Selecting a Phlebotomy Technician School near Irvington Illinois

Selecting the right phlebotomy technician training near Irvington IL is a critical initial step toward a fulfilling profession as a phlebotomist. It might seem like a challenging undertaking to analyze and compare each of the training alternatives that are accessible to you. However it’s important that you do your due diligence to ensure that you get a superior education. In fact, many potential students begin their search by looking at two of the qualifiers that first come to mind, which are location and cost. Yet another option you might look into is whether to attend online classes or commute to a nearby campus. We’ll discuss a bit more about online classes later in this article. What you need to remember is that there is a lot more to checking out phlebotomy training programs than locating the closest or the cheapest one. Other variables including accreditation and reputation are also important considerations and must be part of your decision process as well. Toward that end, we will furnish a list of questions that you should ask each of the phlebotomy schools you are assessing to help you choose the best one for you. But before we do that, let’s address what a phlebotomist is and does, and afterwards continue our discussion about online classes.

Phlebotomy Tech Job Description

A phlebotomist, or phlebotomy technician, collects blood samples from patients. While that is their principal responsibility, there is in fact 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. Following the collection, the sample has to be correctly labeled with the patient’s information. Afterward, paperwork must be properly filled out to be able to track the sample from the point of collection through the laboratory testing procedure. The phlebotomist then delivers the blood to either an an outside lab facility or an in-house lab where it may be tested for such things as infectious diseases, pregnancy or blood type. A number of Irvington IL phlebotomists actually work in labs and are responsible for ensuring that samples are tested properly utilizing the strictest quality control procedures. And if those weren’t enough duties, they might be required to instruct other phlebotomists in the drawing, delivery and follow-up process.

Where are Phlebotomy Techs Employed?

The easiest answer is wherever they treat patients. Their work environments are numerous and diverse, such as Irvington IL medical clinics, hospitals, nursing homes, or blood centers. They can be charged to draw blood samples from patients of of every age, from infants or toddlers to senior citizens. A number of phlebotomy techs, depending on their practice and their training, specialize in drawing blood from a particular kind of patient. For instance, those practicing 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 drawing blood from newborns and mothers solely. On the other hand, phlebotomy technicians working in a general hospital setting would be drawing samples from a wide variety of patients and would collect samples from new patients each day.

Phlebotomist Education, Licensing and Certification

There are primarily 2 types of programs that furnish phlebotomy training in Irvington IL, which are degree and certificate programs. The certificate program usually takes less than a year to finish and provides a basic education as well as the training on how to draw blood. It provides the fastest route to becoming a phlebotomy tech. An Associate of Science Degree in Clinical Laboratory Science, even though it’s not specifically a phlebotomy degree, will incorporate training to become a phlebotomist. Available at community and junior colleges, they usually take 2 years to finish. Bachelor’s Degrees are less accessible and as a four year program furnish a more expansive foundation in lab sciences. After you have completed your training, you will no doubt want to become certified. Although not required in the majority of states, most employers require certification before employing technicians. Some of the primary certifying agencies include:

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

There are several states that do call for certification prior to practicing as a phlebotomy tech, such as California and Nevada. California and a few other states even require licensing. So it’s important that you choose a phlebotomy training program that not only supplies a premium education, but also prepares you for any licensing or certification examinations that you elect or are required to take.

Phlebotomy Online Schools

To begin with, let’s dispel one possible mistaken belief. You can’t obtain all of your phlebotomist training online. A substantial part of the program of studies will be clinical training and it will be carried out either in an approved Irvington 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. But since the non-practical component of the training can be accessed online, it can be a more practical option for many students. As an additional benefit, a number of online programs are more affordable than their on-campus counterparts. And some costs, for instance those for textbooks or commuting, may be lowered as well. Just confirm that the online phlebotomy college you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency (more on accreditation to follow). With both the comprehensive clinical and online training, you can receive a superior education with this method of learning. If you are disciplined enough to study at home, then earning your certificate or degree online might be the best option for you.

What to Ask Phlebotomist Schools

Now that you have a basic idea about what is involved in becoming a phlebotomist, it’s time to initiate your due diligence process. You may have already selected the kind of program you intend to enroll in, whether it be for a certificate or a degree. As we mentioned earlier, the location of the Illinois college is significant in addition to the tuition expense. Maybe you have decided to enroll in an online phlebotomist college. Each of these decisions are an important part of the process for choosing a school or program. But they are not the sole considerations when arriving at your decision. Following are several questions that you should ask about all of the Irvington IL colleges you are looking at prior to making your ultimate decision.

Is the Phlebotomist Program Specific to Illinois? As earlier discussed, each state has its own requirements for practicing as a phlebotomist. Several states call for certification, while some others mandate licensing. Every state has its own requirement regarding the minimum hours of clinical training performed before practicing as a phlebotomist. Consequently, you may have to pass a State Board, certification or licensing exam. Therefore it’s very important to enroll in a phlebotomist program that meets the state specific requirements for Illinois or the state where you will be working and readies you for any exams you may have to take.

Is the Program Accredited? The phlebotomy school and program you enroll in should be accredited by a reputable regional or national accrediting agency, for example the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS). There are many benefits to graduating from an accredited program in addition to a guarantee of a superior education. To begin with, if your program is not accredited, you will not be able to take a certification exam offered by any of the previously listed certifying agencies. Next, accreditation will help in getting loans or financial assistance, which are frequently unavailable for non-accredited schools in Irvington IL. Finally, graduating from an accredited college can make you more desirable to future employers in the job market.

What is the Program’s Reputation? In numerous states there is minimal or no regulation of phlebotomy colleges, so there are those that are not of the highest caliber. So along with accreditation, it’s essential to investigate the reputations of all schools you are considering. 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 ask the accrediting organizations for their reviews as well. You can also talk to several Irvington IL area clinics or hospitals that you may have an interest in working for and see if they can provide any insights. As a final thought, you can check with the Illinois school licensing authority and ask if any grievances have been submitted or if the schools are in total compliance.

Is Plenty of Training Provided? To begin with, contact the Illinois regulator or the state regulator where you will be practicing to learn if there are any minimum requirements for the amount of training, both clinical and classroom. As a minimum, any Irvington IL phlebotomy program that you are looking at should furnish no less than 40 hours of classroom training (most require 120) and 120 hours of clinical training. Anything less than these minimums might signify that the program is not comprehensive enough to provide sufficient training.

Are Internship Programs Sponsored? Ask the Illinois programs you are looking at if they have an internship program in partnership with area health care facilities. They are the ideal way to receive hands-on clinical training typically not provided on campus. As an added benefit, internships can help students establish contacts within the local Irvington IL medical community. And they are a plus on resumes as well.

Is Job Placement Assistance Offered? Landing your first phlebotomy 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 school has a high rate, meaning they place most of their students in positions, it’s an indication that the college has both a good reputation as well as a substantial network of professional contacts within the Irvington IL healthcare community.

Are Classes Offered to Fit Your Schedule? And last, it’s critical to verify that the final college you choose provides classes at times that are compatible with your hectic schedule. This is particularly true if you decide to still work while attending college. If you need to go to classes in the evenings or on weekends near Irvington IL, make sure they are offered at those times. Additionally, if you can only attend part-time, confirm it is an option as well. And if you have decided to attend online, with the clinical training requirement, make certain those hours can also be fulfilled within your schedule. And find out what the make-up protocol is should you have to miss any classes because of illness or emergencies.

Why Did You Want to Be a Phlebotomist?

When preparing to interview for a Phlebotomy Tech position, it's a good idea to review questions you might be asked. One of the questions that interviewers frequently ask Phlebotomist candidates is "What compelled you to select Phlebotomy as a profession?". What the interviewer is hoping to uncover is not merely the personal reasons you may have for being Phlebotomist, but also what qualities and abilities you possess that make you outstanding at your profession. You will undoubtedly be asked questions pertaining specifically to Phlebotomy, in addition to a significant number of typical interview questions, so you must ready a number of approaches about how you want to respond to them. Given that there are numerous factors that go into choosing a career, you can address this fundamental question in a variety of ways. When preparing an answer, attempt to include the reasons the work appeals to you along with the talents you have that make you an excellent Phlebotomy Technician and the leading choice for the job. Don't attempt to memorize a response, but jot down some concepts and talking points that relate to your personal experiences and strengths. Reviewing sample answers can assist you to develop your own thoughts, and give you ideas of what to discuss to enthuse the interviewer.

Enroll in the Right Phlebotomist School near Irvington IL

Making sure that you select the most suitable phlebotomist training is an essential first step toward your success in this gratifying healthcare field. As we have addressed in this article, there are multiple factors that contribute toward the selection of a premium program. Phlebotomist training programs are found in a variety of educational institutes, including junior or community colleges, trade schools, and colleges and universities that provide a comprehensive array of programs in medical care and health sciences. Course options can differ somewhat across the country as each state has its own requirements when it concerns phlebotomy training, licensing and certification. The most important point is that you need to thoroughly screen and compare each program prior to making your ultimate decision. By asking the questions that we have provided, you will be able to fine tune your options so that you can select the right program for you. And with the proper training, you can realize your goal of becoming a phlebotomist in Irvington IL.

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