Picking a Phlebotomy Technician Course near Great Neck New York

Enrolling in the right phlebotomy technician school near Great Neck NY is an important initial step toward a gratifying profession as a phlebotomist. It might seem like a daunting undertaking to analyze and compare all of the training alternatives that are accessible to you. However it’s important that you perform your due diligence to make sure that you get a superior education. In fact, a large number of students start their search by looking at 2 of the qualifiers that initially 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 you need to remember is that there is far more to checking out phlebotomy training programs than finding the cheapest or the closest one. Other variables including reputation and accreditation are also significant considerations and need to be part of your decision process as well. 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 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.

Phlebotomy Technician Career Description

A phlebotomist, or phlebotomy technician, collects blood samples from patients. While that is their principal responsibility, there is in fact much more to their job description. Prior to drawing a blood sample, a phlebotomist must check that the instruments being utilized are single use only and sterile. After collection, the sample needs to be correctly labeled with the patient’s information. Next, paperwork has to be properly completed to be able to track the sample from the point of collection through the laboratory screening process. The phlebotomist then transports the blood to either an an outside lab facility or an in-house lab where it may be screened for such things as pregnancy, infectious diseases or blood type. Some Great Neck NY phlebotomists actually work in laboratories and are responsible for making certain that samples are analyzed correctly under the strictest quality control procedures. And if those weren’t enough duties, they can be required to train other phlebotomists in the drawing, transport and follow-up process.

Where are Phlebotomists Employed?

The easiest answer is wherever they treat patients. Their work environments are many and diverse, including Great Neck NY medical clinics, hospitals, long-term care facilities, or blood centers. They can be charged to draw blood samples from patients of all ages, from babies or young children to senior citizens. A number of phlebotomy techs, depending on their training and their practice, specialize in collecting blood from a certain type of patient. For instance, those practicing in a nursing home or assisted living facility would exclusively be drawing blood from senior patients. If they are practicing in a maternity ward, they would be drawing blood from newborns and mothers solely. On the other hand, phlebotomists working in a general hospital environment would be collecting 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 essentially 2 types of programs that provide phlebotomy training in Great Neck NY, which are degree and certificate programs. The certificate program normally takes under a year to finish and furnishes a general education along 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 exclusively a phlebotomist degree, will include training on becoming a phlebotomy tech. Offered at community and junior colleges, they normally take two years to finish. Bachelor’s Degrees are not as available and as a four year program provide a more comprehensive background in lab sciences. Once you have finished your training, you will no doubt want to become certified. Although not required in most states, most employers require certification prior to hiring technicians. Some of the main 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 call for certification prior to practicing as a phlebotomist, such as Nevada and California. California and a few other states even require licensing. So it’s imperative that you select a phlebotomist training program that not only offers a superior education, but also preps you for any licensing or certification examinations that you elect or are required to take.

Phlebotomist Online Certificates and Degrees

First, let’s resolve one possible misconception. You can’t get all of your phlebotomist training online. A substantial component of the curriculum will be practical training and it will be performed either in an approved Great Neck NY 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 component of the training may be attended online, it may be a more convenient option for many students. As an added benefit, a number of online schools are more affordable than their traditional competitors. And some expenditures, such as those for textbooks or commuting, may be lowered also. Just make sure that the online phlebotomist college you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency (more on accreditation to follow). With both the extensive online and clinical training, you can obtain a premium education with this method of learning. If you are dedicated enough to learn at home, then attaining your certificate or degree online might be the best choice for you.

Topics to Ask Phlebotomist Schools

Now that you have a general understanding about what it takes to become a phlebotomy tech, it’s time to start your due diligence process. You may have already chosen the kind of program you wish to enroll in, whether it be for a degree or a certificate. As we mentioned earlier, the location of the New York campus is important as well as the cost of tuition. Maybe you have opted to enroll in an online phlebotomy school. Each of these decisions are a critical part of the process for picking a program or school. But they are not the sole concerns when arriving at your decision. Following are some questions that you should ask about all of the Great Neck NY colleges you are considering before making your final selection.

Is the Phlebotomist Program Specific to New York? As earlier discussed, each state has its own regulations for practicing as a phlebotomy technician. Several states call for certification, while some others require licensing. Every state has its own prerequisite regarding the minimum amount of clinical training completed before working as a phlebotomist. As a result, you may need to pass a State Board, licensing or certification exam. Therefore it’s extremely important to select a phlebotomist program that complies with the state specific requirements for New York or the state where you will be working and preps you for any exams you may have to take.

Is the Program Accredited? The phlebotomy program and school you pick should be accredited by a reputable national or regional accrediting organization, for example the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS). There are many advantages to graduating from an accredited school in addition to an assurance of a superior education. To begin with, if your program has not received accreditation, you will not be able to take a certification examination administered by any of the previously listed certifying agencies. Also, accreditation will help in obtaining financial aid or loans, which are typically unavailable for non-accredited colleges in Great Neck NY. Finally, graduating from an accredited college can make you more desirable to prospective employers in the job market.

What is the Program’s Reputation? In many states there is little or no regulation of phlebotomist schools, so there are some that are not of the highest quality. So along with accreditation, it’s imperative to check the reputations of all schools you are looking at. You can begin 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 rating and review services and solicit the accrediting organizations for their reviews also. You can also talk to some Great Neck NY area hospitals or clinics that you may have an interest in working for and find out if they can provide any insights. As a closing thought, you can check with the New York school licensing authority and ask if any grievances have been filed or if the schools are in total compliance.

Is Sufficient Training Included? To begin with, check with the New York 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. At a minimum, any Great Neck NY phlebotomy program that you are looking at should provide no less than 40 hours of classroom training (the majority require 120) and 120 hours of practical training. Anything less than these minimums might indicate that the program is not comprehensive enough to furnish sufficient training.

Are Internships Provided? Find out from the New York programs you are reviewing if they have an internship program in partnership with local medical facilities. They are the optimal way to obtain hands-on clinical training often not obtainable on campus. As an added benefit, internships can help students establish contacts within the local Great Neck NY healthcare community. And they are a plus on resumes also.

Is Job Placement Help Offered? Getting your first phlebotomy job will be much easier with the help of a job placement program. Inquire if the schools you are reviewing offer 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 as well as a substantial network of professional contacts within the Great Neck NY health care community.

Are Class Times Compatible With Your Schedule? And last, it’s crucial to confirm that the ultimate program you select provides classes at times that will accommodate your busy schedule. This is especially important if you choose to still work while attending college. If you can only go to classes in the evenings or on weekends near Great Neck NY, check that they are available at those times. Also, if you can only attend part-time, verify it is an option as well. Even if you have decided to attend online, with the practical training requirement, make sure those hours can also be fulfilled within your schedule. And ask what the make-up procedure is should you need to miss any classes as a result of illness or emergencies.

Why Did You Decide to Become a Phlebotomy Technician?

When getting ready to interview for a Phlebotomy Technician job, it's helpful to review questions you could be asked. Among the questions that hiring managers frequently ask Phlebotomist applicants is "What made you pick Phlebotomy as a career?". What the interviewer is attempting to uncover is not just the personal reasons you may have for becoming Phlebotomist, but additionally what qualities and talents you possess that make you exceptional at your profession. You will likely be asked questions pertaining specifically to Phlebotomy, as well as a certain number of standard interview questions, so you need to ready a number of ideas about how you would like to address them. Considering there are several factors that go into selecting a career, you can answer this primary question in a number of ways. When preparing an answer, aim to include the reasons the profession interests you in addition to the abilities you possess that make you an exceptional Phlebotomy Tech and the leading choice for the position. Don't make an effort to memorize an answer, but take down a few concepts and anecdotes that relate to your own strengths and experiences. Going over sample responses can assist you to formulate your own thoughts, and give you ideas of what to discuss to enthuse the interviewer.

Find the Right Phlebotomy College near Great Neck NY

Making sure that you pick the most suitable phlebotomy training is an important first step toward your success in this rewarding health care career position. As we have discussed in this article, there are a number of factors that contribute toward the selection of a premium college. Phlebotomist training programs are offered in a number of academic institutions, such as junior or community colleges, vocational schools, and colleges and universities that provide a comprehensive assortment of courses in healthcare and medical sciences. Course options may vary somewhat across the country 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 research and compare each program before making your ultimate decision. By asking the questions that we have provided, you will be able to fine tune your choices so that you can select the right college for you. And with the proper education, you can realize your goal of becoming a phlebotomist in Great Neck NY.

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