Choosing a Phlebotomy School near Orrs Island Maine

Enrolling in the ideal phlebotomy technician training near Orrs Island ME is an essential first step toward a gratifying profession as a phlebotomist. It may seem like a challenging undertaking to evaluate and compare all of the training options that are available to you. However it’s necessary that you perform your due diligence to ensure that you obtain a quality education. In fact, a large number of students begin the process by considering 2 of the qualifiers that initially come to mind, which are location and cost. An additional option you might look into is whether to attend online classes or commute to a local campus. We’ll review a bit more about online classes later in this article. What you need to remember is that there is much 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 must be part of your selection process as well. Toward that end, we will provide a list of questions that you need to ask each of the phlebotomy schools you are reviewing to help you pick the right one for you. But before we do that, let’s cover what a phlebotomist is and does, and afterwards resume our conversation about online training.

Phlebotomy Tech Work Description

A phlebotomist, or phlebotomy technician, collects blood samples from patients. Although that is their primary function, there is actually much more to their job description. Before drawing a blood sample, a phlebotomist must confirm that the tools being used are single use only and sterile. Following the collection, the sample must be properly labeled with the patient’s data. Afterward, paperwork needs to be properly filled out to be able to track the sample from the point of collection through the lab screening process. The phlebotomist then transports the blood to either an in-house lab or to an outside lab facility where it can be tested for such things as infectious diseases, pregnancy or blood type. Many Orrs Island ME phlebotomists in fact work in labs and are accountable for making sure that samples are analyzed properly utilizing the strictest quality assurance procedures. And if those weren’t sufficient responsibilities, they might be called upon to instruct other phlebotomists in the drawing, transport and follow-up process.

Where do Phlebotomists Work?

The simplest answer is wherever there are patients. Their work places are many and diverse, such as Orrs Island ME medical clinics, hospitals, long-term care facilities, or blood centers. They can be assigned to draw blood samples from patients of all ages, from babies or toddlers to senior citizens. A number of phlebotomists, depending on their training and their practice, specialize in drawing samples from a specific kind of patient. For example, those practicing in an assisted living facility or nursing home would exclusively be collecting blood from senior patients. If they are working in a maternity ward, they would be drawing blood from mothers and newborns solely. On the other hand, phlebotomists practicing in a general hospital setting would be drawing blood from a wide range of patients and would collect samples from new patients each day.

Phlebotomist Training, Certification and Licensing

There are essentially two kinds of programs that furnish phlebotomy training in Orrs Island ME, which are degree and certificate programs. The certificate program normally takes under a year to complete and provides a general education together with the training on how to draw blood. It provides the quickest method to becoming a phlebotomist. An Associate of Science Degree in Clinical Laboratory Science, although not specifically a phlebotomy degree, will provide training on becoming a phlebotomist. Offered at junior and community colleges, they normally require two years to complete. Bachelor’s Degrees are not as accessible and as a four year program offer a more expansive foundation in lab sciences. When you have completed your training, you will probably want to be certified. While not required in most states, most employers look for certification before hiring technicians. Some of the principal 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 call for certification prior to practicing as a phlebotomy tech, such as California and Nevada. California and a few additional states even require licensing. So it’s imperative that you select a phlebotomist training program that not only supplies a premium education, but also preps you for any licensing or certification examinations that you are required or elect to take.

Phlebotomy Online Colleges

To begin with, let’s dispel one possible misconception. You can’t receive all of your phlebotomist training online. A significant component of the course of study will be clinical training and it will be performed either in an approved Orrs 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 prior to graduation. However since the non-practical component of the training may be attended online, it may be a more convenient option for some students. As an added benefit, many online colleges are more affordable than their on-campus competitors. And some expenditures, including those for commuting or textbooks, may be lessened also. Just verify that the online phlebotomist college you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization (more on accreditation to follow). With both the comprehensive online and clinical training, you can obtain a premium education with this method of learning. If you are dedicated enough to learn at home, then obtaining your degree or certificate online may be the ideal option for you.

Questions to Ask Phlebotomy Schools

Now that you have a general understanding about what is involved in becoming a phlebotomist, it’s time to start your due diligence process. You might have already chosen the type of program you intend to enroll in, whether it be for a certificate or a degree. As we previously mentioned, the location of the Maine school is important in addition to the cost of tuition. Maybe you have decided to enroll in an phlebotomist online program. All of these decisions are a critical component of the process for selecting 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 Orrs Island ME schools you are looking at before making your final selection.

Is the Phlebotomist Program Specific to Maine? As mentioned previously, each state has its own regulations for practicing as a phlebotomist. Several states require certification, while a few others mandate licensing. Each has its own prerequisite regarding the minimum amount of clinical training performed prior to working as a phlebotomy tech. Consequently, you may need to pass a State Board, certification or licensing 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 exams you may have to take.

Is the College Accredited? The phlebotomist school and program you choose should be accredited by a recognized regional or national accrediting organization, for example the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS). There are a number of benefits to graduating from an accredited school aside from an assurance of a quality education. First, if your program is not accredited, you will not qualify to sit for a certification examination administered by any of the earlier listed certifying agencies. Also, accreditation will help in getting loans or financial assistance, which are often not available for non-accredited schools in Orrs Island ME. Finally, earning a certificate or a degree from an accredited college can make you more attractive to potential employers in the job market.

What is the Program’s Ranking? In a number of states there is little or no regulation of phlebotomy schools, so there are those that are not of the highest quality. So in addition to accreditation, it’s imperative to investigate the reputations of all colleges you are considering. You can begin by requesting references from the schools from employers where they place their graduates as part of their job assistance program. You can screen internet school reviews and rating services and ask the accrediting organizations for their reviews as well. You can even contact some Orrs Island ME area hospitals or clinics that you may be interested in working for and ask if they can offer any insights. As a closing thought, you can contact the Maine school licensing authority and find out if any grievances have been submitted or if the schools are in total compliance.

Is Adequate Training Included? To begin with, 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 length of training, both classroom and practical. As a minimum, any Orrs Island ME phlebotomist program that you are looking at should furnish no less than 40 hours of classroom training (the majority require 120) and 120 hours of clinical training. Anything less than these minimums may signify that the program is not expansive enough to provide sufficient training.

Are Internships Sponsored? Find out from the Maine colleges you are reviewing if they have an internship program in collaboration with regional health care facilities. They are the ideal means to get hands-on clinical training typically not provided on campus. As an added benefit, internships can help students establish contacts within the local Orrs Island ME medical community. And they are a plus on resumes also.

Is Job Placement Help Offered? Getting your first phlebotomist position will be a lot easier with the assistance of a job placement program. Find out if the programs you are considering 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 school has both an excellent reputation along with an extensive network of professional contacts within the Orrs Island ME medical community.

Are Classes Offered to Fit Your Schedule? And last, it’s crucial to confirm that the ultimate school you pick offers classes at times that will accommodate your hectic schedule. This is particularly true if you choose to still work while attending school. If you need to attend classes in the evenings or on weekends near Orrs Island ME, check that they are available at those times. Additionally, if you can only attend part-time, verify it is an option as well. And if you have decided to attend online, with the practical training requirement, make certain those hours can also be completed within your schedule. And find out what the make-up protocol is in case you need to miss any classes due to emergencies or illness.

Why Did You Desire to Be a Phlebotomy Technician?

When prepping to interview for a Phlebotomist job, it's helpful to review questions you may be asked. Among the things that interviewers often ask Phlebotomy Tech applicants is "What compelled you to decide on Phlebotomy as a career?". What the interviewer is hoping to discover is not only the personal reasons you might have for becoming Phlebotomist, but also what attributes and abilities you possess that make you good at your profession. You will undoubtedly be asked questions pertaining primarily to Phlebotomy, in addition to a certain number of general interview questions, so you need to prepare a number of approaches about how you want to respond to them. Because there are several factors that go into selecting a career, you can answer this fundamental question in a variety of ways. When readying an answer, try to include the reasons the work interests you along with the talents you possess that make you an exceptional Phlebotomy Technician and the leading choice for the position. Don't make an effort to memorize an answer, but take down several concepts and talking points that pertain to your own experiences and strengths. Reviewing sample responses can help you to formulate your own concepts, and inspire ideas of what to discuss to wow the recruiter.

Select the Best Phlebotomy Course near Orrs Island ME

Making sure that you select the right phlebotomy training is a critical first step toward your success in this fulfilling healthcare career position. As we have covered in this article, there are multiple factors that contribute toward the selection of a superior school. Phlebotomy training programs are found in a number of academic institutes, including junior or community colleges, vocational schools, and colleges and universities that offer a wide array of programs in healthcare and medical sciences. Program options may differ somewhat from state to state as each state has its own requirements when it concerns phlebotomist training, certification and licensing. The most critical point is that you need to carefully evaluate and compare each college before making your final selection. By addressing the questions that we have provided, you will be able to fine tune your choices so that you can pick the best program for you. And with the appropriate education, you can reach your goal of becoming a phlebotomy technician in Orrs Island ME.

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