Choosing a Phlebotomy Technician School near Elkhart Lake Wisconsin

Selecting the right phlebotomy technician school near Elkhart Lake WI is an essential initial step toward a rewarding career as a phlebotomist. It may seem like a daunting undertaking to assess and compare each of the training alternatives that are available to you. However it’s vital that you complete your due diligence to make certain that you receive a quality education. In fact, most potential students start the process by looking at two of the qualifiers that initially come to mind, which are cost and location. Another factor you may look into is whether to attend online classes or commute to a nearby campus. We’ll review more about online classes later in this article. What’s important to remember is that there is a lot more to comparing phlebotomy training programs than locating the closest or the cheapest one. Other factors including accreditation and reputation are also significant considerations and should be part of your selection process too. Toward that end, we will provide a list of questions that you need to ask each of the phlebotomy schools you are reviewing to help you choose the right one for you. But before we do that, let’s address what a phlebotomist is and does, and then continue our conversation about online schools.

Phlebotomist Job Description

A phlebotomist, or phlebotomy tech, collects blood samples from patients. While that is their main function, there is in fact far more to their job description. Prior to collecting a blood sample, a phlebotomist needs to confirm that the instruments being used are single use only and sterile. Following the collection, the sample needs to be correctly labeled with the patient’s data. Afterward, paperwork has to be properly filled out to be able to track the sample from the time of collection through the lab screening process. The phlebotomist then transports the blood to either an an outside lab facility or an in-house lab where it may be screened for such things as pregnancy, infectious diseases or blood type. Many Elkhart Lake WI phlebotomists in fact work in labs and are accountable for ensuring that samples are tested correctly using the strictest quality assurance procedures. And if those weren’t sufficient duties, they might be required to instruct other phlebotomists in the collection, transport and follow-up process.

Where do Phlebotomy Techs Practice?

The quickest response is wherever they treat patients. Their work environments are many and varied, including Elkhart Lake WI hospitals, medical clinics, long-term care facilities, or blood centers. They can be charged to draw blood samples from patients of of every age, from babies or young children to seniors. Some phlebotomy techs, depending on their training and their practice, specialize in drawing samples from a particular kind of patient. For instance, those working in an assisted living facility or nursing home would exclusively be drawing blood from older patients. If they are working in a maternity ward, they would be drawing blood from newborns and mothers solely. On the other hand, phlebotomists working in a general hospital environment would be collecting blood from a wide range of patients and would work with new patients every day.

Phlebotomy Technician Education, Certification and Licensing

There are essentially two types of programs that furnish phlebotomy training in Elkhart Lake WI, which are degree and certificate programs. The certificate program typically takes less than a year to finish and offers a basic education together with the training on how to draw blood. It offers the fastest means to becoming a phlebotomist. An Associate of Science Degree in Clinical Laboratory Science, although not specifically a phlebotomy degree, will include training on becoming a phlebotomist. Offered at community and junior colleges, they typically require two years to complete. Bachelor’s Degrees are not as accessible and as a 4 year program furnish a more expansive background in lab sciences. After you have completed your training, you will probably want to get certified. Although not required in the majority of states, a number of employers look for 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 call for certification in order to practice as a phlebotomist, like Nevada and California. California and a few other states even require licensing. So it’s imperative that you choose a phlebotomist training program that not only supplies a premium education, but also preps you for any licensing or certification examinations that you are required or elect to take.

Phlebotomy Online Schools

To begin with, let’s resolve one possible mistaken belief. You can’t obtain all of your phlebotomist training online. A good component of the course of study will be practical training and it will be carried out either in an approved Elkhart Lake WI 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 part of the training can be accessed online, it might be a more convenient alternative for some students. As an additional benefit, many online classes are less expensive than their traditional competitors. And some costs, such as those for textbooks or commuting, may be minimized also. Just verify that the online phlebotomy college you choose is accredited by a national or regional accrediting agency (more on accreditation later). With both the comprehensive 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 obtaining your degree or certificate online may be the ideal choice for you.

Points to Ask Phlebotomy Schools

Since you now have a basic understanding about what it takes to become a phlebotomist, it’s time to start your due diligence process. You might have already decided on the type of program you intend to enroll in, whether it be for a certificate or a degree. As we previously mentioned, the location of the Wisconsin school is important in addition to the tuition expense. Possibly you have decided to enroll in an online phlebotomist program. Each of these decisions are a critical part of the process for selecting a school or program. But they are not the only considerations when making your decision. Below we have provided a few questions that you need to ask about all of the Elkhart Lake WI colleges you are looking at prior to making your final decision.

Is the Phlebotomist Program Specific to Wisconsin? As previously mentioned, each state has its own regulations for practicing as a phlebotomy technician. Some states require certification, while a few others require licensing. Each has its own requirement regarding the minimum hours of clinical training completed prior to working as a phlebotomist. Consequently, you might have to pass a State Board, certification or licensing exam. Therefore it’s very important to choose a phlebotomist program that meets the state specific requirements for Wisconsin or the state where you will be working and readies you for any exams you may be required to take.

Is the School Accredited? The phlebotomist school and program you select should be accredited by a respected national or regional accrediting organization, such as the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS). There are many advantages to graduating from an accredited program aside from an assurance of a premium education. First, if your program is not accredited, you will not be able to take a certification examination offered by any of the earlier listed certifying agencies. Next, accreditation will help in securing financial aid or loans, which are often not available for non-accredited programs in Elkhart Lake WI. Finally, earning a certificate or a degree from an accredited school can make you more attractive to future employers in the job market.

What is the Program’s Ranking? In a number of states there is minimal or no regulation of phlebotomy schools, so there are those that are not of the highest caliber. So in addition to accreditation, it’s important to check out the reputations of any schools you are looking at. You can start by asking the schools for references from employers where they place their students as part of their job placement program. You can research online school rating and review services and solicit the accrediting organizations for their reviews as well. You can even check with a few Elkhart Lake WI area clinics or hospitals that you might be interested in working for and find out if they can offer any recommendations. As a closing thought, you can check with the Wisconsin school licensing authority and find out if any complaints have been filed or if the schools are in total compliance.

Is Enough Training Provided? First, check with the Wisconsin 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. At a minimum, any Elkhart Lake WI phlebotomist program that you are considering should furnish no less than 40 hours of classroom training (the majority require 120) and 120 hours of clinical training. Anything below these minimums might indicate that the program is not expansive enough to furnish adequate training.

Are Internships Sponsored? Ask the Wisconsin schools you are looking at if they have an internship program in collaboration with local healthcare facilities. They are the ideal way to obtain hands-on clinical training typically not provided on campus. As an added benefit, internships can help students develop relationships within the local Elkhart Lake WI healthcare community. And they look good on resumes also.

Is Job Placement Assistance Provided? Landing your first phlebotomist position will be a lot easier with the support of a job placement program. Inquire if the colleges you are reviewing offer assistance and what their job placement percentage is. If a college has a higher rate, meaning they place the majority of their students in positions, it’s an indication that the program has both an excellent reputation along with a substantial network of professional contacts within the Elkhart Lake WI health care community.

Are Class Times Offered to Fit Your Schedule? And last, it’s critical to make sure that the final program you pick offers classes at times that will accommodate your busy schedule. This is particularly important if you decide to continue working while going to school. If you need to attend classes at night or on weekends near Elkhart Lake WI, make certain they are offered at those times. Additionally, if you can only attend part-time, make sure it is an option also. And if you have decided to study online, with the clinical training requirement, make certain those hours can also be fulfilled within your schedule. And ask what the make-up procedure is should you need to miss any classes as a result of emergencies or illness.

Why Did You Choose to Be a Phlebotomy Tech?

When preparing to interview for a Phlebotomy Technician job, it's a good idea to consider questions you may be asked. One of the things that interviewers often ask Phlebotomist candidates is "What made you pick Phlebotomy as a career?". What the interviewer is hoping to discover is not just the personal reasons you may have for being Phlebotomist, but additionally what characteristics and skills you have that make you outstanding at your profession. You will probably be asked questions pertaining primarily to Phlebotomy, as well as a certain number of routine interview questions, so you need to prepare a number of ideas about how you would like to address them. Considering there are numerous variables that go into choosing a career, you can address this primary question in a variety of ways. When preparing an answer, aim to include the reasons the work appeals to you along with the talents you possess that make you an exceptional Phlebotomy Tech and the leading choice for the position. Don't make an effort to memorize a response, but jot down several ideas and topics that pertain to your personal strengths and experiences. Reviewing sample responses can help you to prepare your own thoughts, and provide ideas of what to include to wow the interviewer.

Enroll in the Best Phlebotomy Program near Elkhart Lake WI

Making sure that you pick the ideal phlebotomist training is an essential first step toward your success in this fulfilling healthcare field. As we have discussed in this article, there are a number of factors that contribute toward the selection of a quality college. Phlebotomy training programs can be available in a number of academic institutes, such as junior or community colleges, vocational schools, and colleges and universities that offer an extensive assortment of programs in medical care and health sciences. Course offerings may vary somewhat from state to state as every state has its own criteria when it pertains to phlebotomy training, certification and licensing. The most important point is that you need to diligently research and compare each college prior to making your final choice. By addressing the questions that we have presented, you will be able to narrow down your options so that you can select the right college for you. And with the proper training, you can realize your goal of becoming a phlebotomist in Elkhart Lake WI.

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