Selecting a Phlebotomist Course near Keego Harbor Michigan

Choosing the right phlebotomist training near Keego Harbor MI is an essential initial step toward a fulfilling career as a phlebotomist. It might seem like a daunting undertaking to investigate and compare all of the school alternatives that are available to you. However it’s vital that you perform your due diligence to make sure that you receive a superior education. In fact, most prospective students start the process by considering two of the qualifiers that initially come to mind, which are location and cost. An additional factor you might look into is whether to attend online classes or commute to a nearby campus. We’ll review more about online classes later in this article. What’s important to remember is that there is far more to checking out phlebotomy training programs than locating the closest or the cheapest one. Other factors such as reputation and accreditation are also important considerations and must 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 reviewing to help you select the right one for you. But prior to doing that, let’s cover what a phlebotomist is and does, and then continue our conversation about online schools.

Phlebotomy Technician Job Summary

A phlebotomist, or phlebotomy tech, collects blood samples from patients. Although that is their primary function, there is actually so much more to their job description. Prior to drawing a blood sample, a phlebotomist has to confirm that the tools being employed are single use only and sterile. After collection, the sample needs to be properly labeled with the patient’s information. Next, paperwork has to be properly filled out in order to track the sample from the point of collection through the laboratory testing procedure. The phlebotomist then delivers the blood to either an an outside lab facility or an in-house lab where it may be screened for such things as infectious diseases, pregnancy or blood type. Some Keego Harbor MI phlebotomists in fact work in labs and are responsible for making certain that samples are tested correctly utilizing the highest quality assurance procedures. And if those weren’t enough duties, they might be asked to train other phlebotomists in the collection, delivery and follow-up process.

Where are Phlebotomists Employed?

The most basic response is wherever there are patients. Their work environments are many and varied, including Keego Harbor MI hospitals, medical clinics, nursing homes, or blood centers. They can be charged to draw blood samples from patients of all ages, from infants or young children to seniors. A number of phlebotomists, based on their training and their practice, specialize in collecting blood from a particular type of patient. For instance, those practicing in an assisted living facility or nursing home would solely be collecting blood from senior patients. If they are working in a maternity ward, they would be drawing blood from newborns and mothers solely. In contrast, phlebotomists practicing in a general hospital environment would be drawing samples from a wide range of patients and would collect samples from new patients each day.

Phlebotomist Education, Licensing and Certification

There are essentially two kinds of programs that furnish phlebotomy training in Keego Harbor MI, which are degree and certificate programs. The certificate program usually takes under a year to finish and furnishes a basic education as well as the training on how to draw blood. It offers the quickest route to becoming a phlebotomist. An Associate of Science Degree in Clinical Laboratory Science, although not exclusively a phlebotomist degree, will include training to become a phlebotomy tech. Available at junior and community colleges, they typically require two years to complete. Bachelor’s Degrees are not as accessible and as a 4 year program offer a more extensive background in lab sciences. When you have finished your training, you will no doubt want to become certified. Although not required in most states, many employers require certification prior to hiring technicians. Some of the primary certifying organizations 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 phlebotomist, like Nevada and California. California and a few other states even require licensing. So it’s important that you enroll in a phlebotomist training program that not only provides a quality education, but also preps you for any certification or licensing exams that you elect or are required to take.

Online Phlebotomist Schools

To start with, let’s resolve one possible misconception. You can’t get all of your phlebotomist training online. A good component of the course of study will be practical training and it will be conducted either in an approved Keego Harbor MI healthcare facility or an on-campus lab|an on-campus lab or an approved healthcare facility}. Many courses also require completing an internship prior to graduation. However since the non-clinical portion of the training may be accessed online, it might be a more practical alternative for some students. As an added benefit, many online programs are less expensive than their on-campus competitors. And some costs, for instance those for textbooks or commuting, may be reduced also. Just make sure that the online phlebotomy program you choose is accredited by a national or regional accrediting agency (more on accreditation later). With both the extensive clinical and online training, you can receive a premium 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 ideal choice for you.

Points to Ask Phlebotomy Schools

Since you now have a basic understanding about what is involved in becoming a phlebotomy tech, it’s time to initiate your due diligence process. You might have already selected 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 Michigan school is important as well as the tuition expense. Possibly you have opted to enroll in an phlebotomist online school. Each of these decisions are an important component of the process for selecting a school or program. But they are not the sole concerns when making your decision. Following are several questions that you need to ask about all of the Keego Harbor MI colleges you are looking at before making your ultimate decision.

Is the Phlebotomist Program Specific to Your State? As previously mentioned, each state has its own requirements for practicing as a phlebotomy technician. Several states require certification, while some others mandate licensing. Every state has its own requirement regarding the minimum hours of practical training completed prior to working as a phlebotomy tech. Consequently, you might have to pass a State Board, certification or licensing examination. Therefore it’s very important to enroll in a phlebotomist program that complies with the state specific requirements for Michigan or the state where you will be working and readies you for any exams you may be required to take.

Is the School Accredited? The phlebotomist program and school you pick should be accredited by a highly regarded regional or national accrediting organization, for example the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS). There are several advantages to graduating from an accredited school aside from a guarantee of a premium education. First, if your program has not received accreditation, you will not be able to take a certification exam administered by any of the earlier listed certifying agencies. Next, accreditation will help in getting loans or financial assistance, which are typically unavailable for non-accredited programs in Keego Harbor MI. Last, earning a certificate or a degree from an accredited school 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 phlebotomy colleges, so there are some that are not of the highest quality. So along with accreditation, it’s essential to check the reputations of any schools you are reviewing. You can begin by requesting references from the schools from employers where they place their students as part of their job placement program. You can research internet school rating and review services and solicit the accrediting organizations for their reviews also. You can even check with some Keego Harbor MI area hospitals or clinics that you may be interested in working for and see if they can offer any recommendations. As a final thought, you can contact the Michigan school licensing authority and ask if any grievances have been filed or if the colleges are in total compliance.

Is Plenty of Training Provided? First, contact the Michigan 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. As a minimum, any Keego Harbor MI phlebotomist program that you are considering should provide at least 40 hours of classroom training (most require 120) and 120 hours of clinical training. Anything below these minimums might indicate that the program is not comprehensive enough to offer adequate training.

Are Internships Provided? Ask the Michigan programs you are reviewing if they have an internship program in partnership with local health care facilities. They are the optimal means to get hands-on clinical training typically not available on campus. As an additional benefit, internships can assist students establish contacts within the local Keego Harbor MI health care community. And they are a plus on resumes as well.

Is Job Placement Support Offered? Finding your first phlebotomy position will be a lot easier with the support of a job placement program. Inquire if the colleges you are reviewing provide assistance and what their job placement rate is. If a school has a high rate, meaning they place most of their students in positions, it’s an indication that the school has both an excellent reputation together with an extensive network of professional contacts within the Keego Harbor MI medical community.

Are Class Times Available as Needed? And last, it’s important to confirm that the final program you pick provides classes at times that are compatible with your active lifestyle. This is particularly true if you choose to still work while going to college. If you need to attend classes in the evenings or on weekends near Keego Harbor MI, 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 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 in case you need to miss any classes as a result of illness or emergencies.

Why Did You Desire to Become a Phlebotomy Technician?

When prepping to interview for a Phlebotomist position, it's advantageous to review questions you may be asked. Among the things that recruiters frequently ask Phlebotomy Technician prospects is "What made you select Phlebotomy as a career?". What the interviewer is attempting to learn is not just the personal reasons you may have for being Phlebotomist, but also what attributes and abilities you possess that make you exceptional at your profession. You will probably be asked questions relating exclusively to Phlebotomy, as well as a significant number of standard interview questions, so you need to ready a number of strategies about how you would like to address them. Since there are so many variables that go into selecting a career, you can address this fundamental question in a number of ways. When readying an answer, attempt to include the reasons the profession appeals to you along with the abilities you have that make you an excellent Phlebotomy Tech and the best candidate for the job. Don't attempt to memorize a response, but take down several concepts and anecdotes that pertain to your own experiences and strengths. Reviewing sample responses can help you to formulate your own concepts, and give you ideas of what to include to wow the interviewer.

Enroll in the Best Phlebotomy College near Keego Harbor MI

Making sure that you pick the ideal phlebotomist training is a critical first step toward your success in this fulfilling medical care field. As we have discussed in this article, there are several factors that contribute toward the selection of a superior school. Phlebotomy certificate or degree programs are offered in a number of educational institutes, including junior or community colleges, trade schools, and colleges and universities that offer a wide range of programs in healthcare and medical sciences. Course offerings can differ slightly from state to state as every state has its own prerequisites when it pertains to phlebotomy training, licensing and certification. The most important point is that you must diligently screen and compare each college before making your final choice. By asking the questions that we have provided, you will be able to narrow down your options so that you can select the right program for you. And with the appropriate education, you can realize your goal of becoming a phlebotomy technician in Keego Harbor MI.

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