Picking a Phlebotomy Technician Course near Wantagh New York

Enrolling in the right phlebotomy technician school near Wantagh NY is an essential first step toward a fulfilling profession as a phlebotomist. It might seem like a daunting undertaking to investigate and compare all of the training options that are available to you. Nevertheless it’s vital that you complete your due diligence to ensure that you receive a superior education. In reality, most students begin the process by looking at 2 of the qualifiers that first come to mind, which are location and cost. Yet another factor you may consider is whether to attend classes online or commute to a nearby campus. We’ll talk a bit more about online schools later in this article. What you need to keep in mind is that there is a lot more to comparing phlebotomy training programs than finding the cheapest or the closest one. Other variables such as accreditation and reputation are also significant considerations and need to be part of your selection process as well. Toward that end, we will furnish a list of questions that you should ask each of the phlebotomy schools you are reviewing to help you pick the right one for you. But before we do that, let’s address what a phlebotomist is and does, and then continue our conversation about online training.

Phlebotomy Tech Job Description

A phlebotomist, or phlebotomy technician, draws blood from patients. Although that is their primary responsibility, there is actually so much more to their job description. Before collecting a blood sample, a phlebotomist must check that the instruments being employed are single use only and sterile. After collection, the sample needs to be properly labeled with the patient’s information. Next, paperwork needs to be accurately completed to be able to track the sample from the point of collection through the lab testing procedure. 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 Wantagh NY phlebotomists actually work in laboratories and are responsible for making sure that samples are analyzed properly under the strictest quality control procedures. And if those weren’t enough responsibilities, they may be required to instruct other phlebotomists in the drawing, transport and follow-up process.

Where are Phlebotomists Employed?

The easiest answer is wherever patients are treated. Their work environments are many and varied, including Wantagh NY hospitals, medical clinics, long-term care facilities, or blood centers. They can be tasked to collect blood samples from patients of of every age, from babies or toddlers to senior citizens. A number of phlebotomy techs, depending on their training and their practice, specialize in drawing blood from a certain type of patient. For instance, those working in a nursing home or assisted living facility would exclusively be drawing blood from elderly patients. If they are working in a maternity ward, they would be drawing blood from newborns and mothers solely. On the other hand, phlebotomists practicing in a general hospital environment would be collecting samples from a wide range of patients and would work with different patients each day.

Phlebotomy Technician Training, Licensing and Certification

There are primarily 2 kinds of programs that furnish phlebotomist training in Wantagh NY, which are certificate and degree programs. The certificate program normally takes under a year to finish and furnishes a basic education together with the training on how to draw blood. It provides the quickest method to becoming a phlebotomist. An Associate of Science Degree in Clinical Laboratory Science, although not exclusively a phlebotomist degree, will provide training on becoming a phlebotomist. Offered at community and junior colleges, they typically require 2 years to finish. Bachelor’s Degrees are not as available and as a four year program provide a more comprehensive foundation in lab sciences. Once you have completed your training, you will probably want to get certified. Although not required in the majority of states, most employers look for certification prior to employing technicians. Some of the key 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 phlebotomy tech, such as Nevada and California. California and a few other states even require licensing. So it’s important that you select a phlebotomy training program that not only furnishes a superior education, but also prepares you for any licensing or certification examinations that you elect or are required to take.

Online Phlebotomist Schools

To start with, let’s resolve one potential mistaken belief. You can’t receive all of your phlebotomist training online. A substantial part of the course of study will be practical training and it will be performed either in an approved Wantagh 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 prior to graduation. But since the non-clinical portion of the training can be accessed online, it can be a more practical option for some students. As an additional benefit, many online classes are less expensive than their traditional counterparts. And some expenses, for instance those for commuting or textbooks, may be lowered as well. Just confirm that the online phlebotomy school you select is accredited by a national or regional accrediting agency (more on accreditation later). With both the comprehensive online and clinical training, you can receive a quality education with this method of learning. If you are disciplined enough to learn at home, then earning your certificate or degree online may be the right option for you.

Subjects to Ask Phlebotomy Schools

Since you now 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 type of program you wish to enroll in, whether it be for a degree or a certificate. As we previously mentioned, the location of the New York school is significant as well as the cost of tuition. Possibly you have decided to enroll in an online phlebotomist college. All of these decisions are a critical part of the process for choosing a program or school. But they are not the sole considerations when making your decision. Following are a few questions that you need to ask about all of the Wantagh NY schools you are looking at prior to making your final decision.

Is the Phlebotomy Program Specific to Your State? As earlier discussed, each state has its own requirements for practicing as a phlebotomy technician. Some states require certification, while a few others require licensing. Every state has its own prerequisite regarding the minimum hours of practical training performed prior to working as a phlebotomy tech. Consequently, you might need to pass a State Board, licensing or certification examination. Therefore it’s very important to choose a phlebotomist program that fulfills the state specific requirements for New York or the state where you will be working and prepares you for all examinations you may have to take.

Is the School Accredited? The phlebotomy school and program you pick should be accredited by a recognized regional or national accrediting agency, for example the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS). There are many benefits to graduating from an accredited program in addition to a guarantee of a superior education. First, if your program is not accredited, you will not be able to sit for a certification examination offered by any of the previously listed certifying organizations. Also, accreditation will help in obtaining loans or financial assistance, which are often not available for non-accredited schools in Wantagh NY. Last, graduating from an accredited school can make you more desirable to prospective 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 in addition to accreditation, it’s essential to check out the reputations of any colleges you are looking at. You can start by requesting references from the schools from employers where they place their graduates as part of their job assistance program. You can research online school rating and review services and ask the accrediting organizations for their reviews also. You can even contact some Wantagh NY area hospitals or clinics that you may have an interest in working for and ask if they can offer any insights. As a final thought, you can check with the New York 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? First, 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 length of training, both clinical and classroom. As a minimum, any Wantagh NY 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 below these minimums might indicate that the program is not comprehensive enough to offer sufficient training.

Are Internships Included? Find out from the New York programs you are considering if they have an internship program in collaboration with area healthcare facilities. They are the ideal way to get hands-on practical training frequently not obtainable on campus. As an additional benefit, internships can assist students develop contacts within the local Wantagh NY healthcare community. And they are a plus on resumes also.

Is Job Placement Help Offered? Getting your first phlebotomist position will be much easier with the support of a job placement program. Inquire if the schools you are looking at provide assistance and what their job placement percentage is. If a school has a higher rate, signifying they place most of their students in jobs, it’s an indication that the college has both a good reputation along with a large network of professional contacts within the Wantagh NY health care community.

Are Class Times Offered to Fit Your Schedule? Finally, it’s critical to confirm that the ultimate college you pick offers classes at times that are compatible with your hectic lifestyle. This is particularly important if you decide to still work while going to school. If you can only attend classes in the evenings or on weekends near Wantagh NY, make sure they are available at those times. Also, if you can only attend part-time, verify it is an option as well. And if you have decided to attend online, with the clinical training requirement, make sure those hours can also be fulfilled within your schedule. And ask what the make-up procedure is should you have to miss any classes as a result of illness or emergencies.

Why Did You Choose to Become a Phlebotomy Technician?

When prepping to interview for a Phlebotomy Tech position, it's important to reflect on questions you might be asked. Among the questions that interviewers frequently ask Phlebotomy Tech candidates is "What made you decide on Phlebotomy as a profession?". What the interviewer is hoping to uncover is not merely the private reasons you might have for being Phlebotomy Tech, but also what qualities and talents you have that make you good at your profession. You will likely be asked questions pertaining primarily to Phlebotomy, as well as a certain number of standard interview questions, so you must prepare several approaches about how you would like to respond to them. Since there are numerous factors that go into choosing a career, you can respond to this fundamental question in a variety of ways. When preparing an answer, try to include the reasons the profession appeals to you along with the talents you have that make you an outstanding Phlebotomist and the ideal candidate for the position. Don't try to memorize a response, but write down a few concepts and topics that relate to your own strengths and experiences. Reviewing sample answers can assist you to prepare your own concepts, and provide ideas of what to include to wow the recruiter.

Find the Right Phlebotomy College near Wantagh NY

Making sure that you enroll in the ideal phlebotomy training is an important first step toward your success in this gratifying health care career position. As we have covered in this article, there are several factors that contribute toward the selection of a superior college. Phlebotomist certificate or degree programs are offered in a number of educational institutes, including junior or community colleges, trade schools, and colleges and universities that provide a comprehensive range of courses in healthcare and medical sciences. Training program offerings can vary a bit from state to state as each state has its own mandates when it pertains to phlebotomist training, licensing and certification. The most critical point is that you need to carefully evaluate and compare each school prior to 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 select the right school for you. And with the appropriate education, you can reach your goal of becoming a phlebotomist in Wantagh NY.

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