Selecting a Phlebotomist School near Hillside Illinois

Choosing the right phlebotomy technician school near Hillside IL is an essential initial step toward a fulfilling career as a phlebotomist. It might seem like a challenging undertaking to analyze and compare each of the school alternatives that are accessible to you. Nevertheless it’s important that you do your due diligence to make certain that you obtain a quality education. In fact, many potential students start their search by considering two of the qualifiers that initially come to mind, which are cost and location. An additional option you may look into is whether to attend classes online or commute to a nearby campus. We’ll discuss a bit more about online schools later in this article. What’s important to remember is that there is much more to comparing phlebotomy training programs than locating the cheapest or the closest one. Other variables such as accreditation and reputation are also important considerations and should be part of your decision process also. 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 select the best 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.

Phlebotomy Tech Work Summary

A phlebotomist, or phlebotomy technician, collects blood samples from patients. Although that is their primary responsibility, there is actually much more to their job description. Before collecting a blood sample, a phlebotomist has to confirm that the tools being employed are sterile and single use only. After collection, the sample needs to be properly labeled with the patient’s information. 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 delivers the blood to either an an outside lab facility or an in-house lab where it may be screened for such things as infectious diseases, pregnancy or blood type. A number of Hillside IL phlebotomists actually work in labs and are in charge of ensuring that samples are analyzed properly using the strictest quality control procedures. And if those weren’t enough responsibilities, they might be asked to instruct other phlebotomists in the drawing, delivery and follow-up process.

Where do Phlebotomy Techs Work?

The simplest response is wherever they treat patients. Their work environments are many and varied, such as Hillside IL medical clinics, hospitals, nursing homes, or blood centers. They can be charged to draw blood samples from patients of of every age, from babies or toddlers to senior citizens. Some phlebotomy techs, depending on their training and their practice, specialize in collecting blood from a particular type of patient. For example, those practicing in a nursing home or assisted living facility would exclusively be drawing blood from elderly patients. If they are working in a maternity ward, they would be drawing blood from mothers and newborns solely. On the other hand, phlebotomists practicing in a general hospital environment would be drawing blood from a wide range of patients and would collect samples from different patients on a daily basis.

Phlebotomist Education, Licensing and Certification

There are basically two kinds of programs that furnish phlebotomist training in Hillside IL, which are degree and certificate programs. The certificate program usually takes under a year to complete and provides a general education along with the training on how to draw blood. It offers the fastest method to becoming a phlebotomy tech. An Associate of Science Degree in Clinical Laboratory Science, even though it’s not exclusively a phlebotomist degree, will provide training to become a phlebotomist. Available at junior and community colleges, they typically take two years to finish. Bachelor’s Degrees are less accessible and as a 4 year program furnish a more extensive foundation in lab sciences. Once you have finished your training, you will no doubt want to be certified. While not required in most states, a number of employers require certification prior to employing technicians. Some of the key 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 phlebotomist, including Nevada and California. California and a handful of additional states even require licensing. So it’s important that you select a phlebotomy training program that not only offers a premium education, but also readies you for any certification or licensing examinations that you are required or elect to take.

Online Phlebotomist Certificates and Degrees

First, let’s resolve one potential misconception. You can’t receive all of your phlebotomist training online. A good component of the program of studies will be practical training and it will be performed either in an approved Hillside IL healthcare facility or an on-campus lab|an on-campus lab or an approved healthcare facility}. Many courses also require completion of an internship in order to graduate. However since the non-practical portion of the training can be attended online, it might be a more practical alternative for some students. As an added benefit, some online programs are more affordable than their traditional counterparts. And some expenditures, for instance those for commuting or textbooks, may be lessened also. Just verify that the online phlebotomy program you choose is accredited by a national or regional accrediting organization (more on accreditation later). With both the comprehensive clinical and online training, you can obtain a superior education with this approach to learning. If you are disciplined enough to learn at home, then earning your certificate or degree online might be the right choice for you.

Subjects to Ask Phlebotomist Programs

Now that you have a general understanding about what it takes to become a phlebotomy tech, it’s time to initiate your due diligence process. You might have already selected the type of program you want to enroll in, whether it be for a degree or a certificate. As we previously mentioned, the location of the Illinois college is important in addition to the cost of tuition. Maybe you have decided to enroll in an online phlebotomist program. All of these decisions are an important part of the process for picking a school or program. But they are not the sole considerations when arriving at your decision. Following are a few questions that you should ask about all of the Hillside IL schools you are reviewing before making your final decision.

Is the Phlebotomist Program Specific to Illinois? As earlier discussed, each state has its own requirements for practicing as a phlebotomist. Several states require certification, while a few others mandate licensing. Every state has its own prerequisite regarding the minimum amount of clinical training completed prior to working as a phlebotomist. As a result, you may need to pass a State Board, certification or licensing exam. Therefore it’s very important to enroll in a phlebotomy program that satisfies the state specific requirements for Illinois or the state where you will be working and readies you for any exams you may be required to take.

Is the Program Accredited? The phlebotomy program and school you pick should be accredited by a highly regarded regional or national accrediting agency, such as 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 premium education. To begin with, 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 getting financial aid or loans, which are often unavailable for non-accredited schools in Hillside IL. Last, earning a certificate or a degree from an accredited college can make you more desirable to future employers in the job market.

What is the School’s Ranking? In numerous states there is little or no regulation of phlebotomist colleges, so there are those that are not of the highest caliber. So along with accreditation, it’s essential to investigate the reputations of any colleges you are looking at. You can start by requesting references from the schools from employers where they place their graduates as part of their job assistance program. You can screen online school rating and review services and ask the accrediting agencies for their reviews also. You can even talk to several Hillside IL area hospitals or clinics that you may have an interest in working for and find out if they can offer any insights. As a closing thought, you can contact the Illinois school licensing authority and ask if any grievances have been submitted or if the colleges are in total compliance.

Is Ample Training Provided? First, contact the Illinois 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. At a minimum, any Hillside IL phlebotomist program that you are considering should provide no less than 40 hours of classroom training (most require 120) and 120 hours of clinical training. Anything below these minimums might signify that the program is not expansive enough to furnish adequate training.

Are Internships Included? Find out from the Illinois colleges you are looking at if they have an internship program in collaboration with local health care facilities. They are the ideal means to obtain hands-on clinical training typically not obtainable on campus. As an additional benefit, internships can help students establish relationships within the local Hillside IL health care community. And they look good on resumes as well.

Is Job Placement Assistance Provided? Getting your first phlebotomist position will be a lot easier with the support of a job placement program. Inquire if the colleges you are reviewing provide assistance and what their job placement percentage is. If a school has a higher rate, signifying they place the majority of their students in positions, it’s an indication that the college has both a good reputation together with a large network of professional contacts within the Hillside IL healthcare community.

Are Class Times Offered to Fit Your Schedule? And last, it’s crucial to verify that the final college you select provides classes at times that will accommodate your hectic schedule. This is particularly true if you opt to still work while going to school. If you need to attend classes in the evenings or on weekends near Hillside IL, check that they are available at those times. Also, if you can only attend part-time, make sure it is an option also. 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 procedure is in case you need to miss any classes due to emergencies or illness.

Why Did You Want to Become a Phlebotomy Technician?

When preparing to interview for a Phlebotomist job, it's a good idea to reflect on questions you might be asked. Among the things that recruiters often ask Phlebotomy Tech prospects is "What drove you to pick Phlebotomy as a career?". What the interviewer is trying to uncover is not just the private reasons you may have for being Phlebotomist, but also what attributes and talents you possess that make you exceptional at what you do. You will probably be asked questions pertaining primarily to Phlebotomy, as well as a certain number of routine interview questions, so you should prepare some ideas about how you would like to answer them. Because there are so many variables that go into selecting a career, you can respond to this primary question in a number of ways. When preparing an answer, aim to include the reasons the profession appeals to you in addition to the abilities you have that make you an exceptional Phlebotomist and the best choice for the position. Don't try to memorize an answer, but take down several concepts and anecdotes that relate to your personal strengths and experiences. Reviewing sample responses can assist you to develop your own thoughts, and inspire ideas of what to discuss to enthuse the recruiter.

Select the Best Phlebotomy Course near Hillside IL

Making sure that you enroll in the ideal phlebotomy training is an essential first step toward your success in this gratifying medical care career position. As we have discussed in this article, there are a number of factors that contribute toward the selection of a quality school. Phlebotomist training programs are available in a number of academic institutions, including community or junior colleges, trade schools, and colleges and universities that offer a wide array of courses in medical care and health sciences. Course options may differ somewhat from state to state as each state has its own prerequisites when it pertains to phlebotomist training, certification and licensing. The most important point is that you must carefully evaluate and compare each program before making your ultimate selection. By addressing the questions that we have presented, you will be able to fine tune your options so that you can pick the ideal school for you. And with the appropriate training, you can reach your goal of becoming a phlebotomist in Hillside IL.

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