Selecting a Phlebotomy Technician Course near New Hyde Park New York

Selecting the right phlebotomist training near New Hyde Park NY is an essential first step toward a fulfilling career as a phlebotomist. It may seem like a challenging task to analyze and compare all of the training alternatives that are available to you. Nevertheless it’s important that you complete your due diligence to make sure that you get a quality education. In reality, a large number of prospective students begin the process by considering two of the qualifiers that first come to mind, which are cost and location. Another option you may look into is whether to attend classes online or commute to an area campus. We’ll discuss more about online schools later in this article. What you need to remember is that there is far more to checking out phlebotomy training programs than locating the cheapest or the closest one. Other variables such as reputation and accreditation are also significant considerations and need to be part of your selection process also. 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 best one for you. But prior to doing that, let’s address what a phlebotomist is and does, and then continue our discussion about online schools.

Phlebotomy Technician Job Description

A phlebotomist, or phlebotomy technician, draws blood from patients. While that is their principal responsibility, there is in fact much more to their job description. Before collecting a blood sample, a phlebotomist needs to confirm that the instruments being used are sterile and single use only. Following the collection, the sample has to be correctly labeled with the patient’s data. Next, paperwork must be properly completed in order to track the sample from the time of collection through the laboratory testing process. The phlebotomist then delivers the blood to either an in-house lab or to an outside lab facility where it can be screened for such things as infectious diseases, pregnancy or blood type. A number of New Hyde Park NY phlebotomists actually work in laboratories and are in charge of making sure that samples are analyzed correctly under the highest quality control procedures. And if those weren’t enough responsibilities, they can be asked to instruct other phlebotomists in the collection, transport and follow-up process.

Where do Phlebotomy Techs Work?

The quickest answer is wherever there are patients. Their work places are many and varied, such as New Hyde Park NY hospitals, medical clinics, long-term care facilities, or blood centers. They can be tasked to collect blood samples from patients of all ages, from babies or young children to seniors. Some phlebotomy techs, depending on their training and their practice, specialize in drawing samples from a particular kind of patient. For instance, those practicing in an assisted living facility or nursing home would only be drawing blood from elderly patients. If they are working in a maternity ward, they would be drawing blood from newborns and mothers exclusively. In contrast, phlebotomists practicing in a general hospital setting would be drawing samples from a wide variety of patients and would work with different patients each day.

Phlebotomist Education, Certification and Licensing

There are primarily 2 kinds of programs that provide phlebotomist training in New Hyde Park NY, which are certificate and degree programs. The certificate program usually takes less than a year to finish and provides a basic education along with the training on how to draw blood. It offers the fastest route to becoming a phlebotomy tech. An Associate of Science Degree in Clinical Laboratory Science, although not exclusively a phlebotomist degree, will provide training to become a phlebotomy tech. Offered at community and junior colleges, they usually take two years to finish. Bachelor’s Degrees are less available and as a 4 year program provide a more extensive background in lab sciences. Once you have finished your training, you will no doubt want to get certified. While not mandated in most states, many employers look for certification before hiring technicians. A few of the primary 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 phlebotomy tech, such as Nevada and California. California and a handful of other states even require licensing. So it’s imperative that you pick a phlebotomy training program that not only supplies a premium education, but also preps you for any certification or licensing exams that you elect or are required to take.

Online Phlebotomy Classes

To begin with, let’s resolve one possible misconception. 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 New Hyde Park NY healthcare facility or an on-campus lab|an on-campus lab or an approved healthcare facility}. Many courses also require completing an internship in order to graduate. However since the non-clinical component of the training may be attended online, it can be a more convenient option for some students. As an added benefit, some online classes are less expensive than their on-campus counterparts. And some expenses, including those for textbooks or commuting, may be reduced also. Just verify that the online phlebotomy school you enroll in is accredited by a national or regional accrediting agency (more on accreditation later). With both the comprehensive clinical and online training, you can receive a superior education with this approach to learning. If you are dedicated enough to learn at home, then obtaining your certificate or degree online might be the ideal option for you.

What to Ask Phlebotomy Colleges

Now that you have a general idea about what is involved in becoming a phlebotomist, it’s time to initiate your due diligence process. You may have already selected 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 York campus is important in addition to the tuition expense. Maybe you have opted to enroll in an online phlebotomy program. All of these decisions are a critical part of the procedure for selecting a school or program. But they are not the only considerations when making your decision. Following are a few questions that you need to ask about each of the New Hyde Park NY programs you are looking at prior to making your final selection.

Is the Phlebotomy Program State Specific? As mentioned previously, each state has its own laws for practicing as a phlebotomist. Some states require certification, while some others require licensing. Each has its own requirement regarding the minimum amount of practical training performed before working as a phlebotomy tech. As a result, you may have to pass a State Board, licensing or certification examination. Therefore it’s extremely important to select a phlebotomist program that meets the state specific requirements for New York or the state where you will be practicing and preps you for any examinations you may be required to take.

Is the School Accredited? The phlebotomist program and school you select should be accredited by a respected regional or national accrediting organization, 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 is not accredited, you will not be able to sit for a certification examination offered by any of the earlier listed certifying organizations. Also, accreditation will help in securing loans or financial assistance, which are typically unavailable for non-accredited programs in New Hyde Park NY. Last, graduating from an accredited college can make you more attractive to future employers in the job market.

What is the School’s Reputation? In a number of states there is little or no regulation of phlebotomy colleges, so there are those that are not of the highest caliber. So in addition to accreditation, it’s imperative to investigate the reputations of all colleges 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 assistance program. You can screen online school rating and review services and solicit the accrediting organizations for their reviews also. You can even talk to several New Hyde Park NY local hospitals or clinics that you might be interested in working for and ask if they can provide any insights. As a closing thought, you can check with the New York school licensing authority and find out if any grievances have been filed or if the schools are in full compliance.

Is Adequate Training Included? First, check with the New York regulator or the state regulator where you will be working to find out if there are any minimum requirements for the length of training, both classroom and practical. At a minimum, any New Hyde Park NY phlebotomist program that you are looking at should furnish no less than 40 hours of classroom training (most require 120) and 120 hours of practical training. Anything below these minimums might indicate that the program is not comprehensive enough to offer adequate training.

Are Internships Provided? Ask the New York programs you are reviewing if they have an internship program in collaboration with regional health care facilities. They are the optimal way to get hands-on clinical training typically not provided on campus. As an additional benefit, internships can help students develop contacts within the local New Hyde Park NY health care community. And they are a plus on resumes as well.

Is Job Placement Help Offered? Getting your first phlebotomy job will be a lot easier with the support 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, signifying they place the majority of their students in positions, it’s an indication that the college has both an excellent reputation along with an extensive network of professional contacts within the New Hyde Park NY medical community.

Are Classes Compatible With Your Schedule? And last, it’s crucial to make sure that the ultimate program you pick provides classes at times that are compatible with your busy lifestyle. This is particularly important if you opt to still work while going to school. If you need to go to classes in the evenings or on weekends near New Hyde Park NY, check that they are available at those times. Also, if you can only attend on a part-time basis, confirm it is an option also. And if you have decided to study online, with the practical training requirement, make certain those hours can also be fulfilled within your schedule. And find out what the make-up policy is should you need to miss any classes because of illness or emergencies.

Why Did You Choose to Be a Phlebotomy Tech?

When preparing to interview for a Phlebotomist job, it's advantageous to review questions you may be asked. Among the things that recruiters frequently ask Phlebotomist applicants is "What made you pick Phlebotomy as a profession?". What the interviewer is trying to discover is not just the personal reasons you may have for becoming Phlebotomy Tech, but also what characteristics and abilities you possess that make you good at what you do. You will undoubtedly be asked questions relating primarily to Phlebotomy, in addition to a certain number of standard interview questions, so you must prepare several strategies about how you want to answer them. Given that there are several factors that go into selecting a career, you can respond to this fundamental question in a number of ways. When formulating an answer, try to include the reasons the profession appeals to you as well as the strengths you possess that make you an exceptional Phlebotomist and the perfiect candidate for the position. Don't make an effort to memorize an answer, but take down some ideas and topics that relate to your own strengths and experiences. Reading through sample answers can help you to prepare your own concepts, and give you ideas of what to include to enthuse the recruiter.

Find the Right Phlebotomy Program near New Hyde Park NY

Making sure that you choose the most suitable phlebotomy training is an essential first step toward your success in this gratifying medical care career position. As we have discussed in this article, there are multiple factors that contribute toward the selection of a premium school. Phlebotomy training programs can be offered in a variety of academic institutions, such as junior or community colleges, vocational schools, and colleges and universities that provide a wide array of programs in medical care and health sciences. Program offerings can differ slightly from state to state as each state has its own criteria when it concerns phlebotomy training, licensing and certification. The most important point is that you must carefully evaluate and compare each program prior to making your ultimate decision. By addressing the questions that we have presented, you will be able to narrow down your choices so that you can pick the right program for you. And with the proper training, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a phlebotomist in New Hyde Park NY.

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