Selecting a Phlebotomy Technician School near Sleepy Eye Minnesota
Enrolling in the ideal phlebotomist school near Sleepy Eye MN is a critical initial step toward a fulfilling profession as a phlebotomist. It might seem like a difficult task to assess and compare all of the school options that are available to you. However it’s vital that you do your due diligence to make sure that you obtain a superior education. In reality, a large number of potential students begin the process by considering 2 of the qualifiers that initially come to mind, which are cost and location. Another option you might consider is whether to attend online classes or commute to an area campus. We’ll discuss more about online schools later in this article. What you need to remember is that there is much more to comparing phlebotomy training programs than locating the closest or the cheapest one. Other variables including accreditation and reputation are also significant considerations and must be part of your selection process too. To assist in that effort, we will provide a list of questions that you should 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 address what a phlebotomist is and does, and then resume our conversation about online schools.
Phlebotomy Technician Career Description
A phlebotomist, or phlebotomy technician, collects blood samples from patients. While that is their principal duty, there is actually far more to their job description. Prior to drawing a blood sample, a phlebotomist must verify that the tools being utilized are sterile and single use only. After collection, the sample must be accurately labeled with the patient’s information. Next, paperwork has to be correctly filled out to be able to track the sample from the point of collection through the lab screening procedure. The phlebotomist then transports the blood to either an in-house lab or to an outside lab facility where it may be screened for such things as infectious diseases, pregnancy or blood type. A number of Sleepy Eye MN phlebotomists in fact work in labs and are accountable for making sure that samples are tested correctly using the highest quality control procedures. And if those weren’t sufficient duties, they may be required to instruct other phlebotomists in the drawing, transport and follow-up process.
Where do Phlebotomists Practice?
The easiest answer is wherever patients are treated. Their workplaces are many and varied, including Sleepy Eye MN medical clinics, hospitals, long-term care facilities, or blood centers. They can be tasked to collect blood samples from patients of of every age, from infants or toddlers to seniors. A number of phlebotomists, depending on their training and their practice, specialize in drawing samples from a certain type of patient. For example, those practicing in an assisted living facility or nursing home would only be collecting blood from older patients. If they are working in a maternity ward, they would be collecting blood from mothers and newborns exclusively. In contrast, phlebotomists practicing in a general hospital environment would be drawing blood from a wide range of patients and would work with new patients every day.
Phlebotomist Training, Certification and Licensing
There are essentially two types of programs that offer phlebotomist training in Sleepy Eye MN, which are certificate and degree programs. The certificate program typically takes under a year to finish and provides a basic education together with the training on how to draw blood. It provides the quickest route to becoming a phlebotomist. An Associate of Science Degree in Clinical Laboratory Science, although not exclusively a phlebotomist degree, will provide training to become a phlebotomy tech. Offered at community and junior colleges, they normally take 2 years to finish. Bachelor’s Degrees are not as accessible and as a four year program provide a more comprehensive foundation in lab sciences. Once you have completed your training, you will probably want to be certified. While not required in the majority of states, many employers look for certification prior to hiring technicians. A few 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 several states that do require certification in order to practice as a phlebotomist, including Nevada and California. California and a handful of other states even require licensing. So it’s important that you enroll in a phlebotomy training program that not only offers a superior education, but also prepares you for any certification or licensing examinations that you elect or are required to take.
Online Phlebotomist Colleges
To begin with, let’s dispel one possible mistaken belief. You can’t obtain all of your phlebotomist training online. A significant part of the course of study will be clinical training and it will be performed either in an approved Sleepy Eye MN 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. However since the non-clinical component of the training can be accessed online, it could be a more convenient option for many students. As an additional benefit, a number of online colleges are less expensive than their traditional competitors. And some expenditures, including those for commuting or textbooks, may be minimized also. Just make sure that the online phlebotomy college you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization (more on accreditation to follow). With both the comprehensive clinical and online training, you can obtain a quality education with this approach to learning. If you are disciplined enough to learn at home, then attaining your certificate or degree online might be the right choice for you.
What to Ask Phlebotomist Colleges
Since you now have a basic understanding about what it takes to become a phlebotomist, it’s time to initiate 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 Minnesota campus is relevant in addition to the tuition expense. Possibly you have opted to enroll in an phlebotomy online college. Each of these decisions are a critical part of the process for choosing a school or program. But they are not the only concerns when making your decision. Following are several questions that you should ask about each of the Sleepy Eye MN programs you are reviewing before making your ultimate selection.
Is the Phlebotomist Program Specific to Your State? As earlier discussed, each state has its own requirements for practicing as a phlebotomist. Some states call for certification, while some others require licensing. Every state has its own prerequisite regarding the minimum amount of clinical training performed prior to practicing as a phlebotomy tech. As a result, you might need to pass a State Board, certification or licensing examination. Therefore it’s very important to enroll in a phlebotomist program that meets the state specific requirements for Minnesota or the state where you will be working and prepares you for any examinations you may have to take.
Is the School Accredited? The phlebotomy school and program you select should be accredited by a reputable national or regional accrediting agency, such as the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS). There are a number of 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 examination offered by any of the previously listed certifying organizations. Next, accreditation will help in securing loans or financial assistance, which are typically unavailable for non-accredited schools in Sleepy Eye MN. Last, earning a certificate or a degree from an accredited college can make you more attractive to prospective employers in the job market.
What is the School’s Ranking? In numerous states there is minimal or no regulation of phlebotomist colleges, so there are those that are not of the highest quality. So along with accreditation, it’s imperative to investigate the reputations of all colleges you are looking at. You can begin by asking the schools for references from employers where they place their students as part of their job assistance program. You can research online school rating and review services and ask the accrediting agencies for their reviews as well. You can also check with a few Sleepy Eye MN area hospitals or clinics that you might have an interest in working for and find out if they can provide any insights. As a closing thought, you can check with the Minnesota school licensing authority and find out if any grievances have been submitted or if the colleges are in total compliance.
Is Adequate Training Included? First, contact the Minnesota regulator or the state regulator where you will be practicing to learn if there are any minimum requirements for the length of training, both clinical and classroom. At a minimum, any Sleepy Eye MN phlebotomy program that you are looking at should provide no less than 40 hours of classroom training (the majority require 120) and 120 hours of clinical training. Anything below these minimums may indicate that the program is not comprehensive enough to offer sufficient training.
Are Internships Provided? Find out from the Minnesota colleges you are considering if they have an internship program in collaboration with local health care facilities. They are the optimal way to get hands-on practical training often not obtainable on campus. As an additional benefit, internships can help students establish relationships within the local Sleepy Eye MN healthcare community. And they are a plus on resumes also.
Is Job Placement Assistance Available? Getting your first phlebotomist position will be a lot easier with the support of a job placement program. Ask if the programs you are considering provide assistance and what their job placement rate is. If a college has a high rate, signifying they place most of their students in positions, it’s an indication that the college has both a good reputation together with a substantial network of professional contacts within the Sleepy Eye MN healthcare community.
Are Classes Conveniently Scheduled? And last, it’s crucial to make sure that the final school you choose offers classes at times that will accommodate your busy lifestyle. This is especially true if you decide to continue working while going to college. If you can only go to classes at night or on weekends near Sleepy Eye MN, make sure they are offered at those times. Additionally, if you can only attend on a part-time basis, confirm it is an option as well. Even if you have decided to attend online, with the clinical training requirement, make certain those hours can also be fulfilled within your schedule. And find out what the make-up procedure is should you have to miss any classes due to emergencies or illness.
Why Did You Desire to Become a Phlebotomy Technician?
When prepping to interview for a Phlebotomy Technician position, it's a good idea to consider questions you might be asked. One of the things that hiring managers frequently ask Phlebotomy Tech candidates is "What made you choose Phlebotomy as a career?". What the interviewer is attempting to discover is not only the private reasons you might have for being Phlebotomy Tech, but additionally what qualities and talents you have that make you exceptional at what you do. You will likely be asked questions pertaining primarily to Phlebotomy, in addition to a certain number of standard interview questions, so you need to organize several ideas about how you would like to answer them. Given that there are so many variables that go into choosing a career, you can answer this primary question in a variety of ways. When readying an answer, aim to include the reasons the work interests you along with the talents you possess that make you an outstanding Phlebotomist and the perfiect candidate for the position. Don't attempt to memorize a response, but jot down several ideas and talking points that relate to your own experiences and strengths. Reading through sample responses can assist you to formulate your own concepts, and provide ideas of what to include to enthuse the interviewer.Select the Best Phlebotomy Course near Sleepy Eye MN
Making sure that you select the most suitable phlebotomist training is an important first step toward your success in this rewarding health care field. As we have discussed in this article, there are multiple factors that contribute toward the selection of a superior program. Phlebotomy certificate or degree programs are offered in a variety of educational institutes, including community or junior colleges, trade schools, and colleges and universities that provide a wide assortment of programs in medical care and health sciences. Course offerings may vary a bit from state to state as each state has its own criteria when it pertains to phlebotomist training, certification and licensing. The most critical point is that you must thoroughly screen and compare each program before making your ultimate decision. By asking the questions that we have presented, you will be able to fine tune your options so that you can select the best school for you. And with the proper training, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a phlebotomist in Sleepy Eye MN.
Learn About Sleepy Eye Minnesota
Sleepy Eye, Minnesota
Sleepy Eye is a city in Brown County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 3,599 at the 2010 census.[6]
Sleepy Eye took its name from Sleepy Eye Lake,[7] and that was named after Chief Sleepy Eye who was known as a compassionate person with droopy eyelids (or maybe just one). The Chief was one of four Sioux Native Americans (four Ojibwe also attended) chosen to meet President James Monroe in 1824 in the nation's capital. Later, Sleepy Eye was an integral player in the 1851 signing of the Treaty of Traverse des Sioux, which gave all of the land but a 10-mile swath on each side of the upper Minnesota River to the U.S. government. His recommendations to traders led to the successful settlement of Mankato, away from flood areas, and the Chief eventually settled his people near the lake now known as Sleepy Eye Lake.
Sleepy Eye was platted in 1872, and incorporated as a city in 1903.[8]
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 2.02 square miles (5.23 km2), of which 1.75 square miles (4.53 km2) is land and 0.27 square miles (0.70 km2) is water.[1]
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