Choosing a Phlebotomy School near Lovingston Virginia

Selecting the ideal phlebotomy technician training near Lovingston VA is a critical first step toward a fulfilling profession as a phlebotomist. It might seem like a difficult task to evaluate and compare all of the school options that are accessible to you. However it’s necessary that you do your due diligence to make sure that you receive a superior education. In fact, many prospective students begin the process by considering two of the qualifiers that first come to mind, which are cost and location. An additional option you might look into is whether to attend online classes or commute to an area campus. We’ll review a bit more about online classes later in this article. What you need to remember is that there is a lot more to comparing phlebotomy training programs than finding the cheapest or the closest one. Other variables including accreditation and reputation are also important considerations and should be part of your selection process too. To assist in that effort, 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 prior to doing that, let’s address what a phlebotomist is and does, and then resume our conversation about online schools.

Phlebotomy Technician Work Summary

A phlebotomist, or phlebotomy technician, draws blood from patients. Although that is their primary function, there is in fact much more to their job description. Prior to drawing a blood sample, a phlebotomist has to verify that the tools being employed are single use only and sterile. Following the collection, the sample must be properly labeled with the patient’s information. Next, paperwork has to be properly completed to be able to track the sample from the point of collection through the lab screening procedure. The phlebotomist then delivers the blood to either an in-house lab or to an outside lab facility where it may be screened for such things as infectious diseases, pregnancy or blood type. Many Lovingston VA phlebotomists in fact work in laboratories and are responsible for making sure that samples are analyzed properly under the highest quality control procedures. And if those weren’t sufficient responsibilities, they may be asked to instruct other phlebotomists in the collection, delivery and follow-up process.

Where do Phlebotomists Practice?

The most basic answer is wherever they treat patients. Their work places are numerous and varied, such as Lovingston VA hospitals, medical clinics, nursing homes, or blood banks. They may be tasked to draw blood samples from patients of all ages, from babies or toddlers to senior citizens. A number of phlebotomy techs, depending on their training and their practice, specialize in drawing blood from a certain type of patient. For example, those working in a nursing home or assisted living facility would solely be drawing blood from senior patients. If they are practicing in a maternity ward, they would be collecting blood from mothers and newborns solely. On the other hand, phlebotomists working in a general hospital setting would be drawing blood from a wide variety of patients and would collect samples from new patients on a daily basis.

Phlebotomy Technician Training, Certification and Licensing

There are primarily 2 kinds of programs that furnish phlebotomy training in Lovingston VA, which are certificate and degree programs. The certificate program normally takes under a year to finish and provides a basic education as well as the training on how to draw blood. It offers the quickest method to becoming a phlebotomist. An Associate of Science Degree in Clinical Laboratory Science, although not exclusively a phlebotomist degree, will provide training to become a phlebotomist. Offered at community and junior colleges, they usually require 2 years to complete. Bachelor’s Degrees are not as available and as a 4 year program furnish a more comprehensive foundation in lab sciences. When you have completed your training, you will no doubt want to get certified. Although not required in the majority of states, many employers require certification prior to employing technicians. A few of the key certifying organizations 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, including Nevada and California. California and a handful of other states even require licensing. So it’s important that you pick a phlebotomy training program that not only supplies a quality education, but also readies you for any certification or licensing exams that you are required or elect to take.

Online Phlebotomist Certificates and Degrees

To begin with, let’s resolve one likely mistaken belief. You can’t get all of your phlebotomy training online. A good part of the course of study will be clinical training and it will be conducted either in an approved Lovingston VA 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. But since the non-practical portion of the training can be attended online, it may be a more practical option for many students. As an added benefit, many online classes are more affordable than their on-campus competitors. And some expenditures, for instance those for textbooks or commuting, may be reduced also. Just verify that the online phlebotomy program you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization (more on accreditation to follow). With both the extensive clinical and online training, you can obtain a premium education with this means of learning. If you are dedicated enough to study at home, then attaining your degree or certificate online might be the best option for you.

Subjects to Ask Phlebotomy Colleges

Now that you have a general understanding about what is involved in becoming a phlebotomist, it’s time to initiate your due diligence process. You might have already decided on the type of program you want to enroll in, whether it be for a certificate or a degree. As we mentioned earlier, the location of the Virginia campus is important as well as the cost of tuition. Maybe you have opted to enroll in an phlebotomist online school. All of these decisions are an important part of the process for picking a school or program. But they are not the sole concerns when arriving at your decision. Below we have provided a few questions that you should ask about all of the Lovingston VA schools you are looking at before making your final decision.

Is the Phlebotomist Program Specific to Your State? As earlier discussed, each state has its own laws for practicing as a phlebotomist. Some states call for certification, while some others require licensing. Every state has its own requirement regarding the minimum hours of practical training performed before working as a phlebotomy tech. As a result, you might have to pass a State Board, certification or licensing exam. Therefore it’s extremely important to choose a phlebotomist program that fulfills the state specific requirements for Virginia or the state where you will be working and preps you for any examinations you may be required to take.

Is the Program Accredited? The phlebotomist school and program you pick 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 several advantages to graduating from an accredited school in addition to a guarantee of a quality education. First, if your program is not accredited, you will not be able to take a certification examination administered by any of the earlier listed certifying organizations. Next, accreditation will help in getting financial aid or loans, which are frequently unavailable for non-accredited colleges in Lovingston VA. Finally, graduating from an accredited school can make you more attractive to prospective employers in the job market.

What is the School’s Ranking? In a number of states there is minimal or no regulation of phlebotomy colleges, so there are those that are not of the highest caliber. So along with accreditation, it’s imperative to check out the reputations of any colleges you are reviewing. You can begin by requesting references from the schools from employers where they refer their graduates as part of their job assistance program. You can research online school rating and review services and solicit the accrediting organizations for their reviews as well. You can also contact a few Lovingston VA area hospitals or clinics that you might be interested in working for and see if they can provide any recommendations. As a closing thought, you can contact the Virginia school licensing authority and ask if any complaints have been submitted or if the schools are in full compliance.

Is Sufficient Training Included? To begin with, contact the Virginia regulator or the state regulator where you will be practicing to learn if there are any minimum requirements for the length of training, both classroom and practical. As a minimum, any Lovingston VA phlebotomy program that you are considering should furnish no less than 40 hours of classroom training (most require 120) and 120 hours of clinical training. Anything lower than these minimums may signify that the program is not expansive enough to offer adequate training.

Are Internship Programs Provided? Find out from the Virginia colleges you are reviewing if they have an internship program in partnership with local health care facilities. They are the optimal way to get hands-on practical training typically not available on campus. As an added benefit, internships can assist students establish relationships within the local Lovingston VA healthcare community. And they are a plus on resumes as well.

Is Job Placement Support Provided? 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 considering 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 positions, it’s an indication that the school has both an excellent reputation along with a substantial network of professional contacts within the Lovingston VA medical community.

Are Classes Offered to Fit Your Schedule? Finally, it’s crucial to verify that the final school you select offers classes at times that will accommodate your active schedule. This is particularly important if you opt to still work while attending college. If you need to attend classes in the evenings or on weekends near Lovingston VA, make sure they are offered at those times. Additionally, if you can only attend on a part-time basis, verify it is an option as well. Even if you have decided to attend online, with the practical training requirement, make certain those hours can also be fulfilled within your schedule. And ask what the make-up protocol is should you have to miss any classes because of illness or emergencies.

Why Did You Decide to Be a Phlebotomy Tech?

When prepping to interview for a Phlebotomy Technician position, it's important to review questions you could be asked. Among the things that recruiters frequently ask Phlebotomy Tech applicants is "What made you select Phlebotomy as a career?". What the interviewer is attempting to discover is not only the private reasons you may have for being Phlebotomist, but also what characteristics and abilities you have that make you outstanding at your profession. You will probably be asked questions pertaining primarily to Phlebotomy, as well as a significant number of standard interview questions, so you must prepare several approaches about how you would like to address them. Because there are so many variables that go into choosing a career, you can address this fundamental question in a number of ways. When readying an answer, aim to include the reasons the work interests you along with the abilities you have that make you an excellent Phlebotomy Tech and the perfiect choice for the position. Don't make an effort to memorize a response, but jot down several concepts and talking points that pertain to your personal strengths and experiences. Reading through sample responses can help you to prepare your own thoughts, and provide ideas of what to include to wow the interviewer.

Choose the Ideal Phlebotomy School near Lovingston VA

Making sure that you pick the most suitable phlebotomist training is an important first step toward your success in this gratifying healthcare career position. As we have addressed in this article, there are multiple factors that go into the selection of a superior school. Phlebotomy certificate or degree programs are available in a wide range of educational institutions, such as community or junior colleges, vocational schools, and colleges and universities that provide a comprehensive range of courses in medical care and health sciences. Training program offerings can vary a bit from state to state as every state has its own mandates when it pertains to phlebotomy training, certification and licensing. The most critical point is that you need to carefully evaluate and compare each college before making your final decision. By addressing the questions that we have furnished, you will be able to fine tune your choices so that you can pick the ideal college for you. And with the appropriate training, you can achieve your goal of becoming a phlebotomy technician in Lovingston VA.

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