Choosing a Phlebotomy School near New Bloomfield Pennsylvania

Choosing the right phlebotomist school near New Bloomfield PA is a critical first step toward a gratifying career as a phlebotomist. It might seem like a difficult undertaking to investigate and compare each of the school alternatives that are available to you. Nevertheless it’s necessary that you perform your due diligence to ensure that you receive a superior education. In reality, many students begin their search by considering two of the qualifiers that first come to mind, which are location and cost. An additional option you may consider is whether to attend classes online or commute to a local campus. We’ll discuss more about online schools later in this article. What’s important 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 important considerations and should be part of your selection process also. To assist in that effort, we will supply a list of questions that you need to ask each of the phlebotomy schools you are reviewing to help you select the ideal one for you. But prior to doing that, let’s cover what a phlebotomist is and does, and then continue our conversation about online classes.

Phlebotomy Technician Career Description

A phlebotomist, or phlebotomy technician, draws blood from patients. While that is their principal duty, there is actually much more to their job description. Prior to drawing a blood sample, a phlebotomist has to check that the tools being used are sterile and single use only. After collection, the sample must be accurately labeled with the patient’s information. Next, paperwork needs to be correctly completed to be able to track the sample from the point of collection through the lab testing process. The phlebotomist then delivers the blood to either an in-house lab or to an outside lab facility where it may be screened for such things as pregnancy, infectious diseases or blood type. A number of New Bloomfield PA phlebotomists in fact work in laboratories and are accountable for making sure that samples are analyzed properly utilizing the highest quality control procedures. And if those weren’t enough duties, they may be asked to instruct other phlebotomists in the collection, delivery and follow-up process.

Where are Phlebotomy Techs Employed?

The simplest response is wherever they treat patients. Their work environments are numerous and varied, such as New Bloomfield PA medical clinics, hospitals, nursing homes, or blood banks. They can be charged to draw blood samples from patients of all ages, from infants or toddlers to senior citizens. Some phlebotomy techs, depending on their training and their practice, specialize in drawing samples from a certain kind of patient. For instance, those practicing in an assisted living facility or nursing home would exclusively be drawing blood from older patients. If they are practicing in a maternity ward, they would be collecting blood from mothers and newborns solely. On the other hand, phlebotomists practicing in a general hospital setting would be drawing blood from a wide variety of patients and would collect samples from different patients each day.

Phlebotomy Technician Education, Licensing and Certification

There are essentially two kinds of programs that offer phlebotomist training in New Bloomfield PA, which are certificate and degree programs. The certificate program normally takes less than a year to finish and provides a general education as well as the training on how to draw blood. It provides the fastest means 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 phlebotomist. Available at junior and community colleges, they typically take two years to finish. Bachelor’s Degrees are less accessible and as a 4 year program provide a more extensive background in lab sciences. When you have finished your training, you will probably want to get certified. While not required in the majority of states, a number of employers require certification before hiring technicians. Some 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 a few states that do require certification in order to practice as a phlebotomy tech, like California and Nevada. California and a few additional states even require licensing. So it’s essential that you pick a phlebotomist training program that not only furnishes a quality education, but also preps you for any certification or licensing examinations that you are required or elect to take.

Online Phlebotomy Schools

To begin with, let’s resolve one possible mistaken belief. You can’t obtain all of your phlebotomist training online. A substantial part of the program of studies will be practical training and it will be carried out either in an approved New Bloomfield PA 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 portion of the training can be attended online, it may be a more practical option for many students. As an added benefit, a number of online colleges are less expensive than their traditional counterparts. And some expenses, including those for commuting or textbooks, may be reduced as well. Just verify that the online phlebotomist school you enroll in is accredited by a national or regional 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 best choice for you.

Topics to Ask Phlebotomy Programs

Since you now have a basic idea about what is involved in becoming a phlebotomist, it’s time to start your due diligence process. You might have already decided on the type of program you wish to enroll in, whether it be for a degree or a certificate. As we mentioned earlier, the location of the Pennsylvania campus is important as well as the tuition expense. Maybe you have decided to enroll in an online phlebotomist school. All of these decisions are an important part of the process for picking a school or program. But they are not the sole considerations when arriving at your decision. Following are several questions that you need to ask about each of the New Bloomfield PA schools you are considering prior to making your final selection.

Is the Phlebotomy Program Specific to Pennsylvania? As earlier discussed, each state has its own requirements for practicing as a phlebotomy technician. Some states call for certification, while some others require licensing. Each has its own prerequisite regarding the minimum hours of practical training completed prior to working as a phlebotomist. Consequently, you may 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 Pennsylvania or the state where you will be working and preps you for all examinations you may be required to take.

Is the Program Accredited? The phlebotomist program and school you enroll in should be accredited by a highly regarded national or regional accrediting organization, such as the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS). There are a number of benefits to graduating from an accredited school in addition to an assurance of a superior education. First, if your program has not received accreditation, you will not qualify to sit for a certification exam administered by any of the earlier listed certifying organizations. Next, accreditation will help in getting loans or financial assistance, which are often not available for non-accredited colleges in New Bloomfield PA. 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 Program’s Ranking? In a number of 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 essential to investigate the reputations of all schools you are looking at. You can begin by asking the schools for references from employers where they place their graduates as part of their job assistance program. You can screen internet school rating and review services and solicit the accrediting agencies for their reviews as well. You can even contact several New Bloomfield PA area clinics or hospitals that you might be interested in working for and see if they can offer any recommendations. As a final thought, you can check with the Pennsylvania school licensing authority and ask if any grievances have been submitted or if the schools are in full compliance.

Is Adequate Training Included? First, contact the Pennsylvania 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. At a minimum, any New Bloomfield PA phlebotomist program that you are reviewing should provide no less than 40 hours of classroom training (the majority require 120) and 120 hours of practical training. Anything below these minimums might indicate that the program is not comprehensive enough to offer sufficient training.

Are Internships Sponsored? Find out from the Pennsylvania programs you are reviewing if they have an internship program in partnership with regional medical facilities. They are the ideal way to obtain hands-on practical training typically not available on campus. As an additional benefit, internships can help students develop relationships within the local New Bloomfield PA medical community. And they are a plus on resumes as well.

Is Job Placement Assistance Available? Getting your first phlebotomist job will be much easier with the help of a job placement program. Ask if the programs you are considering offer assistance and what their job placement rate is. If a school has a higher rate, signifying they place the majority of their students in jobs, it’s an indication that the college has both an excellent reputation along with a large network of professional contacts within the New Bloomfield PA healthcare community.

Are Classes Offered to Fit Your Schedule? Finally, it’s important to make sure that the ultimate school you select offers classes at times that are compatible with your active schedule. This is especially important if you opt to continue working while attending college. If you need to attend classes in the evenings or on weekends near New Bloomfield PA, check that they are offered at those times. Additionally, if you can only attend part-time, confirm it is an option as well. Even if you have decided to study online, with the practical training requirement, make sure those hours can also be fulfilled within your schedule. And find out what the make-up procedure is in case you have to miss any classes as a result of illness or emergencies.

Why Did You Desire to Become a Phlebotomist?

When preparing to interview for a Phlebotomist job, it's advantageous to reflect on questions you may be asked. Among the questions that recruiters typically ask Phlebotomist prospects is "What compelled you to decide on Phlebotomy as a career?". What the interviewer is attempting to uncover is not only the personal reasons you might have for becoming Phlebotomist, but also what qualities and talents you have that make you outstanding at your profession. You will likely be asked questions pertaining exclusively to Phlebotomy, along with a significant number of routine interview questions, so you must ready a number of ideas about how you would like to respond to them. Given that there are so many variables that go into selecting a career, you can answer this fundamental question in a variety of ways. When formulating an answer, try to include the reasons the profession appeals to you along with the strengths you possess that make you an excellent Phlebotomy Tech and the best candidate for the position. Don't try to memorize a response, but jot down some ideas and talking points that pertain to your own strengths and experiences. Reading through sample responses can assist you to develop your own thoughts, and inspire ideas of what to include to impress the recruiter.

Enroll in the Right Phlebotomy College near New Bloomfield PA

Making certain that you select the right phlebotomy training is an important first step toward your success in this rewarding healthcare field. As we have covered in this article, there are several factors that go into the selection of a premium college. Phlebotomist certificate or degree programs are offered in a variety of academic institutes, including community or junior colleges, vocational schools, and colleges and universities that provide a wide array of courses in healthcare and medical sciences. Training program offerings may vary slightly from state to state as every state has its own criteria when it concerns phlebotomy training, certification and licensing. The most important point is that you need to carefully research and compare each program prior to making your ultimate decision. By asking the questions that we have furnished, you will be able to fine tune your options so that you can select the ideal program for you. And with the proper education, you can achieve your goal of becoming a phlebotomist in New Bloomfield PA.

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