Picking a Phlebotomy Technician Training Program near Huntingdon Tennessee

Selecting the ideal phlebotomy school near Huntingdon TN is an essential first step toward a fulfilling career as a phlebotomist. It may seem like a difficult task to evaluate and compare all of the training alternatives that are available to you. However it’s important that you do your due diligence to make certain that you receive a superior education. In fact, a large number of prospective students start the process by considering two of the qualifiers that first come to mind, which are location and cost. Yet another option you may look into is whether to attend classes online or commute to a local campus. We’ll discuss more about online classes later in this article. What’s important to keep in mind is that there is much more to checking out phlebotomy training programs than finding the closest or the cheapest one. Other variables including accreditation and reputation are also important considerations and should be part of your decision process as well. Toward that end, we will furnish a list of questions that you should ask each of the phlebotomy schools you are evaluating to help you choose the best one for you. But prior to doing that, let’s address what a phlebotomist is and does, and afterwards resume our conversation about online classes.

Phlebotomy Technician Work Summary

A phlebotomist, or phlebotomy technician, draws blood from patients. Although that is their primary task, there is actually far more to their job description. Before drawing a blood sample, a phlebotomist must confirm that the tools being used are sterile and single use only. Following the collection, the sample must be correctly labeled with the patient’s information. Next, paperwork needs to be accurately filled out in order to track the sample from the point of collection through the laboratory screening process. The phlebotomist then transports 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 Huntingdon TN phlebotomists in fact work in labs and are in charge of ensuring that samples are tested properly using the strictest quality assurance procedures. And if those weren’t sufficient duties, they might be required to instruct other phlebotomists in the collection, transport and follow-up process.

Where are Phlebotomy Techs Employed?

The most basic answer is wherever patients are treated. Their workplaces are many and varied, including Huntingdon TN medical clinics, hospitals, nursing homes, or blood centers. They can be charged to draw blood samples from patients of of every age, from infants or young children to senior citizens. Some phlebotomists, depending on their practice and their training, specialize in collecting samples from a particular type of patient. For example, those working in an assisted living facility or nursing home would only be drawing blood from elderly patients. If they are working in a maternity ward, they would be drawing blood from newborns and mothers exclusively. In contrast, phlebotomists practicing in a general hospital environment would be collecting blood from a wide range of patients and would collect samples from new patients every day.

Phlebotomist Education, Licensing and Certification

There are primarily 2 types of programs that provide phlebotomist training in Huntingdon TN, which are certificate and degree programs. The certificate program usually takes less than a year to complete and provides a basic education along with the training on how to draw blood. It offers the fastest method to becoming a phlebotomist. An Associate of Science Degree in Clinical Laboratory Science, even though it’s not exclusively a phlebotomy degree, will incorporate training on becoming a phlebotomist. Offered at junior and community colleges, they typically take 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. After you have completed your training, you will no doubt want to be certified. While not mandated in most states, many employers require certification before hiring technicians. A few 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 phlebotomy tech, such as California and Nevada. California and a handful of other states even require licensing. So it’s essential that you choose a phlebotomy training program that not only supplies a superior education, but also prepares you for any licensing or certification examinations that you elect or are required to take.

Online Phlebotomy Schools

To begin with, let’s resolve one potential mistaken belief. You can’t obtain all of your phlebotomy training online. A good component of the curriculum will be practical training and it will be carried out either in an approved Huntingdon TN healthcare facility or an on-campus lab|an on-campus lab or an approved healthcare facility}. A large number of courses also require completion of an internship in order to graduate. But since the non-practical part of the training can be accessed online, it could be a more practical alternative for some students. As an added benefit, many online colleges are more affordable than their traditional competitors. And some expenses, for instance those for commuting or textbooks, may be lowered also. Just make certain that the online phlebotomist school you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization (more on accreditation later). With both the extensive online and clinical training, you can receive a premium education with this means of learning. If you are disciplined enough to study at home, then attaining your degree or certificate online may be the best option for you.

Questions to Ask Phlebotomy Colleges

Since you now have a general idea about what is involved in becoming a phlebotomist, it’s time to initiate your due diligence process. You might have already decided on the type of program you wish to enroll in, whether it be for a certificate or a degree. As we previously mentioned, the location of the Tennessee campus is relevant in addition to the tuition expense. Maybe you have opted to enroll in an phlebotomist online program. Each of these decisions are an important component of the process for picking a school or program. But they are not the sole concerns when arriving at your decision. Below we have provided a few questions that you should ask about each of the Huntingdon TN schools you are looking at before making your final decision.

Is the Phlebotomy Program Specific to Your State? As mentioned previously, each state has its own laws for practicing as a phlebotomy technician. Several states require certification, while a few others require licensing. Every state has its own prerequisite regarding the minimum amount of clinical training completed prior to working as a phlebotomy tech. Consequently, you may need to pass a State Board, licensing or certification exam. Therefore it’s extremely important to choose a phlebotomy program that complies with the state specific requirements for Tennessee or the state where you will be working and prepares you for any exams you may have to take.

Is the College Accredited? The phlebotomy school and program you pick should be accredited by a respected 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 program aside from an assurance of a premium education. To begin with, if your program has not received accreditation, you will not qualify to take a certification exam administered by any of the earlier listed certifying agencies. Next, accreditation will help in getting financial aid or loans, which are typically unavailable for non-accredited schools in Huntingdon TN. Finally, graduating from an accredited school can make you more desirable to potential employers in the job market.

What is the School’s Ranking? In many states there is minimal or no regulation of phlebotomist schools, so there are those that are not of the highest quality. So along with accreditation, it’s essential to investigate the reputations of all colleges you are reviewing. You can start by asking the schools for references from employers where they refer their students as part of their job placement program. You can screen internet school rating and review services and ask the accrediting organizations for their reviews as well. You can even contact a few Huntingdon TN area hospitals or clinics that you might be interested in working for and find out if they can offer any recommendations. As a closing thought, you can contact the Tennessee school licensing authority and ask if any complaints have been submitted or if the colleges are in full compliance.

Is Ample Training Provided? To begin with, check with the Tennessee regulator or the state regulator where you will be practicing to find out if there are any minimum requirements for the length of training, both clinical and classroom. As a minimum, any Huntingdon TN phlebotomy program that you are considering 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 comprehensive enough to furnish sufficient training.

Are Internship Programs Provided? Find out from the Tennessee schools you are considering if they have an internship program in partnership with area healthcare facilities. They are the optimal means to get hands-on clinical training typically not available on campus. As an added benefit, internships can help students establish relationships within the local Huntingdon TN medical community. And they are a plus on resumes as well.

Is Job Placement Support Available? Finding your first phlebotomy job will be much easier with the support of a job placement program. Find out if the programs you are reviewing provide assistance and what their job placement rate is. If a school has a high rate, meaning they place the majority of their students in positions, it’s an indication that the college has both an excellent reputation along with a large network of professional contacts within the Huntingdon TN medical community.

Are Classes Conveniently Scheduled? Finally, it’s crucial to make sure that the final program you select provides classes at times that will accommodate your busy schedule. This is particularly true if you decide to still work while going to college. If you can only go to classes at night or on weekends near Huntingdon TN, make certain they are offered at those times. Also, if you can only attend part-time, make sure it is an option also. And 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 protocol is should you have to miss any classes due to illness or emergencies.

Why Did You Choose to Become a Phlebotomy Technician?

When prepping to interview for a Phlebotomy Technician job, it's a good idea to review questions you may be asked. Among the questions that interviewers typically ask Phlebotomist applicants is "What compelled you to choose Phlebotomy as a career?". What the interviewer is hoping to learn is not merely the personal reasons you may have for becoming Phlebotomist, but also what characteristics and skills you have that make you exceptional at what you do. You will likely be asked questions relating exclusively to Phlebotomy, in addition to a significant number of typical interview questions, so you must prepare several ideas about how you would like to answer them. Given that there are numerous factors that go into choosing a career, you can respond to this primary question in a number of ways. When preparing an answer, aim to include the reasons the work appeals to you along with the strengths you have that make you an outstanding Phlebotomist and the perfiect choice for the job. Don't make an effort to memorize a response, but write down several concepts and topics that pertain to your own experiences and strengths. Going over sample answers can help you to prepare your own thoughts, and inspire ideas of what to discuss to wow the interviewer.

Select the Right Phlebotomist College near Huntingdon TN

Making certain that you enroll in the ideal phlebotomist training is an important first step toward your success in this gratifying health care career position. As we have covered in this article, there are a number of factors that contribute toward the selection of a premium school. Phlebotomist certificate or degree programs can be found in a number of academic institutions, including community or junior colleges, vocational schools, and colleges and universities that provide a wide range of courses in healthcare and medical sciences. Training program offerings can differ slightly across the country as each state has its own requirements when it pertains to phlebotomy training, licensing and certification. The most important point is that you need to diligently 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 select the best school for you. And with the appropriate education, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a phlebotomist in Huntingdon TN.

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