Choosing a Phlebotomy School near Pomona New Jersey

Choosing the right phlebotomy technician training near Pomona NJ is an important first step toward a fulfilling career as a phlebotomist. It may seem like a difficult task to assess and compare all of the school alternatives that are available to you. However it’s vital that you complete your due diligence to make sure that you receive a quality education. In reality, a large number of students begin the process by looking at two of the qualifiers that first come to mind, which are cost and location. Yet another factor you may consider is whether to attend online classes or commute to an area campus. We’ll discuss a bit more about online classes later in this article. What’s important to remember is that there is far more to checking out phlebotomy training programs than locating the cheapest or the closest one. Other factors including accreditation and reputation are also important considerations and should be part of your decision process as well. Toward that end, we will provide a list of questions that you should ask each of the phlebotomy schools you are reviewing to help you choose the right one for you. But before we do that, let’s cover what a phlebotomist is and does, and afterwards resume our discussion about online schools.

Phlebotomist Career Description

A phlebotomist, or phlebotomy technician, collects blood samples from patients. Although that is their main responsibility, there is in fact far more to their job description. Prior to collecting a blood sample, a phlebotomist needs to confirm that the tools being used are sterile and single use only. Following the collection, the sample has to be properly labeled with the patient’s data. Afterward, paperwork must be properly filled out in order to track the sample from the point of collection through the laboratory screening procedure. The phlebotomist then delivers the blood to either an an outside lab facility or an in-house lab where it may be tested for such things as pregnancy, infectious diseases or blood type. Many Pomona NJ phlebotomists in fact work in labs and are responsible for ensuring that samples are tested properly under the highest quality control procedures. And if those weren’t enough responsibilities, they might be asked to instruct other phlebotomists in the drawing, transport and follow-up process.

Where are Phlebotomy Techs Employed?

The most basic answer is wherever they treat patients. Their workplaces are numerous and varied, including Pomona NJ hospitals, medical clinics, long-term care facilities, or blood banks. They may be assigned to draw blood samples from patients of of every age, from infants or young children to senior citizens. A number of phlebotomy techs, based on their training and their practice, specialize in collecting samples from a specific type of patient. For example, those practicing in a nursing home or assisted living facility would solely be drawing blood from elderly 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 working in a general hospital setting would be collecting blood from a wide range of patients and would work with different patients every day.

Phlebotomist Education, Certification and Licensing

There are basically 2 types of programs that provide phlebotomy training in Pomona NJ, which are certificate and degree programs. The certificate program generally takes less than a year to finish and offers a basic education together with the training on how to draw blood. It provides the fastest method to becoming a phlebotomy tech. An Associate of Science Degree in Clinical Laboratory Science, although not specifically a phlebotomy degree, will provide training on becoming a phlebotomy tech. Available at community and junior colleges, they usually take 2 years to complete. Bachelor’s Degrees are not as accessible and as a 4 year program furnish a more extensive background in lab sciences. After you have finished your training, you will no doubt want to get certified. While not mandated in most states, a number of employers look for 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 some states that do require certification prior to practicing as a phlebotomist, such as California and Nevada. California and a few other states even require licensing. So it’s imperative that you choose a phlebotomist training program that not only provides a premium education, but also preps you for any certification or licensing examinations that you are required or elect to take.

Online Phlebotomy Colleges

To start with, let’s resolve one likely mistaken belief. You can’t obtain all of your phlebotomist training online. A good portion of the course of study will be practical training and it will be carried out either in an approved Pomona NJ 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 in order to graduate. However since the non-clinical portion of the training may be attended online, it might be a more convenient option for many students. As an added benefit, a number of online programs are more affordable than their on-campus competitors. And some expenditures, for instance those for commuting or textbooks, may be lowered also. Just make certain that the online phlebotomy school you choose is accredited by a national or regional accrediting agency (more on accreditation to follow). With both the comprehensive clinical and online training, you can receive a premium education with this method of learning. If you are disciplined enough to study at home, then earning your certificate or degree online might be the best option for you.

What to Ask Phlebotomist Programs

Now that you 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 selected the kind of program you intend to enroll in, whether it be for a certificate or a degree. As we previously mentioned, the location of the New Jersey campus is significant in addition to the tuition expense. Possibly you have opted to enroll in an online phlebotomist program. All of these decisions are a critical part of the procedure for choosing a school or program. But they are not the sole concerns when arriving at your decision. Following are a few questions that you need to ask about all of the Pomona NJ colleges you are considering prior to making your ultimate selection.

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

Is the Program Accredited? The phlebotomy school and program you choose should be accredited by a recognized regional or national accrediting agency, for example the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS). There are several advantages to graduating from an accredited program in addition to a guarantee of a premium education. To begin with, if your program is not accredited, you will not qualify to sit for a certification exam offered by any of the previously listed certifying agencies. Next, accreditation will help in getting loans or financial assistance, which are typically not available for non-accredited schools in Pomona NJ. Last, earning a certificate or a degree from an accredited college can make you more attractive to potential employers in the job market.

What is the School’s Ranking? In many states there is little or no regulation of phlebotomy schools, so there are some that are not of the highest caliber. So along with accreditation, it’s essential to check the reputations of any schools 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 placement program. You can research online school reviews and rating services and ask the accrediting organizations for their reviews also. You can also contact several Pomona NJ local hospitals or clinics that you might be interested in working for and ask if they can offer any insights. As a closing thought, you can check with the New Jersey school licensing authority and find out if any complaints have been submitted or if the schools are in total compliance.

Is Plenty of 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 amount of training, both clinical and classroom. As a minimum, any Pomona NJ phlebotomy program that you are reviewing 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 signify that the program is not expansive enough to provide sufficient training.

Are Internship Programs Included? Find out from the New Jersey colleges you are reviewing if they have an internship program in partnership with area healthcare facilities. They are the ideal way to get hands-on practical training typically not obtainable on campus. As an additional benefit, internships can assist students establish relationships within the local Pomona NJ healthcare community. And they are a plus on resumes also.

Is Job Placement Help Provided? Getting your first phlebotomy position will be a lot easier with the assistance of a job placement program. Ask if the colleges you are reviewing provide assistance and what their job placement rate 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 a good reputation together with an extensive network of professional contacts within the Pomona NJ healthcare community.

Are Classes Conveniently Scheduled? And last, it’s important to make sure that the ultimate college you choose offers classes at times that are compatible with your hectic lifestyle. This is particularly important if you decide to continue working while going to school. If you need to go to classes in the evenings or on weekends near Pomona NJ, make certain they are available at those times. Also, if you can only attend part-time, verify it is an option also. Even if you have decided to study online, with the practical training requirement, make certain those hours can also be fulfilled within your schedule. And ask what the make-up policy is in case you have to miss any classes as a result of emergencies or illness.

Why Did You Desire to Be a Phlebotomy Tech?

When prepping to interview for a Phlebotomy Tech job, it's helpful to consider questions you might be asked. One of the things that interviewers frequently ask Phlebotomist prospects is "What made you decide on Phlebotomy as a career?". What the interviewer is trying to uncover is not just the personal reasons you might have for being Phlebotomy Tech, but also what attributes and skills you have that make you outstanding at what you do. You will probably be asked questions pertaining exclusively to Phlebotomy, in addition to a certain number of general interview questions, so you need to organize some ideas about how you would like to respond to them. Given that there are so many factors that go into choosing a career, you can respond to this fundamental question in a multitude of ways. When formulating an answer, try to include the reasons the work interests you as well as the abilities you possess that make you an exceptional Phlebotomist and the leading candidate for the job. Don't make an effort to memorize an answer, but take down several ideas and topics that relate to your personal strengths and experiences. Reviewing sample answers can assist you to develop your own thoughts, and inspire ideas of what to include to wow the interviewer.

Choose the Best Phlebotomy Program near Pomona NJ

Making sure that you pick the right phlebotomy training is an important first step toward your success in this fulfilling health care field. As we have covered in this article, there are multiple factors that go into the selection of a superior college. Phlebotomy certificate or degree programs are found in a number of educational institutions, such as junior or community colleges, vocational schools, and colleges and universities that offer a comprehensive assortment of courses in medical care and health sciences. Training program options may differ somewhat from state to state as each state has its own prerequisites when it pertains to phlebotomy training, certification and licensing. The most important point is that you must diligently evaluate and compare each program before making your ultimate selection. By asking the questions that we have presented, you will be able to narrow down your options so that you can select the best school for you. And with the proper education, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a phlebotomist in Pomona NJ.

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