Picking a Phlebotomy Technician Course near Northvale New Jersey

Selecting the ideal phlebotomist school near Northvale NJ is an essential first step toward a gratifying profession as a phlebotomist. It may seem like a daunting undertaking to evaluate and compare each of the school options that are available to you. Nevertheless it’s necessary that you do your due diligence to ensure that you receive a superior education. In fact, many students start the process by considering 2 of the qualifiers that initially come to mind, which are cost and location. An additional option you might consider is whether to attend classes online or commute to an area campus. We’ll talk more about online schools later in this article. What you need 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 factors including accreditation and reputation are also important considerations and must be part of your selection process also. Toward that end, we will provide a list of questions that you need to ask each of the phlebotomy schools you are reviewing to help you select the right one for you. But before we do that, let’s cover what a phlebotomist is and does, and then resume our conversation about online training.

Phlebotomy Tech Job Description

A phlebotomist, or phlebotomy technician, draws blood from patients. Although that is their principal function, there is actually so much more to their job description. Before collecting a blood sample, a phlebotomist needs to check that the instruments being used are single use only and sterile. After collection, the sample needs to be properly labeled with the patient’s data. Afterward, paperwork must be accurately filled out in order to track the sample from the time of collection through the laboratory testing procedure. The phlebotomist then transports the blood to either an an outside lab facility or an in-house lab where it can be screened for such things as pregnancy, infectious diseases or blood type. Many Northvale NJ phlebotomists in fact work in labs and are in charge of ensuring that samples are tested properly utilizing the highest quality control procedures. And if those weren’t sufficient responsibilities, they can be called upon to train other phlebotomists in the drawing, delivery and follow-up process.

Where do Phlebotomy Techs Work?

The simplest answer is wherever there are patients. Their work environments are numerous and diverse, including Northvale NJ medical clinics, hospitals, long-term care facilities, or blood banks. They may be assigned to collect blood samples from patients of all ages, from infants or toddlers to senior citizens. Some phlebotomists, depending on their training and their practice, specialize in collecting blood from a particular kind of patient. For example, those working in an assisted living facility or nursing home would only be collecting blood from older patients. If they are working in a maternity ward, they would be collecting blood from mothers and newborns solely. On the other hand, phlebotomy technicians practicing in a general hospital environment would be collecting blood from a wide variety of patients and would collect samples from different patients every day.

Phlebotomist Training, Licensing and Certification

There are basically 2 kinds of programs that provide phlebotomist training in Northvale NJ, which are certificate and degree programs. The certificate program typically takes less than a year to complete and provides a basic education together with the training on how to draw blood. It offers the fastest route to becoming a phlebotomist. An Associate of Science Degree in Clinical Laboratory Science, although not specifically a phlebotomy degree, will provide training to become a phlebotomist. Available at community and junior colleges, they normally require two years to complete. Bachelor’s Degrees are not as accessible and as a four year program provide a more extensive background in lab sciences. After you have completed your training, you will probably want to become certified. While not required in the majority of states, most employers require certification prior to 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 a few states that do require certification in order to practice as a phlebotomist, such as California and Nevada. California and a handful of other states even require licensing. So it’s important that you enroll in a phlebotomist training program that not only furnishes a premium education, but also readies you for any certification or licensing exams that you elect or are required to take.

Phlebotomist Online Training

First, let’s resolve one possible misconception. You can’t receive all of your phlebotomy training online. A significant part of the program of studies will be clinical training and it will be conducted either in an approved Northvale NJ healthcare facility or an on-campus lab|an on-campus lab or an approved healthcare facility}. Many courses also require completion of an internship prior to graduation. But since the non-clinical component of the training can be attended online, it could be a more practical option for some students. As an added benefit, a number of online classes are more affordable than their traditional counterparts. And some expenditures, for instance those for textbooks or commuting, may be lowered as well. Just make sure 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 clinical and online training, you can receive a superior education with this approach to learning. If you are disciplined enough to study at home, then earning your certificate or degree online might be the best choice for you.

Topics to Ask Phlebotomy Schools

Since you now have a general idea about what it takes to become a phlebotomist, it’s time to start your due diligence process. You might have already picked the type of program you want to enroll in, whether it be for a degree or a certificate. As we mentioned earlier, the location of the New Jersey campus is relevant as well as the cost of tuition. Maybe you have decided to enroll in an online phlebotomy program. Each of these decisions are a critical component of the procedure for picking a program or school. But they are not the sole concerns when making your decision. Below we have provided a few questions that you should ask about all of the Northvale NJ programs you are considering prior to making your ultimate decision.

Is the Phlebotomy Program Specific to Your State? As mentioned previously, each state has its own regulations for practicing as a phlebotomy technician. Some states require certification, while a few others mandate licensing. Each has its own requirement regarding the minimum hours of clinical training completed before practicing as a phlebotomist. As a result, you may need to pass a State Board, certification or licensing exam. Therefore it’s extremely important to select a phlebotomy program that fulfills the state specific requirements for New Jersey or the state where you will be practicing and readies you for all exams you may be required to take.

Is the College Accredited? The phlebotomy program and school you select should be accredited by a recognized regional or national accrediting agency, such as the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS). There are many advantages to graduating from an accredited program in addition to an assurance of a quality 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 organizations. Next, accreditation will help in securing financial aid or loans, which are typically unavailable for non-accredited programs in Northvale NJ. Finally, earning a certificate or a degree from an accredited school can make you more attractive to prospective employers in the job market.

What is the Program’s Reputation? In numerous states there is minimal 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 investigate the reputations of all schools you are considering. You can begin by requesting references from the schools from employers where they place their students as part of their job assistance program. You can screen internet school rating and review services and ask the accrediting agencies for their reviews also. You can even contact a few Northvale NJ area hospitals or clinics that you may be interested in working for and see if they can offer any recommendations. As a final thought, you can contact the New Jersey school licensing authority and find out if any complaints have been submitted or if the colleges are in full compliance.

Is Ample Training Provided? First, contact the New Jersey regulator or the state regulator where you will be working to learn if there are any minimum requirements for the amount of training, both classroom and practical. As a minimum, any Northvale NJ phlebotomist program that you are looking at should provide at least 40 hours of classroom training (most require 120) and 120 hours of practical training. Anything less than these minimums may indicate that the program is not comprehensive enough to provide adequate training.

Are Internships Provided? Find out from the New Jersey programs you are reviewing if they have an internship program in partnership with area healthcare facilities. They are the ideal means to obtain hands-on practical training typically not obtainable on campus. As an added benefit, internships can help students develop relationships within the local Northvale NJ healthcare community. And they are a plus on resumes also.

Is Job Placement Assistance Offered? Finding your first phlebotomist job will be much easier with the assistance of a job placement program. Find out if the colleges you are reviewing provide assistance and what their job placement percentage is. If a school has a higher rate, meaning they place most of their students in jobs, it’s an indication that the program has both an excellent reputation along with a large network of professional contacts within the Northvale NJ healthcare community.

Are Class Times Conveniently Scheduled? Finally, it’s important to make sure that the ultimate school you choose offers classes at times that will accommodate your hectic lifestyle. This is especially true if you decide to still work while going to school. If you can only go to classes in the evenings or on weekends near Northvale NJ, check that they are available at those times. Additionally, if you can only attend on a part-time basis, verify 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 completed within your schedule. And ask what the make-up procedure is in case you need to miss any classes due to illness or emergencies.

Why Did You Desire to Be a Phlebotomist?

When preparing to interview for a Phlebotomy Tech job, it's important to review questions you could be asked. Among the things that hiring managers often ask Phlebotomy Technician applicants is "What made you pick Phlebotomy as a profession?". What the interviewer is hoping to discover is not merely the private reasons you may have for being Phlebotomist, but also what attributes and talents you possess that make you outstanding at what you do. You will likely be asked questions pertaining primarily to Phlebotomy, along with a significant number of general interview questions, so you should organize several strategies about how you would like to address them. Given that there are numerous variables that go into choosing a career, you can respond to this fundamental question in a multitude of ways. When readying an answer, try to include the reasons the work interests you along with the abilities you possess that make you an excellent Phlebotomy Technician and the best choice for the job. Don't make an effort to memorize a response, but write down a few concepts and talking points that relate 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.

Select the Ideal Phlebotomy Program near Northvale NJ

Making certain that you select the ideal phlebotomist training is a critical first step toward your success in this gratifying health care career position. As we have addressed in this article, there are multiple factors that contribute toward the selection of a quality college. Phlebotomy certificate or degree programs are available in a number of academic institutions, including community or junior colleges, vocational schools, and colleges and universities that provide an extensive range of programs in medical care and health sciences. Training program options may differ slightly from state to state as each state has its own mandates when it pertains to phlebotomy training, certification and licensing. The most important point is that you need to thoroughly screen and compare each college before making your final decision. By addressing the questions that we have presented, you will be able to fine tune your options so that you can select the right school for you. And with the proper education, you can reach your goal of becoming a phlebotomy technician in Northvale NJ.

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