Selecting a Phlebotomist School near Trout Lake Washington

Picking the ideal phlebotomy training near Trout Lake WA is a critical first step toward a fulfilling career as a phlebotomist. It may seem like a challenging task to investigate and compare all of the school options that are accessible to you. However it’s vital that you complete your due diligence to make sure that you receive a quality education. In fact, many 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 classes online or commute to a local campus. We’ll talk 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 locating the cheapest or the closest one. Other factors such as reputation and accreditation are also important considerations and must be part of your decision process also. 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 pick the best one for you. But before we do that, let’s address what a phlebotomist is and does, and then continue our conversation about online training.

Phlebotomist Career Summary

A phlebotomist, or phlebotomy tech, draws blood from patients. Although that is their principal duty, there is in fact much more to their job description. Before collecting a blood sample, a phlebotomist needs to check that the tools being employed are sterile and single use only. After collection, the sample has to be accurately labeled with the patient’s information. Afterward, paperwork has to be accurately filled out in order to track the sample from the point of collection through the laboratory testing process. The phlebotomist then transports the blood to either an in-house lab or to an outside lab facility where it may be tested for such things as pregnancy, infectious diseases or blood type. Some Trout Lake WA phlebotomists in fact work in labs and are accountable for making sure that samples are tested properly using the strictest quality control procedures. And if those weren’t enough duties, they might be called upon to train other phlebotomists in the collection, delivery and follow-up process.

Where do Phlebotomy Techs Practice?

The quickest response is wherever patients are treated. Their workplaces are numerous and varied, including Trout Lake WA hospitals, medical clinics, nursing homes, or blood centers. They can be charged to collect blood samples from patients of of every age, from babies or toddlers to seniors. A number of phlebotomy techs, based on their practice and their training, specialize in drawing samples from a particular type of patient. For instance, those practicing in an assisted living facility or nursing home would solely be drawing blood from senior patients. If they are working in a maternity ward, they would be drawing blood from newborns and mothers solely. On the other hand, phlebotomy technicians working in a general hospital environment would be collecting blood from a wide range of patients and would work with different patients on a daily basis.

Phlebotomy Education, Licensing and Certification

There are basically two kinds of programs that offer phlebotomist training in Trout Lake WA, which are certificate and degree programs. The certificate program usually takes under a year to complete and offers a basic education as well as the training on how to draw blood. It provides the quickest means to becoming a phlebotomist. An Associate of Science Degree in Clinical Laboratory Science, although not exclusively a phlebotomy degree, will provide training on becoming a phlebotomy tech. Offered at junior and community colleges, they usually require 2 years to complete. 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 no doubt want to get certified. Although not mandated in most states, most employers look for certification before hiring technicians. Some of the primary 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 require certification in order to practice as a phlebotomist, including Nevada and California. California and a few additional states even require licensing. So it’s important that you select a phlebotomist training program that not only offers a superior education, but also prepares you for any licensing or certification exams that you elect or are required to take.

Online Phlebotomy Certificates and Degrees

First, let’s dispel one possible mistaken belief. You can’t get all of your phlebotomist training online. A good portion of the course of study will be practical training and it will be carried out either in an approved Trout Lake WA 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-clinical component of the training may be accessed online, it could be a more convenient option for some students. As an added benefit, a number of online classes are less expensive than their traditional counterparts. And some costs, including those for commuting or textbooks, may be lowered as well. Just make certain that the online phlebotomy college you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization (more on accreditation later). With both the comprehensive clinical and online training, you can obtain a superior education with this approach to learning. If you are disciplined enough to learn at home, then attaining your certificate or degree online may be the best option for you.

Points to Ask Phlebotomist Schools

Since you now have a basic idea about what it takes to become a phlebotomist, it’s time to initiate your due diligence process. You may have already selected the kind of program you wish to enroll in, whether it be for a degree or a certificate. As we previously mentioned, the location of the Washington college is important as well as the cost of tuition. Possibly you have opted to enroll in an phlebotomy online college. All of these decisions are an important part of the process for choosing a school or program. But they are not the sole considerations when making your decision. Following are a few questions that you should ask about each of the Trout Lake WA schools you are considering before making your final selection.

Is the Phlebotomist Program State Specific? As earlier discussed, each state has its own laws for practicing as a phlebotomy technician. Several states require certification, while some others require licensing. Each has its own prerequisite regarding the minimum hours of clinical training completed prior to practicing as a phlebotomy tech. As a result, you may need to pass a State Board, certification or licensing examination. Therefore it’s very important to select a phlebotomist program that meets the state specific requirements for Washington or the state where you will be practicing and readies you for any examinations you may be required to take.

Is the School Accredited? The phlebotomy school and program you choose should be accredited by a respected national or regional accrediting organization, for example the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS). There are several benefits to graduating from an accredited school in addition to an assurance of a quality education. First, if your program has not received accreditation, you will not qualify to take a certification exam administered by any of the earlier listed certifying agencies. Next, accreditation will help in securing financial aid or loans, which are often unavailable for non-accredited colleges in Trout Lake WA. Finally, graduating from an accredited college can make you more attractive to future employers in the job market.

What is the Program’s Reputation? In a number of states there is minimal or no regulation of phlebotomist 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 looking at. You can start by requesting references from the schools from employers where they refer their graduates as part of their job assistance program. You can screen internet school reviews and rating services and ask the accrediting organizations for their reviews also. You can also contact a few Trout Lake WA area hospitals or clinics that you might be interested in working for and find out if they can provide any insights. As a closing thought, you can check with the Washington school licensing authority and ask if any grievances have been submitted or if the colleges are in full compliance.

Is Adequate Training Included? To begin with, contact the Washington regulator or the state regulator where you will be working to learn if there are any minimum requirements for the amount of training, both classroom and practical. As a minimum, any Trout Lake WA phlebotomy 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 below these minimums may indicate that the program is not expansive enough to furnish sufficient training.

Are Internship Programs Provided? Ask the Washington colleges you are reviewing if they have an internship program in partnership with local medical facilities. They are the ideal way to obtain hands-on practical training typically not obtainable on campus. As an additional benefit, internships can assist students establish contacts within the local Trout Lake WA healthcare community. And they are a plus on resumes as well.

Is Job Placement Assistance Available? Landing your first phlebotomy position will be a lot easier with the support of a job placement program. Find out if the colleges you are considering provide assistance and what their job placement percentage is. If a school has a higher rate, meaning they place most of their students in positions, it’s an indication that the program has both an excellent reputation as well as a substantial network of professional contacts within the Trout Lake WA medical community.

Are Classes Compatible With Your Schedule? Finally, it’s important to verify that the final college you select offers classes at times that will accommodate your hectic lifestyle. This is particularly important if you choose to still work while attending school. If you need to go to classes at night or on weekends near Trout Lake WA, make sure they are available at those times. Also, if you can only attend on a part-time basis, make sure it is an option as well. And if you have decided to study online, with the practical training requirement, make sure 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 emergencies or illness.

Why Did You Decide to Be a Phlebotomy Technician?

When preparing to interview for a Phlebotomist job, it's important to consider questions you might be asked. Among the questions that interviewers frequently ask Phlebotomy Technician candidates is "What made you decide on Phlebotomy as a profession?". What the interviewer is trying to uncover is not merely the personal reasons you might have for becoming Phlebotomy Tech, but additionally what attributes and abilities you possess that make you exceptional at what you do. You will likely be asked questions relating specifically to Phlebotomy, as well as a certain number of general interview questions, so you must organize several approaches about how you would like to respond to them. Since there are several factors that go into choosing a career, you can answer this primary question in a multitude of ways. When formulating an answer, aim to include the reasons the work appeals to you as well as the talents you have that make you an exceptional Phlebotomist and the best candidate for the position. Don't attempt to memorize a response, but take down a few concepts and talking points that pertain to your own strengths and experiences. Going over sample answers can assist you to develop your own thoughts, and give you ideas of what to discuss to impress the interviewer.

Find the Best Phlebotomist College near Trout Lake WA

Making sure that you select the ideal phlebotomy training is an essential first step toward your success in this fulfilling healthcare career position. As we have discussed in this article, there are a number of factors that go into the selection of a premium college. Phlebotomist certificate or degree programs are available in a variety of academic institutes, such as community or junior colleges, trade schools, and colleges and universities that offer an extensive range of programs in medical care and health sciences. Course offerings can differ a bit across the country as each state has its own mandates when it pertains to phlebotomist training, certification and licensing. The most important point is that you need to thoroughly screen and compare each college prior to making your ultimate decision. By addressing the questions that we have provided, you will be able to fine tune your options so that you can pick the best program for you. And with the proper training, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a phlebotomist in Trout Lake WA.

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