Choosing a Phlebotomy Technician Course near New Richmond Wisconsin

Enrolling in the right phlebotomy technician school near New Richmond WI is an essential initial step toward a rewarding career as a phlebotomist. It may seem like a difficult task to analyze and compare all of the school alternatives that are available to you. However it’s necessary that you do your due diligence to make sure that you receive a superior education. In fact, many potential students begin the process by looking at two of the qualifiers that initially come to mind, which are location and cost. Yet another factor you may consider is whether to attend online classes or commute to an area campus. We’ll review a bit more about online schools later in this article. What’s important to remember is that there is far more to checking out phlebotomy training programs than finding the closest or the cheapest one. Other variables such as reputation and accreditation are also significant considerations and must be part of your selection process too. To assist in that effort, we will furnish 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 cover what a phlebotomist is and does, and afterwards continue our discussion about online schools.

Phlebotomy Technician Career Description

A phlebotomist, or phlebotomy tech, collects blood samples from patients. While that is their principal responsibility, there is actually far more to their job description. Before collecting a blood sample, a phlebotomist must check that the tools being employed are sterile and single use only. After collection, the sample must be correctly labeled with the patient’s information. Afterward, paperwork must be properly completed to be able to track the sample from the time of collection through the laboratory screening procedure. The phlebotomist then delivers the blood to either an in-house lab or to an outside lab facility where it may be tested for such things as infectious diseases, pregnancy or blood type. A number of New Richmond WI phlebotomists actually work in labs and are responsible for making sure that samples are analyzed properly under the highest quality control procedures. And if those weren’t enough responsibilities, they might be called upon to train other phlebotomists in the drawing, transport and follow-up process.

Where do Phlebotomy Techs Practice?

The simplest answer is wherever they treat patients. Their work places are many and varied, including New Richmond WI hospitals, medical clinics, nursing homes, or blood centers. They can be assigned to collect blood samples from patients of all ages, from infants or toddlers to senior citizens. Some phlebotomy techs, based on their training and their practice, specialize in collecting blood from a certain type of patient. For example, those working in an assisted living facility or nursing home 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 exclusively. In contrast, phlebotomy technicians practicing in a general hospital setting would be collecting blood from a wide range of patients and would work with new patients every day.

Phlebotomist Training, Licensing and Certification

There are primarily 2 types of programs that offer phlebotomist training in New Richmond WI, which are certificate and degree programs. The certificate program normally takes under a year to finish and provides a basic education along with the training on how to draw blood. It offers the fastest route to becoming a phlebotomy tech. An Associate of Science Degree in Clinical Laboratory Science, even though it’s not exclusively a phlebotomy degree, will include training on becoming a phlebotomy tech. Available at community and junior colleges, they typically require 2 years to complete. Bachelor’s Degrees are not as accessible and as a four year program offer a more extensive background in lab sciences. When you have finished your training, you will probably want to be certified. Although not mandated in most states, most employers require certification before hiring technicians. A few of the main certifying agencies include:

• National Phlebotomy Association
• National Healthcareer Association (NHA)
• American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP)
• American Medical Technologists (AMT)

There are a few states that do call for certification in order to practice as a phlebotomy tech, like California and Nevada. California and a handful of other states even require licensing. So it’s essential that you enroll in a phlebotomist training program that not only provides a superior education, but also preps you for any certification or licensing exams that you elect or are required to take.

Online Phlebotomist Schools

To begin with, let’s dispel one potential mistaken belief. You can’t receive all of your phlebotomist training online. A substantial component of the course of study will be practical training and it will be performed either in an approved New Richmond 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 portion of the training can be accessed online, it may be a more convenient option for many students. As an added benefit, some online schools are more affordable than their traditional competitors. And some costs, including those for commuting or textbooks, may be lessened also. Just confirm that the online phlebotomy program you select is accredited by a national or regional accrediting organization (more on accreditation later). With both the comprehensive clinical and online training, you can receive a premium education with this method of learning. If you are dedicated enough to study at home, then earning your certificate or degree online may be the ideal option for you.

What to Ask Phlebotomy Programs

Since you now have a basic idea about what it takes to become 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 previously mentioned, the location of the Wisconsin campus is important in addition to the cost of tuition. Maybe you have decided to enroll in an phlebotomy online school. Each of these decisions are a critical component of the process for picking a school or program. But they are not the only concerns when arriving at your decision. Below we have provided several questions that you should ask about each of the New Richmond WI colleges you are considering prior to making your ultimate selection.

Is the Phlebotomist Program Specific to Your State? As mentioned previously, each state has its own requirements for practicing as a phlebotomist. Several states require certification, while some others require licensing. Each has its own requirement regarding the minimum hours of practical training completed prior to working as a phlebotomy tech. Consequently, you may need to pass a State Board, licensing or certification examination. Therefore it’s very important to choose a phlebotomy program that meets the state specific requirements for Wisconsin or the state where you will be working and preps you for any exams you may have to take.

Is the Program Accredited? The phlebotomist program and school you choose should be accredited by a highly regarded regional or national accrediting organization, for example the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS). There are a number of advantages to graduating from an accredited program aside from an assurance of a superior education. To begin with, if your program is not accredited, you will not qualify to take a certification exam administered by any of the earlier listed certifying agencies. Next, accreditation will help in obtaining financial aid or loans, which are typically not available for non-accredited schools in New Richmond WI. Last, graduating from an accredited college can make you more desirable to future employers in the job market.

What is the School’s Reputation? In numerous states there is little 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 colleges you are looking at. You can start by requesting references from the schools from employers where they refer their students as part of their job assistance program. You can screen internet school reviews and rating services and solicit the accrediting agencies for their reviews as well. You can also contact some New Richmond WI local hospitals or clinics that you may have an interest in working for and see if they can offer any recommendations. As a final thought, you can check with the Wisconsin school licensing authority and ask if any grievances have been submitted or if the schools are in total compliance.

Is Adequate Training Included? First, contact the Wisconsin regulator or the state regulator where you will be working to learn if there are any minimum requirements for the amount of training, both clinical and classroom. As a minimum, any New Richmond 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 less than these minimums may signify that the program is not comprehensive enough to provide adequate training.

Are Internships Provided? Ask the Wisconsin colleges you are considering if they have an internship program in partnership with area medical facilities. They are the optimal means to receive hands-on clinical training typically not available on campus. As an additional benefit, internships can help students establish contacts within the local New Richmond WI health care community. And they look good on resumes as well.

Is Job Placement Assistance Available? Landing your first phlebotomist position will be a lot easier with the help of a job placement program. Find out if the colleges you are looking at offer assistance and what their job placement rate is. If a school has a high rate, meaning they place most of their students in jobs, it’s an indication that the college has both an excellent reputation along with a large network of professional contacts within the New Richmond WI healthcare community.

Are Classes Available as Needed? And last, it’s crucial to confirm that the ultimate program you select offers classes at times that are compatible with your hectic lifestyle. This is especially true if you choose to still work while attending college. If you can only attend classes in the evenings or on weekends near New Richmond WI, 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 attend online, with the practical training requirement, make sure those hours can also be fulfilled within your schedule. And find out what the make-up procedure is in case you need to miss any classes due to illness or emergencies.

Why Did You Want to Become a Phlebotomist?

When prepping to interview for a Phlebotomy Technician job, it's a good idea to consider questions you might be asked. Among the things that recruiters typically ask Phlebotomy Technician candidates is "What compelled you to choose Phlebotomy as a profession?". What the interviewer is attempting to uncover is not only the personal reasons you may have for becoming Phlebotomist, but additionally what characteristics and talents you have that make you outstanding at your profession. You will undoubtedly be asked questions pertaining specifically to Phlebotomy, along with a significant number of typical interview questions, so you should ready a number of approaches about how you would like to respond to them. Considering there are several factors that go into choosing a career, you can respond to this primary question in a number of ways. When preparing an answer, attempt to include the reasons the profession appeals to you in addition to the talents you have that make you an outstanding Phlebotomy Technician and the ideal candidate for the job. Don't attempt to memorize a response, but write down some ideas and topics that relate to your own experiences and strengths. Reading through sample responses can assist you to formulate your own thoughts, and provide ideas of what to discuss to wow the interviewer.

Enroll in the Right Phlebotomy Program near New Richmond WI

Making certain that you select the right phlebotomist training is an essential first step toward your success in this fulfilling medical care career position. As we have discussed in this article, there are multiple factors that go into the selection of a premium program. Phlebotomy training programs are offered in a wide range of academic institutions, such as junior or community colleges, vocational schools, and colleges and universities that offer a comprehensive assortment of programs in medical care and health sciences. Course offerings can vary a bit across the country as each state has its own mandates when it concerns phlebotomist training, certification and licensing. The most important point is that you must carefully research and compare each program prior to making your final selection. By asking the questions that we have provided, you will be able to narrow down your choices so that you can pick the ideal college for you. And with the proper training, you can achieve your goal of becoming a phlebotomy technician in New Richmond WI.

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