Selecting a Phlebotomy Technician School near Kingston Washington

Choosing the right phlebotomist training near Kingston WA is an important first step toward a rewarding career as a phlebotomist. It may seem like a challenging task to investigate and compare all of the school alternatives that are available to you. Nevertheless it’s vital that you do your due diligence to make sure that you receive a quality education. In fact, a large number of potential students start their search by looking at two of the qualifiers that first come to mind, which are location and cost. Yet another 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’s important to keep in mind is that there is a lot more to checking out phlebotomy training programs than finding the cheapest or the closest one. Other variables such as accreditation and reputation are also important considerations and should be part of your selection process too. To assist in that effort, we will supply a list of questions that you should ask each of the phlebotomy schools you are evaluating 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 training.

Phlebotomy Technician Work Summary

A phlebotomist, or phlebotomy technician, collects blood samples from patients. While that is their principal responsibility, there is in fact far more to their job description. Before drawing a blood sample, a phlebotomist needs to check that the instruments being used are sterile and single use only. Following the collection, the sample needs to be correctly labeled with the patient’s information. Afterward, paperwork has to be correctly completed in order to track the sample from the time of collection through the lab testing process. 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 Kingston WA phlebotomists actually work in labs and are responsible for making certain that samples are analyzed properly using the strictest quality control procedures. And if those weren’t sufficient responsibilities, they might be called upon to train other phlebotomists in the drawing, transport and follow-up process.

Where are Phlebotomy Techs Employed?

The easiest response is wherever they treat patients. Their workplaces are many and diverse, such as Kingston WA hospitals, medical clinics, long-term care facilities, or blood centers. They can be tasked to collect blood samples from patients of all ages, from babies or young children to senior citizens. Some phlebotomy techs, based on their practice and their training, specialize in collecting samples from a particular kind of patient. For example, those practicing in an assisted living facility or nursing home would only be collecting blood from senior patients. If they are working in a maternity ward, they would be drawing blood from mothers and newborns exclusively. On the other hand, phlebotomy technicians working in a general hospital setting would be collecting samples from a wide range of patients and would collect samples from different patients on a daily basis.

Phlebotomist Education, Certification and Licensing

There are essentially two kinds of programs that provide phlebotomist training in Kingston WA, which are certificate and degree programs. The certificate program generally takes under a year to complete and offers a general education as well as the training on how to draw blood. It offers the quickest route to becoming a phlebotomy tech. An Associate of Science Degree in Clinical Laboratory Science, although not specifically a phlebotomist degree, will incorporate training to become a phlebotomist. Offered at junior and community 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 probably want to be certified. While not mandated in most states, many employers require certification prior to hiring technicians. A few of the main 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, like California and Nevada. California and a handful of additional states even require licensing. So it’s imperative that you enroll in a phlebotomist training program that not only offers a superior education, but also prepares 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 dispel one potential mistaken belief. You can’t get all of your phlebotomy training online. A significant component of the curriculum will be clinical training and it will be performed either in an approved Kingston WA healthcare facility or an on-campus lab|an on-campus lab or an approved healthcare facility}. Numerous courses also require completing an internship prior to graduation. But since the non-clinical part of the training can be accessed online, it might be a more convenient option for many students. As an added benefit, some online colleges are less expensive than their on-campus competitors. And some costs, such as those for textbooks or commuting, may be reduced also. Just verify that the online phlebotomist college you choose is accredited by a national or regional accrediting agency (more on accreditation later). With both the comprehensive online and clinical training, you can obtain a premium education with this method of learning. If you are dedicated enough to study at home, then earning your degree or certificate online might be the ideal option for you.

What to Ask Phlebotomist Colleges

Now that you have a basic idea about what is involved in becoming a phlebotomist, it’s time to begin your due diligence process. You may have already chosen the type of program you intend to enroll in, whether it be for a certificate or a degree. As we mentioned earlier, the location of the Washington campus is important in addition to the cost of tuition. Perhaps you have opted to enroll in an online phlebotomy program. All of these decisions are a critical part of the procedure for selecting a school or program. But they are not the sole concerns when making your decision. Below we have provided several questions that you need to ask about all of the Kingston WA schools you are considering before making your final selection.

Is the Phlebotomy Program State Specific? As previously mentioned, each state has its own laws for practicing as a phlebotomy technician. Some states call for certification, while some others require licensing. Every state has its own prerequisite regarding the minimum amount of practical training performed prior to practicing as a phlebotomist. As a result, you may have to pass a State Board, licensing or certification examination. Therefore it’s very important to select a phlebotomy program that fulfills the state specific requirements for Washington or the state where you will be working and prepares you for all exams you may be required to take.

Is the Program Accredited? The phlebotomist program and school you pick should be accredited by a reputable regional or national accrediting agency, for example the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS). There are a number of benefits to graduating from an accredited school in addition to an assurance of a premium education. To begin with, if your program is not accredited, you will not be able to sit for a certification exam administered by any of the previously listed certifying agencies. Next, accreditation will help in getting loans or financial assistance, which are often unavailable for non-accredited schools in Kingston WA. Finally, graduating from an accredited college can make you more desirable to prospective employers in the job market.

What is the College’s Ranking? In a number of states there is minimal or no regulation of phlebotomist schools, so there are some that are not of the highest caliber. So in addition to accreditation, it’s important to check the reputations of all schools you are reviewing. 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 screen internet school rating and review services and ask the accrediting agencies for their reviews also. You can also check with a few Kingston WA local hospitals or clinics that you may be interested in working for and ask if they can provide any recommendations. As a closing thought, you can contact the Washington school licensing authority and ask if any complaints have been filed or if the colleges are in total compliance.

Is Ample Training Provided? First, contact the Washington 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. As a minimum, any Kingston WA phlebotomist program that you are considering should furnish no less than 40 hours of classroom training (most require 120) and 120 hours of practical training. Anything lower than these minimums may signify that the program is not comprehensive enough to provide sufficient training.

Are Internships Sponsored? Find out from the Washington programs you are reviewing if they have an internship program in collaboration with local healthcare facilities. They are the optimal way to obtain hands-on practical training often not obtainable on campus. As an added benefit, internships can help students establish relationships within the local Kingston WA medical community. And they are a plus on resumes as well.

Is Job Placement Help Available? Finding your first phlebotomist position will be a lot easier with the help of a job placement program. Ask if the programs you are considering offer assistance and what their job placement rate is. If a school has a high rate, signifying they place most of their students in jobs, it’s an indication that the school has both an excellent reputation as well as a large network of professional contacts within the Kingston WA health care community.

Are Classes Conveniently Scheduled? Finally, it’s critical to confirm that the ultimate college you pick provides classes at times that are compatible with your hectic schedule. This is especially true if you choose to still work while attending school. If you can only attend classes at night or on weekends near Kingston WA, make sure they are available at those times. Additionally, if you can only attend on a part-time basis, confirm it is an option also. Even if you have decided to attend online, with the clinical training requirement, make certain those hours can also be completed 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 Decide to Be a Phlebotomist?

When getting ready to interview for a Phlebotomy Technician job, it's a good idea to reflect on questions you might be asked. One of the things that recruiters typically ask Phlebotomy Technician prospects is "What drove you to decide on Phlebotomy as a career?". What the interviewer is trying to uncover is not just the private reasons you might have for becoming Phlebotomist, but additionally what attributes and talents you have that make you good at your profession. You will undoubtedly be asked questions pertaining primarily to Phlebotomy, as well as a certain number of standard interview questions, so you need to ready several strategies about how you would like to address them. Since there are numerous factors that go into selecting a career, you can address this primary question in a variety of ways. When preparing an answer, attempt to include the reasons the work interests you along with the talents you have that make you an excellent Phlebotomist and the perfiect choice for the position. Don't attempt to memorize a response, but jot down some concepts and talking points that pertain to your personal experiences and strengths. Going over sample answers can assist you to formulate your own concepts, and inspire ideas of what to discuss to wow the recruiter.

Enroll in the Ideal Phlebotomy Program near Kingston WA

Making certain that you choose the most suitable phlebotomist training is an essential first step toward your success in this gratifying healthcare career position. As we have covered in this article, there are several factors that contribute toward the selection of a superior college. Phlebotomist certificate or degree programs can be offered in a variety of academic institutes, such as community or junior colleges, trade schools, and colleges and universities that provide an extensive range of courses in medical care and health sciences. Program options can vary a bit from state to state as every state has its own criteria when it concerns phlebotomy training, certification and licensing. The most important point is that you must carefully evaluate and compare each school prior to making your ultimate decision. By asking the questions that we have furnished, you will be able to narrow down your options so that you can pick the right school for you. And with the proper education, you can reach your goal of becoming a phlebotomist in Kingston WA.

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