Choosing a Phlebotomy School near Port Washington Wisconsin

Enrolling in the ideal phlebotomist training near Port Washington WI is an essential first step toward a gratifying career as a phlebotomist. It may seem like a challenging task to analyze and compare all of the school options that are accessible to you. Nevertheless it’s vital that you complete your due diligence to ensure that you get a quality education. In reality, a large number of prospective students begin the process by looking at two of the qualifiers that initially come to mind, which are cost and location. Yet another factor you may look into is whether to attend classes online or commute to an area campus. We’ll talk a bit more about online classes later in this article. What you need to keep in mind is that there is far more to comparing phlebotomy training programs than locating the cheapest or the closest one. Other factors such as accreditation and reputation are also important considerations and need to be part of your selection process too. Toward that end, we will furnish a list of questions that you need to ask each of the phlebotomy schools you are evaluating to help you select the right one for you. But before we do that, let’s cover what a phlebotomist is and does, and afterwards continue our conversation about online classes.

Phlebotomist Career Summary

A phlebotomist, or phlebotomy technician, draws blood from patients. While that is their primary responsibility, there is in fact so much more to their job description. Before drawing a blood sample, a phlebotomist must confirm that the tools being utilized are single use only and sterile. After collection, the sample must be accurately labeled with the patient’s data. Next, paperwork must be accurately completed in order to track the sample from the time of collection through the lab screening procedure. The phlebotomist then transports the blood to either an in-house lab or to an outside lab facility where it can be tested for such things as pregnancy, infectious diseases or blood type. Some Port Washington WI phlebotomists actually work in laboratories and are accountable for making sure that samples are analyzed correctly using the highest quality control procedures. And if those weren’t sufficient duties, they might be required to train other phlebotomists in the collection, transport and follow-up process.

Where are Phlebotomists Employed?

The easiest answer is wherever they treat patients. Their work environments are many and varied, such as Port Washington WI medical clinics, hospitals, nursing homes, or blood banks. They can be tasked to draw blood samples from patients of of every age, from babies or young children to senior citizens. Some phlebotomists, based on their training and their practice, specialize in collecting samples from a certain kind of patient. For example, those practicing in an assisted living facility or nursing home would solely be collecting blood from elderly patients. If they are practicing in a maternity ward, they would be drawing blood from mothers and newborns solely. In contrast, phlebotomy technicians practicing in a general hospital setting would be collecting blood from a wide range of patients and would work with different patients every day.

Phlebotomy Education, Licensing and Certification

There are essentially two kinds of programs that furnish phlebotomy training in Port Washington WI, which are certificate and degree programs. The certificate program typically takes under a year to complete and offers a basic education as well as 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 exclusively a phlebotomy degree, will include training on becoming a phlebotomy tech. Available at community and junior colleges, they usually take two years to complete. Bachelor’s Degrees are less accessible and as a 4 year program offer a more comprehensive background in lab sciences. Once you have completed your training, you will no doubt want to get certified. Although not mandated in most states, a number of employers look for certification prior to hiring technicians. A few 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 a few states that do require certification in order to practice as a phlebotomy tech, like Nevada and California. California and a handful of 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 readies you for any certification or licensing exams that you are required or elect to take.

Phlebotomist Online Certificates and Degrees

First, let’s resolve one potential mistaken belief. You can’t get all of your phlebotomy training online. A substantial component of the course of study will be clinical training and it will be conducted either in an approved Port Washington 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 attended online, it can be a more convenient option for some students. As an added benefit, a number of online colleges are more affordable than their traditional counterparts. And some costs, including those for commuting or textbooks, may be minimized also. Just make sure that the online phlebotomist school you enroll in is accredited by a national or regional accrediting organization (more on accreditation to follow). With both the comprehensive online and clinical 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 might be the right option for you.

Questions to Ask Phlebotomy Colleges

Now that you have a basic understanding about what is involved in becoming a phlebotomy tech, it’s time to start your due diligence process. You may have already chosen 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 Wisconsin school is significant as well as the tuition expense. Perhaps you have decided to enroll in an phlebotomist online school. All of these decisions are an important component of the procedure for picking a school or program. But they are not the only concerns when arriving at your decision. Below we have provided a few questions that you should ask about all of the Port Washington WI schools you are reviewing prior to making your ultimate selection.

Is the Phlebotomist Program Specific to Wisconsin? As earlier discussed, each state has its own regulations for practicing as a phlebotomist. Several states require certification, while some others require licensing. Every state has its own prerequisite regarding the minimum hours of practical training completed before working as a phlebotomy tech. Consequently, you might have to pass a State Board, licensing or certification exam. Therefore it’s extremely important to enroll in a phlebotomy program that meets the state specific requirements for Wisconsin or the state where you will be working and readies you for all examinations you may have to take.

Is the College Accredited? The phlebotomy program and school you select should be accredited by a highly regarded regional or national accrediting organization, such as the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS). There are many benefits to graduating from an accredited school in addition to a guarantee of a superior education. To begin with, if your program has not received accreditation, you will not qualify to take a certification exam administered by any of the earlier listed certifying organizations. Next, accreditation will help in obtaining financial aid or loans, which are often unavailable for non-accredited colleges in Port Washington 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 College’s Reputation? In a number of states there is little or no regulation of phlebotomy schools, so there are some that are not of the highest quality. So in addition to accreditation, it’s important to check the reputations of all colleges you are looking at. You can begin by asking the schools for references from employers where they place their students as part of their job assistance program. You can screen internet school rating and review services and solicit the accrediting organizations for their reviews also. You can also talk to several Port Washington WI area clinics or hospitals that you might be interested 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 find out if any grievances have been submitted or if the schools are in total compliance.

Is Sufficient Training Provided? First, contact the Wisconsin 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 Port Washington WI phlebotomy program that you are considering should provide no less than 40 hours of classroom training (most require 120) and 120 hours of practical training. Anything lower than these minimums might indicate that the program is not comprehensive enough to offer adequate training.

Are Internships Provided? Ask the Wisconsin colleges you are considering if they have an internship program in partnership with area healthcare facilities. They are the ideal means to obtain hands-on practical training often not available on campus. As an additional benefit, internships can help students develop contacts within the local Port Washington WI healthcare community. And they look good on resumes as well.

Is Job Placement Assistance Available? Getting your first phlebotomist job will be much easier with the assistance of a job placement program. Find out if the programs you are considering offer assistance and what their job placement percentage is. If a college has a high rate, signifying they place the majority of their students in positions, it’s an indication that the college has both a good reputation along with an extensive network of professional contacts within the Port Washington WI healthcare community.

Are Class Times Available as Needed? And last, it’s crucial to make sure that the final college you pick offers classes at times that are compatible with your busy lifestyle. This is especially true if you decide to continue working while attending college. If you need to go to classes in the evenings or on weekends near Port Washington WI, check that they are offered at those times. Also, if you can only attend on a part-time basis, verify it is an option also. Even if you have decided to study online, with the clinical training requirement, make certain those hours can also be fulfilled within your schedule. And find out what the make-up procedure is should you have to miss any classes as a result of emergencies or illness.

Why Did You Want to Be a Phlebotomist?

When preparing to interview for a Phlebotomist position, it's advantageous to reflect on questions you may be asked. Among the questions that hiring managers frequently ask Phlebotomy Tech applicants is "What made you select Phlebotomy as a profession?". What the interviewer is hoping to discover is not just the personal reasons you might have for being Phlebotomy Tech, but additionally what attributes and skills you possess that make you outstanding at your profession. You will probably be asked questions relating primarily to Phlebotomy, in addition to a certain number of typical interview questions, so you must organize some approaches about how you want to answer them. Given that there are numerous variables that go into selecting a career, you can address this primary question in a variety of ways. When formulating an answer, aim to include the reasons the work interests you in addition to the talents you have that make you an outstanding Phlebotomy Tech and the ideal choice for the position. Don't make an effort to memorize an answer, but jot down a few concepts and anecdotes that relate to your own experiences and strengths. Reviewing sample responses can help you to prepare your own concepts, and provide ideas of what to include to impress the recruiter.

Select the Ideal Phlebotomist School near Port Washington WI

Making sure that you enroll in the most suitable phlebotomy training is an essential first step toward your success in this rewarding medical care career position. As we have addressed in this article, there are a number of factors that go into the selection of a premium program. Phlebotomy certificate or degree programs are offered in a number of academic institutes, including junior or community colleges, vocational schools, and colleges and universities that offer a wide assortment of programs in medical care and health sciences. Training program offerings can vary somewhat across the country as each state has its own mandates when it comes to phlebotomist training, licensing and certification. The most critical point is that you need to diligently screen and compare each college before making your ultimate selection. By addressing the questions that we have provided, you will be able to fine tune your choices so that you can pick the right college for you. And with the appropriate education, you can achieve your goal of becoming a phlebotomist in Port Washington WI.

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