Selecting a Phlebotomy School near Covington Indiana

Selecting the right phlebotomy school near Covington IN is an essential initial step toward a rewarding profession as a phlebotomist. It may seem like a difficult undertaking to investigate and compare each of the school alternatives that are accessible to you. Nevertheless it’s important that you complete your due diligence to make sure that you get a quality education. In fact, a large number of students begin the process by considering two of the qualifiers that initially come to mind, which are cost and location. An additional factor you may 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 keep in mind is that there is far more to comparing phlebotomy training programs than locating the cheapest or the closest one. Other factors including accreditation and reputation are also significant considerations and need to be part of your decision process also. Toward that end, we will provide a list of questions that you should ask each of the phlebotomy schools you are assessing to help you pick the right one for you. But before we do that, let’s address what a phlebotomist is and does, and afterwards continue our discussion about online schools.

Phlebotomist Job Summary

A phlebotomist, or phlebotomy technician, draws blood from patients. While that is their principal duty, there is in fact so much more to their job description. Before collecting a blood sample, a phlebotomist needs to check that the instruments being used are sterile and single use only. After collection, the sample has to be properly labeled with the patient’s information. Next, paperwork has to be correctly filled out to be able to track the sample from the point of collection through the laboratory testing process. The phlebotomist then transports 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 Covington IN phlebotomists actually work in labs and are in charge of ensuring that samples are analyzed correctly utilizing the strictest quality control procedures. And if those weren’t enough responsibilities, they can be called upon to instruct other phlebotomists in the collection, transport and follow-up process.

Where do Phlebotomy Techs Practice?

The simplest answer is wherever there are patients. Their work places are numerous and diverse, such as Covington IN hospitals, medical clinics, long-term care facilities, or blood banks. They can be assigned to draw blood samples from patients of all ages, from babies or young children to senior citizens. A number of phlebotomy techs, depending on their training and their practice, specialize in collecting samples from a certain kind of patient. For example, those practicing in an assisted living facility or nursing home would exclusively be collecting blood from elderly patients. If they are practicing in a maternity ward, they would be collecting blood from newborns and mothers exclusively. On the other hand, phlebotomists working in a general hospital environment would be collecting samples from a wide variety of patients and would collect samples from new patients each day.

Phlebotomist Education, Certification and Licensing

There are essentially 2 types of programs that furnish phlebotomy training in Covington IN, which are degree and certificate programs. The certificate program generally takes under a year to finish and offers a general education together with the training on how to draw blood. It offers the quickest route to becoming a phlebotomy tech. An Associate of Science Degree in Clinical Laboratory Science, although not specifically a phlebotomist degree, will provide training on becoming a phlebotomist. Offered at junior and community colleges, they typically take 2 years to complete. Bachelor’s Degrees are not as accessible and as a four year program offer a more comprehensive background in lab sciences. When you have completed your training, you will probably want to get certified. Although not required in the majority of states, a number of employers require certification prior to hiring 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 call for certification in order to practice as a phlebotomy tech, like Nevada and California. California and a handful of additional states even require licensing. So it’s important that you choose a phlebotomist training program that not only supplies a superior education, but also prepares you for any licensing or certification examinations that you are required or elect to take.

Online Phlebotomist Training

To begin with, let’s dispel one likely mistaken belief. You can’t receive all of your phlebotomist training online. A good component of the program of studies will be clinical training and it will be conducted either in an approved Covington IN healthcare facility or an on-campus lab|an on-campus lab or an approved healthcare facility}. Many courses also require completion of an internship prior to graduation. But since the non-practical part of the training can be accessed online, it could be a more convenient alternative for some students. As an additional benefit, some online classes are less expensive than their traditional counterparts. And some expenses, including those for textbooks or commuting, may be reduced as well. Just make certain that the online phlebotomy college you select is accredited by a national or regional accrediting organization (more on accreditation later). With both the extensive clinical and online training, you can receive a premium education with this method of learning. If you are dedicated enough to study at home, then earning your certificate or degree online may be the right choice for you.

What to Ask Phlebotomy Colleges

Now that you have a general understanding about what is involved in becoming a phlebotomy tech, it’s time to begin your due diligence process. You might have already selected the kind of program you want to enroll in, whether it be for a certificate or a degree. As we previously mentioned, the location of the Indiana school is important as well as the cost of tuition. Maybe you have opted to enroll in an online phlebotomist college. Each of these decisions are a critical component of the process for choosing a program or school. But they are not the only considerations when arriving at your decision. Below we have provided several questions that you should ask about all of the Covington IN colleges you are reviewing prior to making your final decision.

Is the Phlebotomy Program Specific to Your State? As mentioned previously, each state has its own regulations for practicing as a phlebotomy technician. Several states call for certification, while some others mandate licensing. Each has its own prerequisite regarding the minimum hours of practical training completed prior to practicing as a phlebotomy tech. As a result, you may have to pass a State Board, licensing or certification exam. Therefore it’s very important to choose a phlebotomy program that fulfills the state specific requirements for Indiana or the state where you will be practicing and preps you for all examinations you may have to take.

Is the School Accredited? The phlebotomist program and school you select should be accredited by a recognized national or regional accrediting organization, such as the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS). There are a number of advantages to graduating from an accredited program in addition to a guarantee of a premium education. First, if your program is not accredited, you will not be able to sit for a certification examination administered by any of the earlier listed certifying organizations. Also, accreditation will help in getting financial aid or loans, which are often unavailable for non-accredited schools in Covington IN. Last, earning a certificate or a degree from an accredited school can make you more desirable to potential employers in the job market.

What is the School’s Ranking? In a number of states there is minimal or no regulation of phlebotomy colleges, so there are some that are not of the highest caliber. So along with accreditation, it’s important to check the reputations of all colleges you are reviewing. You can begin by requesting references from the schools from employers where they place their students as part of their job assistance program. You can screen online school rating and review services and solicit the accrediting agencies for their reviews as well. You can even talk to some Covington IN area clinics or hospitals that you may be interested in working for and ask if they can provide any insights. As a final thought, you can check with the Indiana school licensing authority and ask if any grievances have been filed or if the colleges are in total compliance.

Is Plenty of Training Provided? To begin with, contact the Indiana 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. As a minimum, any Covington IN phlebotomy program that you are considering should provide at least 40 hours of classroom training (the majority require 120) and 120 hours of clinical training. Anything less than these minimums may indicate that the program is not comprehensive enough to offer adequate training.

Are Internship Programs Provided? Find out from the Indiana programs you are reviewing if they have an internship program in partnership with area healthcare facilities. They are the optimal means to get hands-on practical training typically not provided on campus. As an added benefit, internships can help students develop contacts within the local Covington IN healthcare community. And they look good on resumes also.

Is Job Placement Help Available? Finding your first phlebotomy position will be much easier with the help of a job placement program. Ask if the schools you are reviewing offer assistance and what their job placement rate is. If a school has a high rate, signifying they place most of their students in jobs, it’s an indication that the college has both an excellent reputation as well as a large network of professional contacts within the Covington IN health care community.

Are Classes Available as Needed? And last, it’s crucial to make sure that the final program you pick provides classes at times that will accommodate your hectic schedule. This is especially important if you choose to still work while attending college. If you can only go to classes in the evenings or on weekends near Covington IN, make sure they are offered at those times. Additionally, if you can only attend part-time, confirm it is an option as well. Even if you have decided to study online, with the clinical training requirement, make certain those hours can also be completed within your schedule. And ask what the make-up procedure is should you have to miss any classes because of illness or emergencies.

Why Did You Want to Become a Phlebotomy Tech?

When getting ready to interview for a Phlebotomy Tech job, it's advantageous to consider questions you could be asked. One of the questions that recruiters typically ask Phlebotomist candidates is "What compelled you to decide on Phlebotomy as a profession?". What the interviewer is attempting to uncover is not only the personal reasons you may have for being Phlebotomy Tech, but also what qualities and abilities you have that make you good at what you do. You will likely be asked questions pertaining specifically to Phlebotomy, in addition to a certain number of general interview questions, so you need to organize a number of approaches about how you want to answer them. Because there are numerous variables that go into selecting a career, you can address this fundamental question in a multitude of ways. When formulating an answer, aim to include the reasons the profession appeals to you as well as the abilities you possess 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 topics that pertain to your own experiences and strengths. Reading through sample answers can assist you to formulate your own thoughts, and give you ideas of what to include to impress the interviewer.

Find the Ideal Phlebotomist College near Covington IN

Making sure that you choose the ideal phlebotomy training is an essential first step toward your success in this fulfilling health care career position. As we have addressed in this article, there are multiple factors that go into the selection of a quality college. Phlebotomy training programs are found in a number of educational institutes, including community or junior colleges, trade schools, and colleges and universities that provide a comprehensive range of programs in healthcare and medical sciences. Course options may vary slightly across the country as every state has its own criteria when it pertains to phlebotomist training, licensing and certification. The most critical point is that you must diligently screen and compare each college before making your ultimate decision. By addressing the questions that we have presented, you will be able to narrow down your options so that you can select the right college for you. And with the proper education, you can realize your goal of becoming a phlebotomy technician in Covington IN.

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