Picking a Phlebotomy Technician School near Cliffside Park New Jersey

Enrolling in the ideal phlebotomy school near Cliffside Park NJ is an important first step toward a gratifying profession as a phlebotomist. It may seem like a difficult task to analyze and compare each of the school alternatives that are available to you. However it’s vital that you complete your due diligence to ensure that you get a quality education. In reality, a large number of students begin their search by looking at two of the qualifiers that first come to mind, which are cost and location. Another option you may consider is whether to attend online classes or commute to an area campus. We’ll review more about online classes later in this article. What you need to keep in mind is that there is a lot more to checking out phlebotomy training programs than finding the cheapest or the closest one. Other variables such as accreditation and reputation are also important considerations and must be part of your selection process as well. To assist in that effort, we will furnish a list of questions that you need to ask each of the phlebotomy schools you are evaluating to help you pick the best one for you. But before we do that, let’s address what a phlebotomist is and does, and afterwards continue our conversation about online training.

Phlebotomist Work Description

A phlebotomist, or phlebotomy tech, draws blood from patients. Although that is their main function, there is in fact much more to their job description. Before drawing a blood sample, a phlebotomist needs to check that the instruments being employed are single use only and sterile. Following the collection, the sample has to be correctly labeled with the patient’s data. Afterward, paperwork has to be correctly filled out to be able to track the sample from the point 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 tested for such things as infectious diseases, pregnancy or blood type. Some Cliffside Park NJ phlebotomists in fact work in laboratories and are accountable for ensuring that samples are analyzed properly under the highest quality assurance procedures. And if those weren’t enough duties, they may be called upon to instruct other phlebotomists in the drawing, transport and follow-up process.

Where do Phlebotomy Techs Practice?

The most basic response is wherever patients are treated. Their workplaces are many and diverse, including Cliffside Park NJ medical clinics, hospitals, long-term care facilities, or blood centers. They may be assigned to draw blood samples from patients of of every age, from babies or young children to seniors. A number of phlebotomy techs, depending on their training and their practice, specialize in drawing blood from a certain type of patient. For instance, those working in an assisted living facility or nursing home would exclusively be collecting blood from older patients. If they are practicing in a maternity ward, they would be drawing blood from mothers and newborns solely. On the other hand, phlebotomists practicing in a general hospital setting would be collecting samples from a wide variety of patients and would collect samples from new patients every day.

Phlebotomist Education, Certification and Licensing

There are essentially 2 types of programs that offer phlebotomy training in Cliffside Park NJ, which are certificate and degree programs. The certificate program usually takes less than a year to finish and furnishes a general education along with the training on how to draw blood. It provides the fastest route to becoming a phlebotomist. An Associate of Science Degree in Clinical Laboratory Science, although not exclusively a phlebotomy degree, will include training to become a phlebotomist. Available at junior and community colleges, they usually take two years to complete. Bachelor’s Degrees are not as accessible and as a 4 year program offer a more expansive foundation in lab sciences. When you have finished your training, you will probably want to become certified. Although not required in most states, a number of employers require certification before employing technicians. A few of the key certifying agencies 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 phlebotomy tech, such as Nevada and California. California and a handful of other states even require licensing. So it’s imperative that you enroll in a phlebotomist training program that not only provides a superior education, but also preps you for any licensing or certification examinations that you elect or are required to take.

Online Phlebotomist Training

To begin with, let’s resolve one possible mistaken belief. You can’t get all of your phlebotomy training online. A good component of the program of studies will be practical training and it will be conducted either in an approved Cliffside Park NJ 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-practical portion of the training may be attended online, it might be a more convenient option for some students. As an additional benefit, many online colleges are more affordable than their traditional competitors. And some costs, including those for commuting or textbooks, may be lowered as well. Just make certain that the online phlebotomist program you enroll in is accredited by a national or regional accrediting organization (more on accreditation later). With both the comprehensive online and clinical training, you can obtain a premium education with this approach to learning. If you are dedicated enough to study at home, then attaining your certificate or degree online might be the right option for you.

Points to Ask Phlebotomy Schools

Since you now have a general idea about what is involved in becoming a phlebotomy tech, it’s time to begin your due diligence process. You may have already picked the type of program you want to enroll in, whether it be for a certificate or a degree. As we mentioned earlier, the location of the New Jersey college is significant in addition to the cost of tuition. Maybe you have decided to enroll in an online phlebotomist college. Each of these decisions are an important part of the procedure for choosing a program or school. But they are not the sole considerations when making your decision. Following are a few questions that you need to ask about all of the Cliffside Park NJ schools you are reviewing 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 phlebotomist. Some states call for certification, while a few others mandate licensing. Each has its own requirement regarding the minimum hours of clinical training performed before working as a phlebotomist. As a result, you might have to pass a State Board, licensing or certification exam. Therefore it’s extremely important to choose a phlebotomist program that complies with the state specific requirements for New Jersey or the state where you will be practicing and prepares you for any examinations you may have to take.

Is the College 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 several benefits to graduating from an accredited school in addition to an assurance of a premium education. To begin with, if your program is not accredited, you will not qualify to take a certification exam administered by any of the previously listed certifying organizations. Also, accreditation will help in obtaining loans or financial assistance, which are often not available for non-accredited colleges in Cliffside Park NJ. Finally, earning a certificate or a degree from an accredited college can make you more desirable to future employers in the job market.

What is the Program’s Ranking? In many states there is little or no regulation of phlebotomist colleges, so there are some that are not of the highest quality. So in addition to accreditation, it’s important to investigate the reputations of all colleges you are reviewing. You can start by requesting references from the schools from employers where they place their students as part of their job assistance program. You can research online school reviews and rating services and ask the accrediting organizations for their reviews also. You can also talk to a few Cliffside Park NJ area clinics or hospitals that you might be interested in working for and see if they can provide any recommendations. As a final thought, you can contact the New Jersey school licensing authority and ask if any grievances have been filed or if the colleges are in total compliance.

Is Ample Training Included? To begin with, check with the New Jersey regulator or the state regulator where you will be working to learn if there are any minimum requirements for the length of training, both classroom and practical. As a minimum, any Cliffside Park NJ phlebotomist program that you are considering should provide no less than 40 hours of classroom training (most require 120) and 120 hours of clinical training. Anything less than these minimums might indicate that the program is not comprehensive enough to offer adequate training.

Are Internship Programs Provided? Find out from the New Jersey colleges you are considering if they have an internship program in collaboration with local medical facilities. They are the optimal way to receive hands-on clinical training typically not available on campus. As an additional benefit, internships can help students develop relationships within the local Cliffside Park NJ healthcare community. And they are a plus on resumes also.

Is Job Placement Support Available? Finding your first phlebotomy job will be much easier with the help of a job placement program. Find out if the colleges you are considering offer assistance and what their job placement percentage is. If a college has a higher rate, meaning they place the majority of their students in positions, it’s an indication that the program has both an excellent reputation together with a large network of professional contacts within the Cliffside Park NJ health care community.

Are Class Times Offered to Fit Your Schedule? And last, it’s critical to confirm that the final program you pick provides classes at times that are compatible with your hectic schedule. This is especially true if you opt to continue working while going to school. If you can only go to classes in the evenings or on weekends near Cliffside Park NJ, make certain they are available at those times. Additionally, if you can only attend on a part-time basis, make sure it is an option as well. And 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 procedure is in case you need to miss any classes because of emergencies or illness.

Why Did You Want to Become a Phlebotomist?

When getting ready to interview for a Phlebotomy Tech job, it's helpful to review questions you could be asked. Among the questions that hiring managers often ask Phlebotomy Technician applicants is "What compelled you to select Phlebotomy as a career?". What the interviewer is trying to learn is not merely the personal reasons you might have for becoming Phlebotomy Tech, but additionally what attributes and skills you have that make you good at what you do. You will likely be asked questions relating exclusively to Phlebotomy, in addition to a significant number of general interview questions, so you should organize some ideas about how you want to respond to them. Since there are numerous factors that go into selecting a career, you can address this primary question in a multitude of ways. When formulating an answer, try to include the reasons the profession interests you along with the abilities you have that make you an outstanding Phlebotomy Tech and the best choice for the position. Don't attempt to memorize a response, but jot down some concepts and topics that relate to your personal experiences and strengths. Reviewing sample answers can assist you to develop your own thoughts, and inspire ideas of what to include to wow the recruiter.

Select the Right Phlebotomist School near Cliffside Park NJ

Making certain that you choose the ideal phlebotomist training is an essential first step toward your success in this gratifying healthcare field. As we have discussed in this article, there are a number of factors that go into the selection of a premium college. Phlebotomist certificate or degree programs are available in a number of academic institutes, such as community or junior colleges, trade schools, and colleges and universities that offer an extensive assortment of courses in healthcare and medical sciences. Course options may differ a bit from state to state as each state has its own criteria when it pertains to phlebotomy training, certification and licensing. The most critical point is that you need to carefully screen and compare each college before making your ultimate 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 phlebotomist in Cliffside Park NJ.

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