Picking a Phlebotomist School near Wilmore Kentucky

Choosing the right phlebotomist school near Wilmore KY is a critical initial step toward a gratifying profession as a phlebotomist. It might seem like a difficult undertaking to assess and compare each of the training alternatives that are accessible to you. However it’s vital that you complete your due diligence to make sure that you obtain a superior education. In fact, many prospective students begin their search by looking at 2 of the qualifiers that initially come to mind, which are location and cost. An additional factor you may consider is whether to attend classes online or commute to a nearby campus. We’ll review a bit more about online schools later in this article. What you need to keep in mind is that there is much more to comparing phlebotomy training programs than finding the cheapest or the closest one. Other variables such as reputation and accreditation are also important considerations and need to be part of your decision process too. To assist in that effort, we will provide a list of questions that you need to ask each of the phlebotomy schools you are assessing to help you pick the best one for you. But before we do that, let’s cover what a phlebotomist is and does, and then continue our conversation about online classes.

Phlebotomy Technician Work Summary

A phlebotomist, or phlebotomy tech, draws blood from patients. Although that is their primary duty, there is in fact far more to their job description. Before collecting a blood sample, a phlebotomist has to confirm that the tools being used are single use only and sterile. After collection, the sample must be correctly labeled with the patient’s data. Afterward, paperwork needs to be correctly completed to be able to track the sample from the point of collection through the laboratory screening process. The phlebotomist then delivers the blood to either an in-house lab or to an outside lab facility where it can be screened for such things as pregnancy, infectious diseases or blood type. A number of Wilmore KY phlebotomists in fact work in laboratories and are accountable for ensuring that samples are analyzed correctly using the highest quality assurance procedures. And if those weren’t sufficient duties, they might be required to instruct other phlebotomists in the drawing, transport and follow-up process.

Where do Phlebotomists Work?

The easiest answer is wherever they treat patients. Their workplaces are many and diverse, including Wilmore KY medical clinics, hospitals, long-term care facilities, or blood centers. They can be tasked to collect blood samples from patients of all ages, from babies or toddlers to seniors. Some phlebotomists, based on their practice and their training, specialize in drawing samples from a particular type of patient. For instance, those working in an assisted living facility or nursing home would solely be drawing blood from elderly patients. If they are practicing in a maternity ward, they would be drawing blood from newborns and mothers exclusively. On the other hand, phlebotomists working in a general hospital environment would be drawing blood from a wide variety of patients and would collect samples from new patients on a daily basis.

Phlebotomist Education, Licensing and Certification

There are essentially 2 kinds of programs that provide phlebotomy training in Wilmore KY, which are degree and certificate programs. The certificate program generally takes less than a year to finish and offers a general education along with the training on how to draw blood. It offers the quickest means to becoming a phlebotomist. An Associate of Science Degree in Clinical Laboratory Science, although not specifically a phlebotomist degree, will incorporate training to become a phlebotomist. Available at junior and community colleges, they typically require 2 years to complete. Bachelor’s Degrees are not as 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 be certified. While not mandated in most states, most employers require certification prior to hiring technicians. Some of the main certifying agencies include:

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

There are some states that do require certification in order to practice as a phlebotomy tech, like California and Nevada. California and a handful of additional states even require licensing. So it’s important that you choose a phlebotomy training program that not only offers a premium education, but also readies you for any licensing or certification exams that you elect or are required to take.

Online Phlebotomy Classes

To begin with, let’s resolve one potential misconception. You can’t obtain all of your phlebotomy training online. A substantial component of the program of studies will be practical training and it will be performed either in an approved Wilmore KY 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. However since the non-practical portion of the training can be attended online, it could be a more practical alternative for some students. As an added benefit, a number of online classes are less expensive than their on-campus competitors. And some expenditures, including those for commuting or textbooks, may be reduced as well. Just make sure that the online phlebotomist college you enroll in is accredited by a national or regional accrediting agency (more on accreditation later). With both the extensive online and clinical training, you can receive a quality education with this method of learning. If you are dedicated enough to learn at home, then earning your certificate or degree online may be the ideal option for you.

Topics to Ask Phlebotomy Schools

Now that you have a general idea about what is involved in becoming a phlebotomist, it’s time to initiate your due diligence process. You might have already decided on the kind of program you wish to enroll in, whether it be for a degree or a certificate. As we mentioned earlier, the location of the Kentucky school is significant as well as the cost of tuition. Maybe you have opted to enroll in an online phlebotomist program. Each of these decisions are a critical part of the procedure for choosing a school or program. But they are not the sole concerns when making your decision. Following are a few questions that you should ask about all of the Wilmore KY schools you are reviewing before making your final decision.

Is the Phlebotomist Program State Specific? As mentioned previously, each state has its own regulations for practicing as a phlebotomist. Some states call for certification, while some others require licensing. Each has its own requirement regarding the minimum hours of clinical training completed prior to working as a phlebotomist. Consequently, you may have to pass a State Board, certification or licensing exam. Therefore it’s extremely important to choose a phlebotomy program that fulfills the state specific requirements for Kentucky or the state where you will be practicing and preps you for all exams you may be required to take.

Is the School Accredited? The phlebotomist program and school you select should be accredited by a highly regarded national or regional accrediting organization, such as the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS). There are several benefits to graduating from an accredited school in addition to an assurance of a superior education. To begin with, if your program is not accredited, you will not qualify to sit for a certification exam offered by any of the previously listed certifying organizations. Next, accreditation will help in securing loans or financial assistance, which are frequently unavailable for non-accredited schools in Wilmore KY. Last, earning a certificate or a degree from an accredited school can make you more desirable to prospective employers in the job market.

What is the School’s Reputation? In numerous states there is little or no regulation of phlebotomist colleges, so there are some that are not of the highest quality. So along with accreditation, it’s imperative to check the reputations of all colleges you are reviewing. You can start by asking the schools for references from employers where they place their graduates as part of their job assistance program. You can research online school rating and review services and solicit the accrediting organizations for their reviews as well. You can even talk to a few Wilmore KY local hospitals or clinics that you may have an interest in working for and find out if they can offer any recommendations. As a final thought, you can check with the Kentucky school licensing authority and find out if any complaints have been submitted or if the colleges are in total compliance.

Is Ample Training Included? First, contact the Kentucky 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. As a minimum, any Wilmore KY phlebotomy program that you are reviewing should furnish no less than 40 hours of classroom training (the majority require 120) and 120 hours of practical training. Anything less than these minimums may indicate that the program is not comprehensive enough to offer sufficient training.

Are Internships Included? Find out from the Kentucky colleges you are reviewing if they have an internship program in partnership with regional medical facilities. They are the optimal way to get hands-on practical training typically not obtainable on campus. As an added benefit, internships can help students establish relationships within the local Wilmore KY health care community. And they are a plus on resumes as well.

Is Job Placement Assistance Available? Landing your first phlebotomy position will be much easier with the help of a job placement program. Find out if the programs you are reviewing offer assistance and what their job placement rate is. If a college has a higher rate, signifying they place the majority of their students in jobs, it’s an indication that the program has both a good reputation along with a substantial network of professional contacts within the Wilmore KY health care community.

Are Classes Conveniently Scheduled? Finally, it’s important to make sure that the final school you choose provides classes at times that will accommodate your busy lifestyle. This is especially true if you choose to continue working while going to college. If you need to attend classes at night or on weekends near Wilmore KY, check that they are available at those times. Also, if you can only attend on a part-time basis, confirm it is an option also. And if you have decided to attend online, with the practical training requirement, make certain those hours can also be fulfilled within your schedule. And find out what the make-up procedure is should you need to miss any classes as a result of emergencies or illness.

Why Did You Want to Be a Phlebotomy Technician?

When prepping to interview for a Phlebotomist job, it's a good idea to consider questions you may be asked. Among the things that interviewers frequently ask Phlebotomy Technician applicants is "What drove you to select Phlebotomy as a career?". What the interviewer is hoping to discover is not just the private reasons you may have for becoming Phlebotomy Tech, but also what attributes and abilities you possess that make you outstanding at what you do. You will probably be asked questions pertaining primarily to Phlebotomy, in addition to a certain number of general interview questions, so you must prepare several ideas about how you would like to address them. Considering there are several factors that go into choosing a career, you can answer this fundamental question in a variety of ways. When preparing an answer, aim to include the reasons the profession appeals to you as well as the talents you have that make you an outstanding Phlebotomist and the perfiect candidate for the job. Don't try to memorize an answer, but take down a few concepts and anecdotes that pertain to your personal strengths and experiences. Going over sample answers can help you to formulate your own concepts, and give you ideas of what to include to enthuse the interviewer.

Enroll in the Best Phlebotomy Course near Wilmore KY

Making certain that you enroll in the right phlebotomy training is an essential first step toward your success in this fulfilling health care field. As we have covered in this article, there are several factors that go into the selection of a superior school. Phlebotomy training programs are available in a variety of academic institutes, such as community or junior colleges, vocational schools, and colleges and universities that offer a comprehensive array of courses in healthcare and medical sciences. Course offerings may vary somewhat across the country as each state has its own mandates when it pertains to phlebotomist training, certification and licensing. The most important point is that you need to diligently evaluate and compare each school before making your final 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 college for you. And with the proper education, you can achieve your goal of becoming a phlebotomist in Wilmore KY.

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