Choosing a Phlebotomy School near Long Island Maine

Choosing the right phlebotomy training near Long Island ME is a critical initial step toward a rewarding career as a phlebotomist. It might seem like a challenging task to analyze and compare each of the school alternatives that are available to you. Nevertheless it’s vital that you complete your due diligence to ensure that you obtain a quality education. In fact, a large number of potential students begin the process by looking at two of the qualifiers that initially come to mind, which are cost and location. Another factor you may consider is whether to attend classes online or commute to an area 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 a lot more to comparing phlebotomy training programs than locating the closest or the cheapest one. Other variables such as reputation and accreditation are also important considerations and need to be part of your selection process as well. 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 ideal one for you. But prior to doing that, let’s address what a phlebotomist is and does, and afterwards resume our discussion about online schools.

Phlebotomy Tech Work Description

A phlebotomist, or phlebotomy technician, draws blood from patients. Although that is their main function, there is in fact so much more to their job description. Prior to collecting a blood sample, a phlebotomist needs to check that the instruments being utilized are single use only and sterile. After collection, the sample needs to be properly labeled with the patient’s data. Afterward, paperwork needs to be accurately 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 can be screened for such things as pregnancy, infectious diseases or blood type. A number of Long Island ME phlebotomists in fact work in laboratories and are responsible for making sure that samples are tested correctly using the strictest quality assurance procedures. And if those weren’t sufficient duties, they might be asked to train other phlebotomists in the drawing, transport and follow-up process.

Where are Phlebotomists Employed?

The most basic response is wherever there are patients. Their work places are numerous and varied, including Long Island ME medical clinics, hospitals, long-term care facilities, or blood centers. They may be charged to draw blood samples from patients of of every age, from infants or toddlers to seniors. A number of phlebotomists, based on their training and their practice, specialize in collecting blood from a specific kind of patient. For example, those working in an assisted living facility or nursing home would only be drawing blood from older patients. If they are practicing in a maternity ward, they would be drawing blood from mothers and newborns exclusively. On the other hand, phlebotomy technicians practicing in a general hospital setting would be drawing samples from a wide range of patients and would collect samples from different patients every day.

Phlebotomy Technician Education, Licensing and Certification

There are primarily 2 kinds of programs that offer phlebotomist training in Long Island ME, which are degree and certificate programs. The certificate program generally takes less than a year to finish and provides a basic education as well as the training on how to draw blood. It offers the fastest route to becoming a phlebotomy tech. An Associate of Science Degree in Clinical Laboratory Science, even though it’s not specifically a phlebotomist degree, will provide training on becoming a phlebotomy tech. Offered at junior and community colleges, they normally require two years to finish. Bachelor’s Degrees are not as available and as a four year program provide a more expansive foundation in lab sciences. After you have finished your training, you will probably want to get certified. Although not mandated in the majority of states, many employers look for certification before employing technicians. Some of the principal certifying organizations include:

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

There are several states that do require certification in order to practice as a phlebotomist, such as Nevada and California. California and a handful of additional states even require licensing. So it’s essential that you enroll in a phlebotomist training program that not only offers a quality education, but also preps you for any licensing or certification exams that you are required or elect to take.

Online Phlebotomist Certificates and Degrees

First, let’s resolve one possible mistaken belief. You can’t get all of your phlebotomy training online. A good component of the curriculum will be clinical training and it will be conducted either in an approved Long Island ME 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-clinical component of the training may be accessed online, it can be a more convenient alternative for some students. As an added benefit, many online classes are less expensive than their on-campus counterparts. And some expenditures, including those for textbooks or commuting, may be lowered as well. Just make sure that the online phlebotomist school you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency (more on accreditation later). With both the comprehensive clinical and online training, you can obtain a premium education with this method of learning. If you are disciplined enough to learn at home, then obtaining your certificate or degree online may be the ideal option for you.

Questions to Ask Phlebotomy Colleges

Since you now have a general understanding about what it takes to become a phlebotomist, it’s time to begin your due diligence process. You may have already picked the kind of program you want to enroll in, whether it be for a degree or a certificate. As we previously mentioned, the location of the Maine campus is significant as well as the cost of tuition. Possibly you have opted to enroll in an online phlebotomist college. Each of these decisions are a critical part of the procedure for choosing a school or program. But they are not the only considerations when making your decision. Below we have provided some questions that you need to ask about each of the Long Island ME schools you are reviewing before making your final decision.

Is the Phlebotomy Program Specific to Your State? As previously mentioned, each state has its own requirements for practicing as a phlebotomist. Some states require certification, while some others mandate licensing. Each has its own requirement regarding the minimum hours of clinical training performed before practicing as a phlebotomy tech. As a result, you may have to pass a State Board, licensing or certification examination. Therefore it’s extremely important to choose a phlebotomist program that meets the state specific requirements for Maine or the state where you will be working and prepares you for all examinations you may be required to take.

Is the College Accredited? The phlebotomy school and program you enroll in should be accredited by a respected regional or national accrediting organization, for example the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS). There are many advantages to graduating from an accredited program aside from an assurance of a premium education. First, if your program is not accredited, you will not be able to sit for a certification exam offered by any of the earlier listed certifying organizations. Next, accreditation will help in getting loans or financial assistance, which are frequently unavailable for non-accredited programs in Long Island ME. Finally, graduating from an accredited college can make you more attractive to potential employers in the job market.

What is the Program’s Reputation? In numerous states there is minimal or no regulation of phlebotomist colleges, so there are some that are not of the highest caliber. So along with accreditation, it’s essential to check out 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 research online school reviews and rating services and solicit the accrediting agencies for their reviews also. You can also talk to several Long Island ME area hospitals or clinics 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 Maine school licensing authority and find out if any complaints have been submitted or if the colleges are in total compliance.

Is Plenty of Training Provided? First, check with the Maine regulator or the state regulator where you will be working to find out if there are any minimum requirements for the amount of training, both classroom and practical. At a minimum, any Long Island ME phlebotomist program that you are considering should provide at least 40 hours of classroom training (most require 120) and 120 hours of practical training. Anything below these minimums may indicate that the program is not expansive enough to offer adequate training.

Are Internship Programs Included? Find out from the Maine colleges you are looking at if they have an internship program in partnership with area medical facilities. They are the optimal means to receive hands-on clinical training typically not provided on campus. As an additional benefit, internships can help students develop relationships within the local Long Island ME healthcare community. And they look good on resumes also.

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

Are Class Times Offered to Fit Your Schedule? Finally, it’s important to verify that the ultimate college you pick offers classes at times that are compatible with your hectic lifestyle. This is especially true if you opt to continue working while going to college. If you need to attend classes in the evenings or on weekends near Long Island ME, check that they are offered at those times. Also, if you can only attend on a part-time basis, verify it is an option as well. Even if you have decided to study online, with the clinical training requirement, make sure those hours can also be fulfilled within your schedule. And find out what the make-up policy is should you have to miss any classes because of illness or emergencies.

Why Did You Choose to Be a Phlebotomist?

When prepping to interview for a Phlebotomy Technician job, it's important to consider questions you might be asked. Among the questions that hiring managers often ask Phlebotomist applicants is "What made you select Phlebotomy as a career?". What the interviewer is hoping to discover is not merely the personal reasons you may have for being Phlebotomist, but also what characteristics and skills you possess that make you good at your profession. You will undoubtedly be asked questions relating primarily to Phlebotomy, in addition to a significant number of routine interview questions, so you need to ready a number of approaches about how you would like to respond to them. Since there are numerous variables that go into choosing a career, you can address this fundamental question in a number of ways. When preparing an answer, try to include the reasons the profession appeals to you as well as the abilities you have that make you an exceptional Phlebotomy Technician and the ideal candidate for the position. Don't make an effort to memorize a response, but write down a few ideas and talking points that relate to your personal strengths and experiences. Going over sample responses can help you to formulate your own concepts, and inspire ideas of what to include to wow the recruiter.

Choose the Best Phlebotomy Course near Long Island ME

Making certain that you select the most suitable phlebotomist training is an essential first step toward your success in this rewarding health care career position. As we have addressed in this article, there are multiple factors that contribute toward the selection of a superior school. Phlebotomist training programs are available in a number of academic institutions, such as junior or community colleges, trade schools, and colleges and universities that offer a wide array of programs in medical care and health sciences. Program options can differ slightly from state to state as every state has its own requirements when it pertains to phlebotomy training, licensing and certification. The most important point is that you need to carefully research and compare each college prior to making your final choice. By asking the questions that we have furnished, you will be able to narrow down your choices so that you can pick the right college for you. And with the proper education, you can achieve your goal of becoming a phlebotomy technician in Long Island ME.

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