Selecting a Phlebotomist Training Program near Georgetown Kentucky

Enrolling in the ideal phlebotomist school near Georgetown KY is a critical first step toward a rewarding career as a phlebotomist. It might seem like a daunting task to analyze and compare all of the school options that are available to you. Nevertheless it’s important that you complete your due diligence to make sure that you obtain a quality education. In fact, many potential students start the process by considering 2 of the qualifiers that first come to mind, which are cost and location. Another factor you may look into is whether to attend classes online or commute to a local campus. We’ll review more about online schools later in this article. What’s important to keep in mind is that there is a lot more to comparing phlebotomy training programs than finding the cheapest or the closest one. Other factors including accreditation and reputation are also important considerations and should be part of your decision process as well. To assist in that effort, we will supply a list of questions that you should ask each of the phlebotomy schools you are evaluating to help you pick 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 tech, collects blood samples from patients. Although that is their primary duty, there is in fact so much more to their job description. Before collecting a blood sample, a phlebotomist must confirm that the instruments being employed are sterile and single use only. After collection, the sample must be properly labeled with the patient’s data. Next, paperwork has to be accurately completed to be able to track the sample from the time of collection through the laboratory screening procedure. The phlebotomist then transports the blood to either an an outside lab facility or an in-house lab where it can be screened for such things as pregnancy, infectious diseases or blood type. A number of Georgetown KY phlebotomists in fact work in laboratories and are accountable for making sure that samples are analyzed properly under the highest quality control procedures. And if those weren’t enough responsibilities, they might be called upon to instruct other phlebotomists in the collection, delivery and follow-up process.

Where do Phlebotomy Techs Work?

The easiest answer is wherever patients are treated. Their work environments are numerous and varied, such as Georgetown KY hospitals, medical clinics, long-term care facilities, or blood centers. They can be charged to draw blood samples from patients of of every age, from infants or young children to senior citizens. A number of phlebotomists, depending on their training and their practice, specialize in collecting samples from a specific kind of patient. For instance, those working in an assisted living facility or nursing home would exclusively be drawing blood from elderly 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 drawing samples from a wide variety of patients and would work with new patients on a daily basis.

Phlebotomy Technician Training, Certification and Licensing

There are basically 2 kinds of programs that furnish phlebotomy training in Georgetown KY, which are certificate and degree programs. The certificate program typically takes under a year to complete and offers a general education together with the training on how to draw blood. It offers the quickest method to becoming a phlebotomist. An Associate of Science Degree in Clinical Laboratory Science, although not specifically a phlebotomist degree, will incorporate training on becoming a phlebotomy tech. Offered at junior and community colleges, they typically require two years to complete. Bachelor’s Degrees are less accessible and as a four year program furnish a more extensive foundation in lab sciences. When you have finished your training, you will no doubt want to be certified. Although not required in most states, many employers look for certification before 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 several 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 provides a superior education, but also preps you for any licensing or certification exams that you are required or elect to take.

Online Phlebotomist Classes

To start with, let’s dispel one possible mistaken belief. You can’t get all of your phlebotomist training online. A good component of the curriculum will be clinical training and it will be carried out either in an approved Georgetown KY healthcare facility or an on-campus lab|an on-campus lab or an approved healthcare facility}. A large number of courses also require completing an internship in order to graduate. However since the non-clinical component of the training can be accessed online, it might be a more practical alternative for many students. As an additional benefit, many online programs are less expensive than their on-campus competitors. And some costs, such as those for commuting or textbooks, may be minimized as well. Just make certain that the online phlebotomist program you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization (more on accreditation to follow). With both the extensive online and clinical training, you can obtain a superior education with this means of learning. If you are disciplined enough to learn at home, then obtaining your degree or certificate online might be the right choice for you.

What to Ask Phlebotomist Schools

Since you now have a general idea about what it takes to become a phlebotomist, it’s time to start your due diligence process. You might 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 Kentucky college is relevant as well as the cost of tuition. Possibly you have decided to enroll in an phlebotomy online program. Each of these decisions are an important part of the procedure for selecting a school or program. But they are not the only concerns when making your decision. Below we have provided a few questions that you should ask about each of the Georgetown KY colleges you are looking at prior to making your ultimate decision.

Is the Phlebotomy Program State Specific? As earlier discussed, each state has its own laws for practicing as a phlebotomy technician. Several states require certification, while a few others require licensing. Every state has its own prerequisite regarding the minimum amount of clinical training performed before working as a phlebotomist. As a result, you might have to pass a State Board, certification or licensing examination. Therefore it’s extremely important to enroll in a phlebotomist program that satisfies the state specific requirements for Kentucky or the state where you will be practicing and readies you for all exams you may be required to take.

Is the College Accredited? The phlebotomy school and program you pick should be accredited by a reputable 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 a guarantee of a quality education. First, if your program has not received accreditation, you will not be able to sit for a certification exam offered by any of the earlier listed certifying agencies. Also, accreditation will help in obtaining financial aid or loans, which are typically unavailable for non-accredited programs in Georgetown KY. Finally, graduating from an accredited college can make you more attractive to prospective employers in the job market.

What is the School’s Reputation? In numerous states there is minimal or no regulation of phlebotomist schools, so there are some that are not of the highest caliber. So in addition to accreditation, it’s important to investigate the reputations of any colleges you are reviewing. You can begin by asking the schools for references from employers where they refer their students as part of their job assistance program. You can screen internet school reviews and rating services and ask the accrediting agencies for their reviews also. You can even contact a few Georgetown KY local clinics or hospitals that you might be interested in working for and ask if they can offer any recommendations. As a closing thought, you can contact the Kentucky school licensing authority and find out if any complaints have been filed or if the schools are in full compliance.

Is Ample Training Provided? To begin with, check with the Kentucky regulator or the state regulator where you will be practicing to find out if there are any minimum requirements for the amount of training, both classroom and practical. At a minimum, any Georgetown KY phlebotomy program that you are considering should provide at least 40 hours of classroom training (the majority require 120) and 120 hours of practical training. Anything lower than these minimums might signify that the program is not comprehensive enough to furnish adequate training.

Are Internship Programs Included? Ask the Kentucky programs you are reviewing if they have an internship program in collaboration with area medical facilities. They are the ideal way to obtain hands-on clinical training typically not obtainable on campus. As an added benefit, internships can assist students establish contacts within the local Georgetown KY health care community. And they look good on resumes also.

Is Job Placement Help Offered? Finding your first phlebotomist position will be much easier with the assistance of a job placement program. Find out if the colleges you are looking at offer assistance and what their job placement rate is. If a school has a high rate, signifying they place the majority of their students in jobs, it’s an indication that the college has both a good reputation together with a large network of professional contacts within the Georgetown KY medical community.

Are Class Times Conveniently Scheduled? And last, it’s critical to confirm that the final program you pick offers classes at times that are compatible with your active lifestyle. This is particularly true if you opt to continue working while going to school. If you need to go to classes at night or on weekends near Georgetown KY, make certain they are offered at those times. Additionally, if you can only attend on a part-time basis, confirm it is an option also. Even if you have decided to attend online, with the clinical training requirement, make certain those hours can also be completed within your schedule. And find out what the make-up protocol is should you have to miss any classes as a result of emergencies or illness.

Why Did You Decide to Be a Phlebotomy Tech?

When prepping to interview for a Phlebotomy Technician position, it's a good idea to reflect on questions you may be asked. Among the things that recruiters often ask Phlebotomist candidates is "What compelled you to select Phlebotomy as a profession?". What the interviewer is hoping to learn is not only the personal reasons you might have for becoming Phlebotomist, but additionally what characteristics and abilities you possess that make you exceptional at what you do. You will likely be asked questions relating exclusively to Phlebotomy, along with a certain number of typical interview questions, so you need to organize some strategies about how you want to answer them. Considering there are so many variables that go into selecting a career, you can address this primary question in a number of ways. When readying an answer, attempt to include the reasons the profession interests you in addition to the abilities you have that make you an exceptional Phlebotomy Tech and the leading candidate for the job. Don't make an effort to memorize an answer, but take down some concepts and topics that pertain to your personal strengths and experiences. Going over sample answers can help you to formulate your own concepts, and inspire ideas of what to discuss to wow the recruiter.

Enroll in the Ideal Phlebotomist Program near Georgetown KY

Making sure that you select the ideal phlebotomist training is a critical first step toward your success in this gratifying medical care career position. As we have addressed in this article, there are multiple factors that go into the selection of a premium college. Phlebotomist training programs are offered in a number of educational institutes, including junior or community colleges, vocational schools, and colleges and universities that provide a wide assortment of programs in medical care and health sciences. Program offerings can vary somewhat from state to state as each state has its own requirements when it comes to phlebotomist training, licensing and certification. The most critical point is that you need to thoroughly evaluate and compare each college before making your ultimate decision. By asking the questions that we have presented, you will be able to fine tune your choices so that you can select the best school for you. And with the proper training, you can achieve your goal of becoming a phlebotomy technician in Georgetown KY.

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