Picking a Phlebotomy Course near Warrendale Pennsylvania

Picking the right phlebotomy school near Warrendale PA is a critical initial step toward a fulfilling career as a phlebotomist. It may seem like a difficult task to assess and compare all of the training options that are available to you. However it’s vital that you complete your due diligence to make certain that you obtain a quality education. In fact, most potential students begin their search by considering two of the qualifiers that initially come to mind, which are location and cost. Another option you may consider is whether to attend classes online or commute to a nearby campus. We’ll review a bit more about online schools later in this article. What’s important to remember is that there is a lot more to comparing phlebotomy training programs than locating the cheapest or the closest one. Other factors including accreditation and reputation are also important considerations and must be part of your decision process too. To assist in that effort, we will furnish a list of questions that you should ask each of the phlebotomy schools you are evaluating to help you pick the ideal 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.

Phlebotomist Work Description

A phlebotomist, or phlebotomy technician, draws blood from patients. While that is their primary function, there is in fact far more to their job description. Prior to drawing a blood sample, a phlebotomist has to verify that the tools being used are single use only and sterile. Following the collection, the sample must be properly labeled with the patient’s data. Next, paperwork has to be correctly completed to be able to track the sample from the time of collection through the lab testing procedure. The phlebotomist then delivers the blood to either an an outside lab facility or an in-house lab where it can be screened for such things as infectious diseases, pregnancy or blood type. Some Warrendale PA phlebotomists in fact work in laboratories and are responsible for making certain that samples are analyzed properly using the strictest quality assurance procedures. And if those weren’t enough responsibilities, they may be asked to instruct other phlebotomists in the drawing, transport and follow-up process.

Where do Phlebotomy Techs Practice?

The most basic response is wherever there are patients. Their work places are many and varied, including Warrendale PA medical clinics, hospitals, long-term care facilities, or blood banks. They may be tasked to draw blood samples from patients of of every age, from infants or toddlers to seniors. Some phlebotomy techs, depending on their practice and their training, specialize in collecting samples from a particular kind of patient. For instance, those practicing in an assisted living facility or nursing home would solely be drawing blood from elderly patients. If they are practicing in a maternity ward, they would be collecting blood from newborns and mothers exclusively. In contrast, phlebotomy technicians practicing in a general hospital environment would be drawing samples from a wide variety of patients and would collect samples from different patients on a daily basis.

Phlebotomist Education, Licensing and Certification

There are primarily 2 kinds of programs that furnish phlebotomist training in Warrendale PA, which are certificate and degree programs. The certificate program generally takes under a year to finish and provides a basic education together with the training on how to draw blood. It offers the fastest method to becoming a phlebotomy tech. An Associate of Science Degree in Clinical Laboratory Science, even though it’s not specifically a phlebotomy degree, will include training on becoming a phlebotomy tech. Offered at junior and community colleges, they usually take 2 years to complete. Bachelor’s Degrees are less available and as a 4 year program offer a more comprehensive background in lab sciences. After you have finished your training, you will no doubt want to get certified. Although not required in most states, a number of employers require certification prior to employing 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 a few states that do call for certification in order to practice as a phlebotomist, like Nevada and California. California and a few other states even require licensing. So it’s imperative that you choose a phlebotomist training program that not only furnishes a superior education, but also prepares you for any certification or licensing exams that you are required or elect to take.

Phlebotomist Online Colleges

First, let’s resolve one potential mistaken belief. You can’t get all of your phlebotomist training online. A good part of the program of studies will be clinical training and it will be carried out either in an approved Warrendale PA healthcare facility or an on-campus lab|an on-campus lab or an approved healthcare facility}. Numerous courses also require completion of an internship in order to graduate. But since the non-clinical part of the training may be accessed online, it can be a more practical alternative for some students. As an additional benefit, a number of online schools are less expensive than their on-campus competitors. And some expenditures, such as those for commuting or textbooks, may be lowered also. Just verify that the online phlebotomist school you enroll in is accredited by a national or regional accrediting organization (more on accreditation to follow). With both the comprehensive clinical and online training, you can receive a superior education with this method of learning. If you are disciplined enough to study at home, then attaining your certificate or degree online may be the best option for you.

Questions to Ask Phlebotomist Programs

Now that you have a basic idea about what is involved in becoming a phlebotomy tech, it’s time to start your due diligence process. You might have already chosen the type of program you want to enroll in, whether it be for a certificate or a degree. As we previously mentioned, the location of the Pennsylvania school is significant in addition to the tuition expense. Possibly you have decided to enroll in an phlebotomist online school. Each of these decisions are a critical part of the procedure for selecting a program or school. But they are not the sole concerns when arriving at your decision. Following are several questions that you need to ask about each of the Warrendale PA schools you are looking at before making your ultimate selection.

Is the Phlebotomist Program Specific to Your State? As earlier discussed, each state has its own regulations for practicing as a phlebotomist. Some states call for 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. As a result, you may have to pass a State Board, licensing or certification exam. Therefore it’s very important to choose a phlebotomist program that meets the state specific requirements for Pennsylvania or the state where you will be practicing and readies you for any examinations you may be required to take.

Is the Program Accredited? The phlebotomy program and school you pick should be accredited by a highly regarded 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 in addition to a guarantee of a quality education. To begin with, if your program has not received accreditation, you will not be able to sit for a certification examination administered by any of the previously listed certifying agencies. Next, accreditation will help in securing financial aid or loans, which are frequently unavailable for non-accredited programs in Warrendale PA. Last, earning a certificate or a degree from an accredited college can make you more desirable to prospective employers in the job market.

What is the School’s Reputation? In many states there is little or no regulation of phlebotomist schools, so there are some that are not of the highest caliber. So along with accreditation, it’s important to check out the reputations of all 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 solicit the accrediting agencies for their reviews also. You can even contact a few Warrendale PA local hospitals or clinics that you might be interested in working for and see if they can provide any insights. As a final thought, you can check with the Pennsylvania school licensing authority and find out if any complaints have been submitted or if the schools are in total compliance.

Is Plenty of Training Provided? First, contact the Pennsylvania 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 classroom and practical. As a minimum, any Warrendale PA phlebotomist program that you are considering should furnish at least 40 hours of classroom training (the majority require 120) and 120 hours of clinical training. Anything less than these minimums may indicate that the program is not expansive enough to furnish sufficient training.

Are Internships Provided? Find out from the Pennsylvania schools you are considering if they have an internship program in collaboration with local medical facilities. They are the ideal way to obtain hands-on practical training often not available on campus. As an additional benefit, internships can assist students establish contacts within the local Warrendale PA health care community. And they look good on resumes also.

Is Job Placement Assistance Available? Finding your first phlebotomy job will be a lot easier with the assistance of a job placement program. Ask if the schools you are considering provide assistance and what their job placement percentage is. If a college has a higher rate, signifying they place most of their students in jobs, it’s an indication that the program has both an excellent reputation together with an extensive network of professional contacts within the Warrendale PA healthcare community.

Are Class Times Available as Needed? Finally, it’s important to confirm that the ultimate school you select provides classes at times that are compatible with your active lifestyle. This is especially important if you opt to continue working while attending college. If you can only go to classes at night or on weekends near Warrendale PA, make sure they are offered at those times. Additionally, if you can only attend part-time, verify it is an option also. Even if you have decided to attend online, with the practical training requirement, make sure those hours can also be completed within your schedule. And find out what the make-up policy is in case you need to miss any classes because of illness or emergencies.

Why Did You Decide to Become a Phlebotomy Tech?

When prepping to interview for a Phlebotomy Tech job, it's a good idea to reflect on questions you might be asked. One of the questions that interviewers frequently ask Phlebotomist applicants is "What made you choose Phlebotomy as a career?". What the interviewer is trying to uncover is not just the personal reasons you might have for becoming Phlebotomist, but also what characteristics and abilities you have that make you good at what you do. You will undoubtedly be asked questions pertaining specifically to Phlebotomy, along with a certain number of typical interview questions, so you must ready some strategies about how you would like to answer them. Since there are numerous variables that go into selecting a career, you can address this fundamental question in a number of ways. When formulating an answer, attempt to include the reasons the work interests you along with the strengths you have that make you an excellent Phlebotomy Technician and the perfiect choice for the position. Don't try to memorize an answer, but write down some concepts and talking points that pertain to your personal experiences and strengths. Reviewing sample answers can assist you to prepare your own thoughts, and provide ideas of what to include to enthuse the interviewer.

Find the Right Phlebotomy Program near Warrendale PA

Making sure that you pick the ideal phlebotomist training is an important first step toward your success in this fulfilling health care career position. As we have covered in this article, there are multiple factors that contribute toward the selection of a premium school. Phlebotomist certificate or degree programs are available in a variety of academic institutes, such as community or junior colleges, trade schools, and colleges and universities that provide a wide array of programs in healthcare and medical sciences. Training program options can vary a bit across the country as each state has its own prerequisites when it concerns phlebotomist training, licensing and certification. The most critical point is that you need to thoroughly screen and compare each program before making your ultimate selection. By asking the questions that we have furnished, you will be able to fine tune your choices so that you can select the ideal college for you. And with the appropriate education, you can realize your goal of becoming a phlebotomy technician in Warrendale PA.

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