discover is not merely the private reasons you may have for becoming Phlebotomist, but additionally what characteristics and abilities you have that make you good at your profession. You will probably be asked questions pertaining primarily to Phlebotomy, along with a certain number of typical interview questions, so you should organize a number of ideas about how you would like to respond to them. Given that there are so many variables that go into selecting a career, you can answer this fundamental question in a multitude of ways. When readying an answer, attempt to include the reasons the work appeals to you in addition to the abilities you have that make you an excellent Phlebotomy Technician and the perfiect candidate for the job. Don't attempt to memorize an answer, but write down several concepts and talking points that relate to your own strengths and experiences. Reading through sample responses can assist you to formulate your own concepts, and provide ideas of what to include to enthuse the recruiter.

Enroll in the Right Phlebotomist School near Chattanooga TN

Making sure that you enroll in the most suitable phlebotomy training is a critical first step toward your success in this rewarding medical care career position. As we have discussed in this article, there are a number of factors that contribute toward the selection of a quality program. Phlebotomist certificate or degree programs are available in a wide range of academic institutions, including junior or community colleges, trade schools, and colleges and universities that provide a wide array of programs in medical care and health sciences. Training program offerings can vary somewhat across the country as every state has its own prerequisites when it pertains to phlebotomist training, licensing and certification. The most important point is that you must diligently screen and compare each school before making your ultimate decision. By asking the questions that we have presented, you will be able to narrow down your options so that you can select the ideal college for you. And with the proper training, you can achieve your goal of becoming a phlebotomist in Chattanooga TN.

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