Selecting a Phlebotomy Technician Course near Olney Illinois

Picking the right phlebotomy technician school near Olney IL is an important initial step toward a fulfilling profession as a phlebotomist. It might seem like a daunting undertaking to investigate and compare each of the school alternatives that are available to you. However it’s vital that you do your due diligence to make sure that you get a quality education. In reality, many prospective students begin the process by looking at two of the qualifiers that initially come to mind, which are cost and location. Another option you may look into is whether to attend classes online or commute to a nearby campus. We’ll talk more about online classes later in this article. What you need to remember is that there is far more to comparing phlebotomy training programs than finding the closest or the cheapest 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 assessing to help you pick the right one for you. But prior to doing that, let’s address what a phlebotomist is and does, and then continue our conversation about online training.

Phlebotomist Work Description

A phlebotomist, or phlebotomy tech, collects blood samples from patients. Although that is their primary duty, there is in fact so much more to their job description. Before drawing a blood sample, a phlebotomist must confirm that the tools being used are sterile and single use only. After collection, the sample has to be correctly labeled with the patient’s information. Afterward, paperwork needs to be accurately completed in order to track the sample from the time of collection through the lab testing 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 pregnancy, infectious diseases or blood type. Some Olney IL phlebotomists actually work in laboratories and are responsible for ensuring that samples are analyzed correctly using the highest quality control procedures. And if those weren’t enough responsibilities, they may be asked to train other phlebotomists in the drawing, transport and follow-up process.

Where are Phlebotomy Techs Employed?

The easiest answer is wherever there are patients. Their work environments are many and diverse, including Olney IL medical clinics, hospitals, nursing homes, or blood banks. They can be assigned to draw blood samples from patients of of every age, from babies or toddlers to seniors. A number of phlebotomy techs, based on their practice and their training, specialize in collecting blood from a specific type of patient. For example, those practicing in a nursing home or assisted living facility would exclusively be collecting blood from senior patients. If they are practicing in a maternity ward, they would be drawing blood from newborns and mothers exclusively. In contrast, phlebotomy technicians working in a general hospital environment would be collecting blood from a wide variety of patients and would collect samples from new patients every day.

Phlebotomist Education, Licensing and Certification

There are essentially two kinds of programs that offer phlebotomist training in Olney IL, which are degree and certificate programs. The certificate program usually takes less than a year to complete and offers a general education as well as the training on how to draw blood. It provides the fastest method to becoming a phlebotomy tech. An Associate of Science Degree in Clinical Laboratory Science, although not specifically a phlebotomist degree, will include training on becoming a phlebotomy tech. Offered at junior and community colleges, they normally take 2 years to complete. Bachelor’s Degrees are not as accessible and as a 4 year program offer a more comprehensive foundation in lab sciences. After you have finished your training, you will no doubt want to be certified. While not required in the majority of states, a number of employers require certification prior to hiring technicians. A few 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 call for certification prior to practicing as a phlebotomist, like Nevada and California. California and a few additional states even require licensing. So it’s important that you pick a phlebotomist training program that not only offers a quality education, but also readies you for any certification or licensing exams that you elect or are required to take.

Online Phlebotomist Schools

First, let’s resolve one potential misconception. You can’t receive all of your phlebotomy training online. A substantial part of the curriculum will be clinical training and it will be performed either in an approved Olney IL healthcare facility or an on-campus lab|an on-campus lab or an approved healthcare facility}. A large number of courses also require completion of an internship prior to graduation. But since the non-practical component of the training may be attended online, it could be a more convenient alternative for many students. As an added benefit, many online schools are less expensive than their on-campus competitors. And some costs, for instance those for textbooks or commuting, may be lessened as well. Just make sure that the online phlebotomy school you choose is accredited by a national or regional accrediting organization (more on accreditation to follow). With both the comprehensive clinical and online training, you can obtain a quality education with this approach to learning. If you are dedicated enough to study at home, then earning your degree or certificate online may be the ideal option for you.

Topics to Ask Phlebotomist Schools

Now that you have a general understanding about what it takes to become a phlebotomist, it’s time to start your due diligence process. You may have already picked the type of program you want to enroll in, whether it be for a certificate or a degree. As we mentioned earlier, the location of the Illinois campus is significant as well as the tuition expense. Possibly you have opted to enroll in an online phlebotomist college. All of these decisions are an important component 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 need to ask about all of the Olney IL colleges you are looking at before making your ultimate decision.

Is the Phlebotomist Program Specific to Illinois? As mentioned previously, each state has its own regulations for practicing as a phlebotomist. Some states call for certification, while some others mandate licensing. Each has its own prerequisite regarding the minimum amount of clinical training performed prior to working as a phlebotomist. As a result, you may have to pass a State Board, licensing or certification exam. Therefore it’s very important to enroll in a phlebotomy program that complies with the state specific requirements for Illinois or the state where you will be working and readies you for all exams you may be required to take.

Is the School Accredited? The phlebotomist program and school you choose should be accredited by a respected national or regional accrediting organization, such as the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS). There are a number of benefits to graduating from an accredited school in addition to an assurance of a quality education. First, if your program is not accredited, you will not qualify to take a certification examination administered by any of the previously listed certifying agencies. Next, accreditation will help in getting financial aid or loans, which are often not available for non-accredited schools in Olney IL. Finally, graduating from an accredited school can make you more desirable to future employers in the job market.

What is the Program’s Ranking? In many states there is minimal or no regulation of phlebotomy schools, so there are some that are not of the highest quality. So along with accreditation, it’s important to investigate the reputations of all schools you are looking at. You can start by requesting references from the schools from employers where they place their students as part of their job placement program. You can screen internet school reviews and rating services and ask the accrediting agencies for their reviews also. You can even talk to some Olney IL local hospitals or clinics that you might be interested in working for and find out if they can provide any insights. As a final thought, you can check with the Illinois school licensing authority and find out if any complaints have been filed or if the colleges are in total compliance.

Is Sufficient Training Provided? First, check with 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 classroom and practical. At a minimum, any Olney IL phlebotomy program that you are reviewing should provide at least 40 hours of classroom training (most require 120) and 120 hours of practical training. Anything less than these minimums might indicate that the program is not comprehensive enough to furnish adequate training.

Are Internship Programs Included? Find out from the Illinois schools you are looking at if they have an internship program in collaboration with area health care facilities. They are the optimal way to receive hands-on practical training typically not available on campus. As an additional benefit, internships can assist students develop relationships within the local Olney IL healthcare community. And they look good on resumes also.

Is Job Placement Support Provided? Landing your first phlebotomy position will be much easier with the support of a job placement program. Find out if the schools you are reviewing offer assistance and what their job placement rate is. If a college has a high rate, meaning they place most of their students in jobs, it’s an indication that the college has both a good reputation along with an extensive network of professional contacts within the Olney IL health care community.

Are Classes Offered to Fit Your Schedule? Finally, it’s crucial to make sure that the final program you pick provides classes at times that will accommodate your busy lifestyle. This is particularly important if you decide to continue working while attending school. If you can only go to classes in the evenings or on weekends near Olney IL, make certain they are available at those times. Also, if you can only attend on a part-time basis, confirm it is an option as well. And if you have decided to study online, with the clinical training requirement, make sure those hours can also be completed within your schedule. And ask what the make-up procedure is should you need to miss any classes as a result of emergencies or illness.

Why Did You Choose to Become a Phlebotomy Tech?

When preparing to interview for a Phlebotomist position, it's advantageous to review questions you might be asked. One of the questions that recruiters typically ask Phlebotomy Technician applicants is "What drove you to pick Phlebotomy as a career?". What the interviewer is trying to uncover is not merely the private reasons you might have for being Phlebotomy Tech, but additionally what attributes and skills you have that make you good at what you do. You will undoubtedly be asked questions pertaining exclusively to Phlebotomy, in addition to a significant number of routine interview questions, so you need to prepare a number of strategies about how you would like to answer them. Since there are so many variables that go into choosing a career, you can respond to this primary question in a variety of ways. When preparing an answer, try to include the reasons the profession interests you in addition to the talents you possess that make you an excellent Phlebotomy Technician and the leading candidate for the job. Don't make an effort to memorize a response, but jot down a few concepts and talking points that pertain to your own experiences and strengths. Reading through sample answers can assist you to prepare your own thoughts, and inspire ideas of what to include to wow the interviewer.

Find the Ideal Phlebotomist Program near Olney IL

Making certain that you select the most suitable phlebotomy training is an essential first step toward your success in this rewarding medical care career position. As we have covered in this article, there are multiple factors that go into the selection of a quality program. Phlebotomist training programs are available in a variety of educational institutes, such as junior or community colleges, trade schools, and colleges and universities that offer an extensive assortment of programs in healthcare and medical sciences. Training program options can vary somewhat across the country as each state has its own criteria when it comes to phlebotomy training, certification and licensing. The most critical point is that you must diligently evaluate and compare each program prior to making your ultimate choice. By addressing the questions that we have provided, you will be able to narrow down your choices so that you can pick the best school for you. And with the proper training, you can reach your goal of becoming a phlebotomy technician in Olney IL.

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