Choosing a Phlebotomy Technician School near East Brunswick New Jersey

Enrolling in the ideal phlebotomy school near East Brunswick NJ is a critical initial step toward a rewarding career as a phlebotomist. It might seem like a challenging task to analyze and compare each of the training options that are available to you. However it’s important that you complete your due diligence to make certain that you receive a superior education. In reality, a large number of students begin their search by considering 2 of the qualifiers that first come to mind, which are cost and location. Another factor you may consider is whether to attend online classes or commute to an area 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 comparing phlebotomy training programs than locating the closest or the cheapest one. Other factors including reputation and accreditation are also significant considerations and need to be part of your selection process also. Toward that end, we will furnish a list of questions that you need to ask each of the phlebotomy schools you are assessing to help you select the right one for you. But before we do that, let’s cover 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 duty, there is in fact so much 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 has to be accurately labeled with the patient’s information. Next, paperwork must be accurately filled out in order to track the sample from the point of collection through the lab screening process. 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 pregnancy, infectious diseases or blood type. A number of East Brunswick NJ phlebotomists actually work in labs and are accountable for ensuring that samples are analyzed properly using the strictest quality control procedures. And if those weren’t enough duties, they might be required to instruct other phlebotomists in the drawing, transport and follow-up process.

Where do Phlebotomists Work?

The simplest answer is wherever there are patients. Their work places are many and varied, including East Brunswick NJ hospitals, medical clinics, long-term care facilities, or blood centers. They can be tasked to draw blood samples from patients of all ages, from infants or young children to seniors. A number of phlebotomists, depending on their practice and their training, specialize in drawing blood from a certain type of patient. For instance, those practicing in an assisted living facility or nursing home would only be drawing blood from older patients. If they are practicing in a maternity ward, they would be collecting blood from newborns and mothers solely. In contrast, phlebotomists working in a general hospital environment would be collecting samples from a wide range of patients and would collect samples from different patients on a daily basis.

Phlebotomy Education, Licensing and Certification

There are basically two types of programs that furnish phlebotomy training in East Brunswick NJ, which are degree and certificate programs. The certificate program generally takes under a year to finish and offers a general education together with the training on how to draw blood. It offers the quickest method to becoming a phlebotomist. An Associate of Science Degree in Clinical Laboratory Science, even though it’s not specifically a phlebotomy degree, will provide training to become a phlebotomy tech. Available at junior and community colleges, they usually take two years to finish. Bachelor’s Degrees are less accessible and as a 4 year program furnish a more expansive foundation in lab sciences. Once you have finished your training, you will no doubt want to get certified. Although not mandated in most states, most employers require certification before hiring technicians. Some of the principal certifying agencies 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, including California and Nevada. California and a few other states even require licensing. So it’s important that you pick a phlebotomist training program that not only offers a superior education, but also readies you for any certification or licensing exams that you are required or elect to take.

Phlebotomist Online Certificates and Degrees

To start with, let’s dispel one likely mistaken belief. You can’t receive all of your phlebotomy training online. A significant component of the curriculum will be practical training and it will be conducted either in an approved East Brunswick NJ healthcare facility or an on-campus lab|an on-campus lab or an approved healthcare facility}. Numerous courses also require completing an internship in order to graduate. However since the non-practical portion of the training can be accessed online, it could be a more convenient option for some students. As an additional benefit, many online programs are less expensive than their on-campus counterparts. And some costs, for instance those for textbooks or commuting, may be lowered also. Just make sure that the online phlebotomist school you select is accredited by a national or regional accrediting organization (more on accreditation to follow). With both the extensive online and clinical training, you can obtain a quality education with this approach to learning. If you are dedicated enough to learn at home, then attaining your certificate or degree online may be the best option for you.

Points to Ask Phlebotomy Schools

Since you now have a general understanding about what is involved in becoming a phlebotomy tech, it’s time to start your due diligence process. You might have already decided on the type of program you intend to enroll in, whether it be for a degree or a certificate. As we previously mentioned, the location of the New Jersey campus is significant as well as the cost of tuition. Maybe you have opted to enroll in an phlebotomist online college. All of these decisions are an important component of the process for choosing a school or program. But they are not the only concerns when making your decision. Following are a few questions that you should ask about each of the East Brunswick NJ programs you are looking at before making your ultimate selection.

Is the Phlebotomy Program State Specific? As previously mentioned, each state has its own regulations for practicing as a phlebotomist. Some states call for certification, while a few others mandate licensing. Each has its own prerequisite regarding the minimum hours of practical training completed prior to working as a phlebotomy tech. As a result, you might have to pass a State Board, certification or licensing exam. Therefore it’s extremely important to choose a phlebotomy program that complies with the state specific requirements for New Jersey or the state where you will be practicing and preps you for any exams you may have to take.

Is the College Accredited? The phlebotomist school and program you choose should be accredited by a reputable national or regional accrediting organization, such as the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS). There are many 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 be able to sit for a certification examination administered by any of the previously listed certifying organizations. Also, accreditation will help in securing loans or financial assistance, which are often unavailable for non-accredited programs in East Brunswick NJ. Last, graduating from an accredited school can make you more desirable to prospective employers in the job market.

What is the College’s Ranking? In numerous states there is little or no regulation of phlebotomy colleges, so there are some that are not of the highest caliber. So along with accreditation, it’s important to check out the reputations of any colleges you are looking at. You can start by requesting references from the schools from employers where they refer their graduates as part of their job assistance program. You can research online school reviews and rating services and solicit the accrediting agencies for their reviews as well. You can also contact a few East Brunswick NJ area hospitals or clinics that you may be interested in working for and find out if they can provide any recommendations. As a final thought, you can contact the New Jersey school licensing authority and find out if any grievances have been submitted or if the schools are in total compliance.

Is Sufficient Training Provided? First, check with the New Jersey 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 East Brunswick NJ phlebotomist program that you are looking at should furnish at least 40 hours of classroom training (the majority require 120) and 120 hours of clinical training. Anything lower than these minimums may indicate that the program is not expansive enough to provide adequate training.

Are Internships Sponsored? Find out from the New Jersey schools you are reviewing if they have an internship program in partnership with area healthcare facilities. They are the optimal way to get hands-on practical training typically not provided on campus. As an added benefit, internships can assist students establish contacts within the local East Brunswick NJ health care community. And they look good on resumes also.

Is Job Placement Support Available? Getting your first phlebotomy position will be a lot easier with the assistance of a job placement program. Find out if the schools you are considering provide assistance and what their job placement rate is. If a school has a high rate, signifying they place the majority of their students in positions, it’s an indication that the school has both a good reputation along with an extensive network of professional contacts within the East Brunswick NJ medical community.

Are Class Times Available as Needed? And last, it’s critical to verify that the final college you choose provides classes at times that are compatible with your hectic schedule. This is especially true if you decide to continue working while going to college. If you can only go to classes in the evenings or on weekends near East Brunswick NJ, make certain they are available at those times. Also, if you can only attend part-time, confirm it is an option as well. Even if you have decided to study online, with the clinical training requirement, make certain those hours can also be fulfilled within your schedule. And ask what the make-up protocol is in case you have to miss any classes as a result of illness or emergencies.

Why Did You Want to Become a Phlebotomy Tech?

When getting ready to interview for a Phlebotomy Technician position, it's important to review questions you might be asked. Among the questions that interviewers typically ask Phlebotomy Tech prospects is "What drove you to select Phlebotomy as a career?". What the interviewer is hoping to discover is not merely the personal reasons you may have for becoming Phlebotomy Tech, but additionally what characteristics and talents you have that make you outstanding at your profession. You will undoubtedly be asked questions pertaining exclusively to Phlebotomy, as well as a certain number of routine interview questions, so you need to ready a number of approaches about how you want to address them. Since there are so many variables that go into selecting a career, you can respond to this primary question in a multitude of ways. When readying an answer, try to include the reasons the profession interests you in addition to the strengths you have that make you an outstanding Phlebotomist and the perfiect choice for the position. Don't make an effort to memorize an answer, but take down some concepts and talking points that pertain to your personal experiences and strengths. Reviewing sample responses can assist you to develop your own concepts, and provide ideas of what to discuss to wow the interviewer.

Find the Ideal Phlebotomist Program near East Brunswick NJ

Making sure that you enroll in the ideal phlebotomy training is a critical first step toward your success in this fulfilling medical care field. As we have covered in this article, there are several factors that go into the selection of a quality college. Phlebotomy certificate or degree programs are offered in a wide range of academic institutes, including junior or community colleges, trade schools, and colleges and universities that offer a wide range of courses in medical care and health sciences. Training program offerings may differ a bit from state to state as each state has its own criteria when it pertains to phlebotomist training, licensing and certification. The most critical point is that you must thoroughly screen and compare each college prior to making your final selection. By asking the questions that we have presented, you will be able to narrow down your options so that you can pick the right college for you. And with the proper training, you can reach your goal of becoming a phlebotomist in East Brunswick NJ.

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