Selecting a Phlebotomy Technician Course near Piermont New York

Enrolling in the ideal phlebotomy technician school near Piermont NY is a critical initial step toward a rewarding career as a phlebotomist. It may seem like a daunting undertaking to assess and compare each of the school alternatives that are available to you. However it’s necessary that you do your due diligence to make sure that you obtain a quality education. In reality, many students start the process by looking at 2 of the qualifiers that first come to mind, which are cost and location. An additional factor you may consider is whether to attend classes online or commute to an area campus. We’ll discuss more about online schools later in this article. What’s important to remember is that there is a lot more to checking out phlebotomy training programs than finding the cheapest or the closest one. Other variables including reputation and accreditation are also important considerations and need to be part of your decision process as well. To assist in that effort, we will furnish a list of questions that you should ask each of the phlebotomy schools you are evaluating to help you choose the right 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.

Phlebotomist Job Summary

A phlebotomist, or phlebotomy technician, collects blood samples from patients. While that is their primary responsibility, there is in fact so much more to their job description. Before collecting a blood sample, a phlebotomist has to check that the tools being employed are single use only and sterile. Following the collection, the sample has to be accurately labeled with the patient’s information. Afterward, paperwork needs to be accurately filled out in order to track the sample from the point 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. Some Piermont NY phlebotomists actually work in labs and are in charge of making sure that samples are analyzed correctly under the strictest quality control procedures. And if those weren’t enough responsibilities, they might be asked to train other phlebotomists in the collection, transport and follow-up process.

Where do Phlebotomists Practice?

The most basic answer is wherever there are patients. Their work environments are numerous and diverse, including Piermont NY medical clinics, hospitals, long-term care facilities, or blood centers. They can be assigned to draw blood samples from patients of of every age, from babies or young children to senior citizens. Some phlebotomists, depending on their training and their practice, specialize in drawing samples from a particular kind of patient. For instance, those working in an assisted living facility or nursing home would exclusively be collecting blood from senior patients. If they are working in a maternity ward, they would be drawing blood from newborns and mothers solely. On the other hand, phlebotomy technicians practicing in a general hospital environment would be drawing blood from a wide variety of patients and would collect samples from different patients each day.

Phlebotomist Education, Licensing and Certification

There are basically two types of programs that furnish phlebotomy training in Piermont NY, which are certificate and degree programs. The certificate program typically takes under a year to finish and provides a general education along with the training on how to draw blood. It provides the quickest means to becoming a phlebotomy tech. An Associate of Science Degree in Clinical Laboratory Science, although not specifically a phlebotomy degree, will incorporate training to become a phlebotomy tech. Available at junior and community colleges, they usually take 2 years to complete. Bachelor’s Degrees are not as available and as a four year program provide a more expansive background in lab sciences. After you have finished your training, you will no doubt want to be certified. While not required in the majority of states, many employers require certification prior to hiring technicians. A few 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 require certification prior to practicing as a phlebotomist, including California and Nevada. California and a handful of additional states even require licensing. So it’s imperative that you pick a phlebotomy training program that not only provides a quality education, but also readies you for any licensing or certification exams that you elect or are required to take.

Phlebotomy Online Classes

To start with, let’s resolve one possible misconception. You can’t get all of your phlebotomy training online. A good component of the curriculum will be practical training and it will be performed either in an approved Piermont NY healthcare facility or an on-campus lab|an on-campus lab or an approved healthcare facility}. Numerous courses also require completion of an internship prior to graduation. However since the non-clinical part of the training may be accessed online, it may be a more practical alternative for some students. As an additional benefit, some online schools are more affordable than their traditional counterparts. And some costs, for instance those for textbooks or commuting, may be lowered also. Just verify that the online phlebotomy college you choose is accredited by a national or regional accrediting agency (more on accreditation to follow). With both the extensive online and clinical training, you can receive a premium education with this approach to learning. If you are disciplined enough to learn at home, then attaining your certificate or degree online might be the ideal choice for you.

Subjects to Ask Phlebotomist Schools

Now that you have a basic understanding about what it takes to become a phlebotomist, it’s time to initiate your due diligence process. You might have already chosen the type 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 college is important in addition to the tuition expense. Possibly you have decided to enroll in an online phlebotomy college. 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 should ask about each of the Piermont NY colleges you are considering prior to making your ultimate selection.

Is the Phlebotomy Program Specific to New York? As mentioned previously, each state has its own laws for practicing as a phlebotomy technician. Some states call for certification, while some others mandate licensing. Every state has its own prerequisite regarding the minimum hours of clinical training completed prior to working as a phlebotomy tech. As a result, you may have to pass a State Board, licensing or certification examination. Therefore it’s very important to select a phlebotomy program that fulfills the state specific requirements for New York or the state where you will be working and prepares you for all exams you may be required to take.

Is the Program Accredited? The phlebotomy program and school you select should be accredited by a highly regarded 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 school aside from an assurance of a superior education. First, if your program is not accredited, you will not be able to take a certification examination offered by any of the previously listed certifying agencies. Also, accreditation will help in obtaining loans or financial assistance, which are often not available for non-accredited programs in Piermont NY. Finally, graduating from an accredited college can make you more desirable to future employers in the job market.

What is the College’s Reputation? In many states there is little or no regulation of phlebotomist colleges, so there are those that are not of the highest quality. So in addition to accreditation, it’s essential to investigate the reputations of all schools you are reviewing. You can start by requesting references from the schools from employers where they place 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 even check with some Piermont NY local clinics or hospitals that you might have an interest in working for and ask if they can offer any recommendations. As a final thought, you can contact the New York school licensing authority and ask if any grievances have been filed or if the colleges are in total compliance.

Is Sufficient Training Included? To begin with, contact the New York regulator or the state regulator where you will be practicing to find out if there are any minimum requirements for the amount of training, both clinical and classroom. As a minimum, any Piermont NY phlebotomist program that you are considering should furnish at least 40 hours of classroom training (most require 120) and 120 hours of practical training. Anything less than these minimums might signify that the program is not comprehensive enough to offer adequate training.

Are Internships Sponsored? Find out from the New York programs you are reviewing if they have an internship program in partnership with area medical facilities. They are the optimal means to obtain hands-on clinical training frequently not available on campus. As an added benefit, internships can help students establish relationships within the local Piermont NY health care community. And they look good on resumes as well.

Is Job Placement Assistance Provided? Finding your first phlebotomy position will be much easier with the support of a job placement program. Inquire if the programs you are considering provide assistance and what their job placement percentage is. If a college has a higher rate, meaning they place the majority of their students in positions, it’s an indication that the school has both a good reputation along with a large network of professional contacts within the Piermont NY health care community.

Are Class Times Conveniently Scheduled? Finally, it’s crucial to verify that the final college you select offers classes at times that are compatible with your hectic schedule. This is especially true if you choose to continue working while going to school. If you can only go to classes in the evenings or on weekends near Piermont NY, make sure they are offered at those times. Additionally, if you can only attend on a part-time basis, verify it is an option as well. And if you have decided to study online, with the practical training requirement, make certain those hours can also be completed within your schedule. And ask what the make-up protocol is should you have to miss any classes as a result of illness or emergencies.

Why Did You Choose to Be a Phlebotomy Technician?

When prepping to interview for a Phlebotomy Tech job, it's helpful to review questions you might be asked. One of the things that recruiters typically ask Phlebotomy Tech prospects is "What drove you to choose Phlebotomy as a profession?". What the interviewer is hoping to learn is not just the personal reasons you may have for being Phlebotomy Tech, but also what qualities and abilities you have that make you outstanding at your profession. You will probably be asked questions relating primarily to Phlebotomy, along with a certain number of typical interview questions, so you should ready some strategies about how you want to respond to them. Because there are several factors that go into choosing a career, you can answer this fundamental question in a number of ways. When formulating an answer, aim to include the reasons the work appeals to you in addition to the talents you have that make you an outstanding Phlebotomy Tech and the best candidate for the position. Don't try to memorize an answer, but take down a few ideas and anecdotes that relate to your personal strengths and experiences. Going over sample responses can help you to formulate your own concepts, and inspire ideas of what to discuss to wow the interviewer.

Select the Best Phlebotomist Course near Piermont NY

Making certain that you choose the right phlebotomist training is a critical first step toward your success in this fulfilling medical care career position. As we have addressed in this article, there are a number of factors that go into the selection of a quality college. Phlebotomy training programs are found in a wide range of academic institutions, including junior or community colleges, trade schools, and colleges and universities that offer a wide array of courses in medical care and health sciences. Training program options can differ a bit across the country as every state has its own prerequisites when it pertains to phlebotomist training, licensing and certification. The most important point is that you need to diligently research and compare each program before making your final selection. By addressing the questions that we have provided, you will be able to fine tune your choices so that you can pick the best program for you. And with the appropriate education, you can achieve your goal of becoming a phlebotomist in Piermont NY.

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