Selecting a Phlebotomy Technician School near Seymour Wisconsin

Selecting the ideal phlebotomy technician school near Seymour WI is an essential initial step toward a rewarding profession as a phlebotomist. It might seem like a difficult undertaking to investigate and compare all of the school alternatives that are available to you. However it’s necessary that you complete your due diligence to make sure that you receive a quality education. In fact, most potential students start the process by looking at 2 of the qualifiers that first come to mind, which are cost and location. Another option you might look into is whether to attend online classes or commute to a local campus. We’ll discuss a bit 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 cheapest or the closest one. Other factors including reputation and accreditation are also significant considerations and should 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 assessing to help you select the right one for you. But before we do that, let’s cover what a phlebotomist is and does, and then continue our conversation about online classes.

Phlebotomy Tech Job Description

A phlebotomist, or phlebotomy tech, collects blood samples from patients. Although that is their principal responsibility, there is actually so much more to their job description. Before drawing a blood sample, a phlebotomist needs to confirm that the tools being employed are single use only and sterile. Following the collection, the sample needs to be accurately labeled with the patient’s information. Next, paperwork must be properly filled out 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 can be tested for such things as pregnancy, infectious diseases or blood type. A number of Seymour WI phlebotomists in fact work in labs and are responsible for ensuring that samples are analyzed properly using the highest quality assurance procedures. And if those weren’t sufficient responsibilities, they might be called upon to train other phlebotomists in the collection, transport and follow-up process.

Where are Phlebotomy Techs Employed?

The most basic response is wherever they treat patients. Their work places are many and varied, such as Seymour WI medical clinics, hospitals, long-term care facilities, or blood banks. They may be assigned to draw blood samples from patients of all ages, from babies or young children to seniors. Some phlebotomists, depending on their practice and their training, specialize in collecting samples from a specific kind of patient. For example, those working in a nursing home or assisted living facility would exclusively be drawing blood from older patients. If they are practicing in a maternity ward, they would be collecting blood from mothers and newborns solely. In contrast, phlebotomists working in a general hospital environment would be collecting samples from a wide range of patients and would collect samples from different patients every day.

Phlebotomy Technician Education, Certification and Licensing

There are primarily two types of programs that provide phlebotomist training in Seymour WI, which are certificate and degree programs. The certificate program generally takes under a year to finish and provides a general education together with the training on how to draw blood. It offers the quickest method to becoming a phlebotomy tech. An Associate of Science Degree in Clinical Laboratory Science, although not exclusively a phlebotomy degree, will incorporate training to become a phlebotomist. Available at community and junior colleges, they typically take two years to complete. Bachelor’s Degrees are not as accessible and as a four year program offer a more comprehensive foundation in lab sciences. When you have finished your training, you will probably want to be certified. While not required in the majority of states, a number of employers look for certification prior to employing technicians. Some 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 a few states that do require certification prior to practicing as a phlebotomy tech, including California and Nevada. California and a few other states even require licensing. So it’s essential that you enroll in a phlebotomist training program that not only provides a premium education, but also prepares you for any certification or licensing exams that you are required or elect to take.

Online Phlebotomy Certificates and Degrees

First, let’s resolve one potential misconception. You can’t obtain all of your phlebotomy training online. A substantial part of the course of study will be practical training and it will be conducted either in an approved Seymour WI healthcare facility or an on-campus lab|an on-campus lab or an approved healthcare facility}. Many courses also require completing an internship prior to graduation. But since the non-clinical portion of the training may be attended online, it can be a more practical option for some students. As an additional benefit, many online classes are less expensive than their on-campus counterparts. And some costs, for instance those for commuting or textbooks, may be reduced also. Just make sure that the online phlebotomist college you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization (more on accreditation to follow). With both the comprehensive clinical and online training, you can receive a superior education with this approach to learning. If you are disciplined enough to learn at home, then earning your certificate or degree online may be the ideal choice for you.

Questions to Ask Phlebotomy Programs

Since you now have a general idea about what is involved in becoming a phlebotomy tech, it’s time to start your due diligence process. You may have already chosen the type 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 in addition to the cost of tuition. Perhaps you have opted to enroll in an phlebotomy online school. Each of these decisions are a critical component of the procedure for choosing a school or program. But they are not the only considerations when making your decision. Following are a few questions that you should ask about all of the Seymour WI schools you are looking at before making your ultimate selection.

Is the Phlebotomist Program Specific to Wisconsin? As previously mentioned, each state has its own regulations for practicing as a phlebotomy technician. Several states require certification, while a few others mandate licensing. Each has its own prerequisite regarding the minimum hours of practical training completed before working as a phlebotomist. As a result, you might need to pass a State Board, certification or licensing exam. Therefore it’s very important to choose a phlebotomy program that satisfies the state specific requirements for Wisconsin or the state where you will be practicing and preps you for all examinations you may have to take.

Is the College Accredited? The phlebotomy program and school you choose should be accredited by a recognized regional or national accrediting organization, 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 a guarantee of a superior education. First, if your program is not accredited, you will not be able to take a certification examination offered by any of the previously listed certifying agencies. Also, accreditation will help in obtaining loans or financial assistance, which are typically not available for non-accredited colleges in Seymour WI. Last, graduating from an accredited college can make you more attractive to future employers in the job market.

What is the School’s Ranking? In many states there is little or no regulation of phlebotomy schools, so there are those that are not of the highest quality. So along with accreditation, it’s important to investigate the reputations of any colleges you are looking at. You can begin by asking the schools for references from employers where they refer their students as part of their job assistance program. You can research online school rating and review services and ask the accrediting agencies for their reviews as well. You can even talk to some Seymour WI area hospitals or clinics that you might be interested in working for and find out if they can offer any recommendations. As a final thought, you can check with the Wisconsin school licensing authority and ask if any complaints have been submitted or if the schools are in total compliance.

Is Ample Training Provided? To begin with, 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 Seymour WI phlebotomist program that you are considering should furnish no less than 40 hours of classroom training (most require 120) and 120 hours of clinical training. Anything below these minimums might indicate that the program is not comprehensive enough to furnish adequate training.

Are Internship Programs Included? Find out from the Wisconsin schools you are reviewing if they have an internship program in partnership with local medical facilities. They are the ideal means to obtain hands-on clinical training often not available on campus. As an additional benefit, internships can assist students develop relationships within the local Seymour WI healthcare community. And they look good on resumes also.

Is Job Placement Help Offered? Landing your first phlebotomist position will be much easier with the support of a job placement program. Ask if the programs you are looking at provide assistance and what their job placement rate is. If a college has a high rate, signifying they place the majority of their students in positions, it’s an indication that the program has both a good reputation together with a substantial network of professional contacts within the Seymour WI healthcare community.

Are Class Times Available as Needed? Finally, it’s important to make sure that the final school you pick provides classes at times that will accommodate your hectic lifestyle. This is especially true if you opt to still work while going to school. If you need to go to classes in the evenings or on weekends near Seymour WI, make certain 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. Even if you have decided to attend online, with the practical training requirement, make certain those hours can also be completed within your schedule. And ask what the make-up protocol is in case you have to miss any classes due to emergencies or illness.

Why Did You Desire to Become a Phlebotomist?

When getting ready to interview for a Phlebotomy Technician position, it's important to consider questions you might be asked. Among the things that recruiters typically ask Phlebotomy Technician applicants is "What drove you to decide on Phlebotomy as a profession?". What the interviewer is trying to discover is not merely the private reasons you might have for becoming Phlebotomy Tech, but also what attributes and abilities you have that make you good at what you do. You will undoubtedly be asked questions relating exclusively to Phlebotomy, in addition to a significant number of standard interview questions, so you should prepare several ideas about how you want to respond to them. Since there are so many factors that go into selecting a career, you can address this primary question in a number of ways. When preparing an answer, try to include the reasons the profession interests you along with the strengths you have that make you an excellent Phlebotomist and the best choice for the job. Don't attempt to memorize a response, but jot down several concepts and talking points that pertain to your own strengths and experiences. Reviewing sample answers can help you to develop your own concepts, and provide ideas of what to discuss to enthuse the interviewer.

Select the Best Phlebotomist Program near Seymour WI

Making certain that you select the ideal phlebotomist training is a critical first step toward your success in this rewarding health care field. As we have discussed in this article, there are several factors that go into the selection of a superior school. Phlebotomy certificate or degree programs can be found in a number of academic institutes, including community or junior colleges, trade schools, and colleges and universities that offer a comprehensive assortment of programs in medical care and health sciences. Course options can vary somewhat across the country as each state has its own prerequisites when it comes to phlebotomy training, licensing and certification. The most critical point is that you must carefully research and compare each college before making your final decision. By asking the questions that we have presented, you will be able to narrow down your choices so that you can pick the best college for you. And with the proper education, you can reach your goal of becoming a phlebotomy technician in Seymour WI.

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