Choosing a Phlebotomy Course near Highland Park Illinois

Enrolling in the ideal phlebotomy technician training near Highland Park IL is an important initial step toward a gratifying profession as a phlebotomist. It might seem like a challenging undertaking to investigate and compare each of the training options that are available to you. However it’s vital that you complete your due diligence to make certain that you obtain a superior education. In reality, many students start the process by considering 2 of the qualifiers that first come to mind, which are location and cost. Yet another option you might consider is whether to attend classes online or commute to a local campus. We’ll discuss more about online schools later in this article. What you need to keep in mind is that there is much 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 should be part of your decision process too. Toward that end, we will provide a list of questions that you need to ask each of the phlebotomy schools you are evaluating to help you pick the ideal one for you. But prior to doing that, let’s cover what a phlebotomist is and does, and afterwards resume our discussion about online classes.

Phlebotomist Career Summary

A phlebotomist, or phlebotomy technician, collects blood samples from patients. While that is their main responsibility, there is in fact far more to their job description. Before collecting a blood sample, a phlebotomist needs to check that the tools being utilized are sterile and single use only. Following the collection, the sample has to be correctly labeled with the patient’s information. Next, paperwork needs to be correctly filled out in order to track the sample from the point of collection through the laboratory screening process. The phlebotomist then delivers the blood to either an in-house lab or to an outside lab facility where it may be screened for such things as infectious diseases, pregnancy or blood type. Many Highland Park IL phlebotomists in fact work in labs and are in charge of ensuring that samples are analyzed properly utilizing the strictest quality control procedures. And if those weren’t enough duties, they might be required to instruct other phlebotomists in the collection, delivery and follow-up process.

Where do Phlebotomy Techs Work?

The quickest answer is wherever patients are treated. Their work places are numerous and diverse, including Highland Park IL medical clinics, hospitals, long-term care facilities, or blood centers. They may be charged to collect blood samples from patients of of every age, from babies or young children to seniors. A number of phlebotomy techs, based on their practice and their training, specialize in collecting samples from a specific type of patient. For instance, those working in a nursing home or assisted living facility would solely be collecting blood from senior patients. If they are practicing in a maternity ward, they would be collecting blood from newborns and mothers exclusively. On the other hand, phlebotomy technicians working in a general hospital environment would be drawing blood from a wide range of patients and would collect samples from new patients on a daily basis.

Phlebotomy Education, Licensing and Certification

There are primarily two types of programs that provide phlebotomy training in Highland Park IL, which are certificate and degree programs. The certificate program typically takes less than a year to complete and furnishes a basic education along with the training on how to draw blood. It provides the quickest route to becoming a phlebotomist. An Associate of Science Degree in Clinical Laboratory Science, even though it’s not specifically a phlebotomist degree, will include training to become a phlebotomist. Offered at junior and community colleges, they usually require 2 years to finish. Bachelor’s Degrees are not as available and as a four year program provide a more expansive foundation in lab sciences. When you have completed your training, you will no doubt want to become certified. While not mandated in the majority of states, many employers require certification before employing 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 California and Nevada. California and a handful of other states even require licensing. So it’s imperative that you enroll in a phlebotomy training program that not only offers a superior education, but also preps you for any licensing or certification examinations that you are required or elect to take.

Phlebotomist Online Training

To begin with, let’s dispel one possible mistaken belief. You can’t obtain all of your phlebotomy training online. A good part of the program of studies will be practical training and it will be performed either in an approved Highland Park IL healthcare facility or an on-campus lab|an on-campus lab or an approved healthcare facility}. Numerous courses also require completion of an internship in order to graduate. However since the non-clinical component of the training may be attended online, it could be a more practical option for many students. As an additional benefit, many online classes are less expensive than their traditional counterparts. And some costs, including those for textbooks or commuting, may be minimized also. Just verify that the online phlebotomy school you choose is accredited by a national or regional accrediting agency (more on accreditation later). With both the extensive clinical and online training, you can obtain a superior education with this method of learning. If you are dedicated enough to learn at home, then attaining your degree or certificate online may be the right option for you.

Subjects to Ask Phlebotomy Programs

Now that you have a basic idea about what it takes to become a phlebotomy tech, it’s time to initiate 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 Illinois school is relevant as well as the tuition expense. Perhaps you have decided to enroll in an phlebotomist online school. All of these decisions are an important part of the procedure for picking a program or school. But they are not the only concerns when arriving at your decision. Following are a few questions that you need to ask about all of the Highland Park IL colleges you are considering prior to making your ultimate selection.

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

Is the College Accredited? The phlebotomy program and school you enroll in should be accredited by a reputable national or regional accrediting agency, such as the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS). There are many benefits to graduating from an accredited school aside from a guarantee of a premium education. To begin with, if your program has not received accreditation, you will not be able to take a certification exam administered by any of the earlier listed certifying organizations. Also, accreditation will help in obtaining loans or financial assistance, which are typically not available for non-accredited colleges in Highland Park IL. Last, graduating from an accredited college can make you more attractive to potential employers in the job market.

What is the Program’s Reputation? In a number of states there is little or no regulation of phlebotomist 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 any schools you are considering. 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 online school reviews and rating services and ask the accrediting organizations for their reviews also. You can also contact several Highland Park IL area hospitals or clinics that you may have an interest in working for and find out if they can offer any recommendations. As a final thought, you can contact the Illinois school licensing authority and find out if any grievances have been filed or if the schools are in total compliance.

Is Ample Training Provided? First, contact the Illinois 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 classroom and practical. As a minimum, any Highland Park IL 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 signify that the program is not comprehensive enough to provide adequate training.

Are Internships Provided? Find out from the Illinois colleges you are considering if they have an internship program in partnership with local healthcare facilities. They are the optimal means to get hands-on clinical training typically not obtainable on campus. As an additional benefit, internships can help students establish relationships within the local Highland Park IL health care community. And they are a plus on resumes also.

Is Job Placement Support Provided? Landing your first phlebotomist job will be much easier with the help of a job placement program. Find out if the schools you are looking at provide assistance and what their job placement percentage is. If a college has a higher rate, signifying they place the majority of their students in jobs, it’s an indication that the program has both a good reputation as well as a substantial network of professional contacts within the Highland Park IL health care community.

Are Class Times Available as Needed? Finally, it’s important to verify that the final college you pick offers classes at times that are compatible with your busy lifestyle. This is particularly true if you choose to continue working while attending school. If you need to go to classes at night or on weekends near Highland Park IL, make certain they are available at those times. Also, if you can only attend on a part-time basis, verify it is an option as well. Even if you have decided to attend online, with the clinical training requirement, make sure those hours can also be completed within your schedule. And find out what the make-up procedure is in case you have to miss any classes because of emergencies or illness.

Why Did You Choose to Become a Phlebotomist?

When getting ready to interview for a Phlebotomy Tech job, it's advantageous to review questions you might be asked. One of the questions that recruiters frequently ask Phlebotomy Technician candidates is "What made you decide on Phlebotomy as a profession?". What the interviewer is attempting to learn is not merely the private reasons you may have for being Phlebotomist, but also what qualities and skills you have that make you good at your profession. You will probably be asked questions relating exclusively to Phlebotomy, as well as a significant number of standard interview questions, so you need to ready some approaches about how you would like to answer them. Since there are numerous factors that go into selecting a career, you can respond to this primary question in a number of ways. When formulating an answer, attempt to include the reasons the profession interests you in addition to the strengths you have that make you an outstanding Phlebotomy Technician and the ideal choice for the position. Don't try to memorize an answer, but jot down some ideas and anecdotes that relate to your own experiences and strengths. Reviewing sample answers can assist you to develop your own concepts, and provide ideas of what to discuss to impress the interviewer.

Select the Ideal Phlebotomy School near Highland Park IL

Making sure that you select the ideal phlebotomist training is an important first step toward your success in this fulfilling health care career position. As we have covered in this article, there are a number of factors that contribute toward the selection of a quality program. Phlebotomy training programs can be found in a wide range of educational institutes, including community or junior colleges, trade schools, and colleges and universities that offer an extensive array of programs in healthcare and medical sciences. Program options may differ a bit from state to state as each state has its own prerequisites when it pertains to phlebotomy training, licensing and certification. The most critical point is that you need to carefully evaluate and compare each college prior to making your ultimate selection. By asking the questions that we have provided, you will be able to fine tune your choices so that you can select the best school for you. And with the appropriate education, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a phlebotomist in Highland Park IL.

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