Selecting a Phlebotomist School near East Orleans Massachusetts

Enrolling in the right phlebotomy training near East Orleans MA is a critical first step toward a fulfilling career as a phlebotomist. It may seem like a challenging task to assess and compare each of the training options that are available to you. However it’s important that you complete your due diligence to make sure that you get a quality education. In reality, most students start their search by looking at two of the qualifiers that first come to mind, which are cost and location. Another option you may consider is whether to attend online classes or commute to an area campus. We’ll review a bit more about online classes 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 closest or the cheapest one. Other factors including accreditation and reputation are also significant considerations and need to be part of your selection process as well. Toward that end, we will furnish a list of questions that you should ask each of the phlebotomy schools you are assessing to help you select the right one for you. But prior to doing that, let’s cover what a phlebotomist is and does, and afterwards continue our discussion about online training.

Phlebotomist Job Summary

A phlebotomist, or phlebotomy technician, collects blood samples from patients. Although that is their principal responsibility, there is actually much more to their job description. Before drawing a blood sample, a phlebotomist needs to check that the instruments being employed are single use only and sterile. After collection, the sample needs to be correctly labeled with the patient’s data. Afterward, paperwork needs to be correctly 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 may be tested for such things as infectious diseases, pregnancy or blood type. Many East Orleans MA phlebotomists in fact work in laboratories and are accountable for making sure that samples are analyzed correctly using the strictest quality control procedures. And if those weren’t enough responsibilities, they can be required to train other phlebotomists in the collection, delivery and follow-up process.

Where do Phlebotomy Techs Practice?

The most basic answer is wherever they treat patients. Their work places are many and varied, including East Orleans MA hospitals, medical clinics, nursing homes, or blood centers. They can be charged to collect blood samples from patients of all ages, from infants or toddlers to senior citizens. Some phlebotomy techs, based on their training and their practice, specialize in drawing blood from a certain type of patient. For instance, 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 drawing blood from newborns and mothers exclusively. In contrast, phlebotomy technicians practicing in a general hospital environment would be collecting samples from a wide range of patients and would collect samples from new patients each day.

Phlebotomy Education, Licensing and Certification

There are essentially two types of programs that furnish phlebotomy training in East Orleans MA, which are certificate and degree programs. The certificate program usually takes under a year to complete and offers a basic education along with the training on how to draw blood. It provides the fastest route to becoming a phlebotomist. An Associate of Science Degree in Clinical Laboratory Science, although not exclusively a phlebotomy degree, will provide training to become a phlebotomist. Offered at community and junior colleges, they usually require 2 years to complete. Bachelor’s Degrees are not as available and as a 4 year program offer a more comprehensive foundation in lab sciences. Once you have finished your training, you will probably want to become certified. While not required in most states, many employers require certification before employing technicians. A few 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 a few states that do call for certification prior to practicing as a phlebotomist, such as Nevada and California. California and a few other states even require licensing. So it’s imperative that you choose a phlebotomy training program that not only provides a quality education, but also readies you for any certification or licensing exams that you elect or are required to take.

Phlebotomist Online Training

To start with, let’s dispel one potential misconception. You can’t obtain all of your phlebotomist training online. A significant part of the curriculum will be clinical training and it will be performed either in an approved East Orleans MA 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 prior to graduation. But since the non-practical part of the training may be accessed online, it can be a more convenient option for some students. As an additional benefit, a number of online schools are more affordable than their traditional counterparts. And some costs, such as those for textbooks or commuting, may be lessened also. Just confirm that the online phlebotomist school you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency (more on accreditation later). With both the comprehensive clinical and online training, you can receive a superior education with this means of learning. If you are disciplined enough to learn at home, then attaining your certificate or degree online might be the ideal option for you.

Questions to Ask Phlebotomist Colleges

Since you now have a basic idea about what is involved in becoming a phlebotomy tech, it’s time to start 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 mentioned earlier, the location of the Massachusetts campus is important in addition to the tuition expense. Perhaps you have decided to enroll in an online phlebotomy college. All of these decisions are an important component of the procedure for selecting a program or school. But they are not the only concerns when making your decision. Below we have provided some questions that you need to ask about all of the East Orleans MA schools you are reviewing before making your ultimate selection.

Is the Phlebotomist Program Specific to Your State? As mentioned previously, each state has its own requirements for practicing as a phlebotomy technician. Several states call for certification, while some others require licensing. Each has its own prerequisite regarding the minimum hours of clinical training completed before practicing as a phlebotomist. Consequently, you might have to pass a State Board, licensing or certification examination. Therefore it’s very important to choose a phlebotomy program that fulfills the state specific requirements for Massachusetts or the state where you will be working and prepares you for any exams you may have to take.

Is the College Accredited? The phlebotomist school and program you select should be accredited by a respected national or regional accrediting agency, such as the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS). There are many benefits to graduating from an accredited program aside from an assurance of a quality education. To begin with, if your program is not accredited, you will not qualify to take a certification examination administered by any of the previously listed certifying agencies. Next, accreditation will help in obtaining loans or financial assistance, which are typically not available for non-accredited colleges in East Orleans MA. Finally, graduating from an accredited school can make you more desirable to future employers in the job market.

What is the School’s Ranking? In a number of states there is little or no regulation of phlebotomy schools, so there are some that are not of the highest quality. So along with accreditation, it’s imperative to investigate the reputations of any schools you are reviewing. You can start by requesting references from the schools from employers where they refer their students as part of their job assistance program. You can research internet school rating and review services and ask the accrediting agencies for their reviews also. You can even talk to a few East Orleans MA local hospitals or clinics that you may be interested in working for and find out if they can provide any recommendations. As a closing thought, you can contact the Massachusetts school licensing authority and ask if any grievances have been filed or if the colleges are in full compliance.

Is Plenty of Training Provided? First, check with the Massachusetts regulator or the state regulator where you will be working to learn if there are any minimum requirements for the length of training, both clinical and classroom. At a minimum, any East Orleans MA phlebotomy program that you are looking at should provide at least 40 hours of classroom training (most require 120) and 120 hours of practical training. Anything less than these minimums might signify that the program is not expansive enough to furnish sufficient training.

Are Internship Programs Included? Find out from the Massachusetts programs you are looking at if they have an internship program in partnership with local health care facilities. They are the optimal means to receive hands-on clinical training typically not obtainable on campus. As an added benefit, internships can assist students establish contacts within the local East Orleans MA healthcare community. And they are a plus on resumes also.

Is Job Placement Help Offered? Finding your first phlebotomy position will be much easier with the support of a job placement program. Ask if the colleges you are reviewing provide assistance and what their job placement rate is. If a college has a high rate, meaning they place the majority of their students in jobs, it’s an indication that the school has both an excellent reputation together with a large network of professional contacts within the East Orleans MA health care community.

Are Class Times Available as Needed? Finally, it’s important to make sure that the final school you pick offers classes at times that will accommodate your busy schedule. This is especially true if you decide to continue working while going to school. If you need to go to classes in the evenings or on weekends near East Orleans MA, make certain they are available 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 attend online, with the clinical training requirement, make sure those hours can also be completed within your schedule. And find out what the make-up procedure is in case you need to miss any classes due to illness or emergencies.

Why Did You Decide to Be a Phlebotomist?

When getting ready to interview for a Phlebotomy Technician job, it's advantageous to review questions you might be asked. One of the questions that recruiters typically ask Phlebotomy Technician candidates is "What made you pick Phlebotomy as a profession?". What the interviewer is attempting to discover is not merely the personal reasons you might have for being Phlebotomy Tech, but additionally what characteristics and talents you possess that make you outstanding at your profession. You will likely be asked questions pertaining primarily to Phlebotomy, in addition to a significant number of routine interview questions, so you should prepare some strategies about how you want to answer them. Given that there are so many factors that go into selecting a career, you can respond to this primary question in a variety of ways. When formulating an answer, aim to include the reasons the work interests you in addition to the strengths you possess that make you an exceptional Phlebotomist 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 experiences and strengths. Going over sample answers can help you to prepare your own thoughts, and provide ideas of what to include to enthuse the recruiter.

Select the Best Phlebotomist School near East Orleans MA

Making sure that you select the right phlebotomy training is a critical first step toward your success in this gratifying healthcare field. As we have discussed in this article, there are a number of factors that contribute toward the selection of a superior program. Phlebotomist training programs are offered in a wide range of educational institutes, such as community or junior colleges, vocational schools, and colleges and universities that provide an extensive assortment of courses in healthcare and medical sciences. Program offerings can differ a bit across the country as each state has its own criteria when it comes to phlebotomist training, licensing and certification. The most important point is that you must thoroughly screen and compare each school prior to making your final decision. By asking the questions that we have furnished, you will be able to fine tune your options so that you can select the right program for you. And with the appropriate training, you can realize your goal of becoming a phlebotomist in East Orleans MA.

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