Selecting a Phlebotomy Technician Course near Ashland Oregon

Enrolling in the ideal phlebotomy technician school near Ashland OR is an essential first step toward a fulfilling career as a phlebotomist. It may seem like a daunting undertaking to investigate and compare all of the school alternatives that are available to you. Nevertheless it’s necessary that you perform your due diligence to ensure that you obtain a quality education. In fact, most potential students start the process by considering 2 of the qualifiers that initially come to mind, which are location and cost. Yet another option you may consider is whether to attend classes online or commute to a nearby campus. We’ll discuss more about online classes later in this article. What’s important to keep in mind is that there is much more to comparing phlebotomy training programs than locating the closest or the cheapest one. Other variables such as reputation and accreditation are also important considerations and must be part of your decision process as well. To assist in that effort, we will furnish a list of questions that you need to ask each of the phlebotomy schools you are evaluating to help you pick the ideal one for you. But before we do that, let’s address what a phlebotomist is and does, and afterwards continue our discussion about online training.

Phlebotomy Technician Work Description

A phlebotomist, or phlebotomy technician, draws blood from patients. Although that is their principal function, there is in fact far more to their job description. Prior to drawing a blood sample, a phlebotomist must confirm that the tools being utilized are sterile and single use only. Following the collection, the sample needs to be properly labeled with the patient’s information. Next, paperwork needs to be properly filled out in order to track the sample from the time of collection through the laboratory testing procedure. The phlebotomist then delivers the blood to either an in-house lab or to an outside lab facility where it may be screened for such things as infectious diseases, pregnancy or blood type. Many Ashland OR phlebotomists in fact work in laboratories and are accountable for making certain that samples are analyzed correctly under the highest quality assurance procedures. And if those weren’t enough duties, they can be called upon to train other phlebotomists in the drawing, delivery and follow-up process.

Where are Phlebotomy Techs Employed?

The quickest answer is wherever there are patients. Their work environments are many and varied, including Ashland OR medical clinics, hospitals, long-term care facilities, or blood banks. They can be tasked to draw blood samples from patients of of every age, from babies or toddlers to seniors. Some phlebotomy techs, based on their training and their practice, specialize in collecting blood from a particular kind of patient. For instance, those working in an assisted living facility or nursing home would solely be drawing blood from older patients. If they are practicing in a maternity ward, they would be drawing blood from newborns and mothers exclusively. 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 new patients every day.

Phlebotomy Education, Certification and Licensing

There are basically two types of programs that offer phlebotomy training in Ashland OR, which are certificate and degree programs. The certificate program normally takes less than a year to complete and offers a basic education together with the training on how to draw blood. It provides the fastest 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 two years to complete. Bachelor’s Degrees are not as accessible and as a 4 year program furnish a more expansive foundation in lab sciences. After you have completed your training, you will probably want to get certified. Although not required in the majority of states, most employers require certification before hiring technicians. Some of the key certifying organizations include:

• National Phlebotomy Association
• National Healthcareer Association (NHA)
• American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP)
• American Medical Technologists (AMT)

There are some states that do call for certification in order to practice as a phlebotomist, like Nevada and California. California and a few additional states even require licensing. So it’s essential that you pick a phlebotomist training program that not only furnishes a quality education, but also prepares you for any licensing or certification exams that you elect or are required to take.

Phlebotomist Online Classes

To start with, let’s resolve one likely mistaken belief. You can’t get all of your phlebotomist training online. A significant part of the course of study will be practical training and it will be conducted either in an approved Ashland OR healthcare facility or an on-campus lab|an on-campus lab or an approved healthcare facility}. Many courses also require completion of an internship prior to graduation. However since the non-clinical component of the training can be accessed online, it may be a more convenient option for many students. As an added benefit, a number of online programs are more affordable than their on-campus counterparts. And some expenses, for instance those for textbooks or commuting, may be lowered as well. Just make certain that the online phlebotomist program you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization (more on accreditation later). With both the extensive clinical and online training, you can receive a quality education with this approach to learning. If you are disciplined enough to study at home, then obtaining your certificate or degree online may be the best choice for you.

What to Ask Phlebotomist Programs

Now that you have a general idea about what it takes to become a phlebotomist, it’s time to initiate your due diligence process. You might have already selected the kind of program you wish to enroll in, whether it be for a degree or a certificate. As we previously mentioned, the location of the Oregon school is relevant as well as the cost of tuition. Possibly you have decided to enroll in an online phlebotomist school. All of these decisions are an important component of the procedure for choosing a school or program. But they are not the only concerns when making your decision. Following are some questions that you should ask about each of the Ashland OR colleges you are reviewing before making your ultimate selection.

Is the Phlebotomist Program Specific to Your State? As earlier discussed, each state has its own laws for practicing as a phlebotomy technician. Several states require certification, while some others require licensing. Each has its own requirement regarding the minimum amount of clinical training completed before practicing as a phlebotomist. Consequently, you might have to pass a State Board, certification or licensing examination. Therefore it’s extremely important to select a phlebotomist program that fulfills the state specific requirements for Oregon or the state where you will be working and readies you for all exams you may have to take.

Is the College Accredited? The phlebotomist school and program you choose should be accredited by a respected national or regional accrediting agency, for example the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS). There are several benefits to graduating from an accredited program in addition to an assurance of a premium education. First, if your program is not accredited, you will not qualify to sit for a certification examination offered by any of the earlier listed certifying organizations. Also, accreditation will help in securing financial aid or loans, which are often not available for non-accredited colleges in Ashland OR. Last, earning a certificate or a degree from an accredited college can make you more desirable to prospective employers in the job market.

What is the Program’s Ranking? In many states there is minimal or no regulation of phlebotomist schools, so there are those that are not of the highest quality. So along with accreditation, it’s imperative to investigate the reputations of all colleges you are reviewing. You can start by requesting references from the schools from employers where they place their students as part of their job placement program. You can screen online school rating and review services and ask the accrediting agencies for their reviews also. You can also talk to a few Ashland OR local clinics or hospitals that you may have an interest in working for and ask if they can offer any insights. As a closing thought, you can check with the Oregon school licensing authority and find out if any complaints have been submitted or if the colleges are in total compliance.

Is Ample Training Included? To begin with, check with the Oregon 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 clinical and classroom. At a minimum, any Ashland OR 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 clinical training. Anything less than these minimums may signify that the program is not expansive enough to furnish adequate training.

Are Internship Programs Sponsored? Ask the Oregon colleges you are reviewing if they have an internship program in collaboration with local healthcare facilities. They are the optimal way to receive hands-on clinical training frequently not obtainable on campus. As an added benefit, internships can assist students develop contacts within the local Ashland OR healthcare community. And they look good on resumes also.

Is Job Placement Assistance Offered? Finding your first phlebotomy job will be much easier with the support of a job placement program. Ask if the colleges you are reviewing provide assistance and what their job placement percentage is. If a school has a higher rate, meaning they place most of their students in jobs, it’s an indication that the school has both a good reputation as well as a large network of professional contacts within the Ashland OR health care community.

Are Classes Available as Needed? Finally, it’s crucial to confirm that the ultimate program you choose provides classes at times that will accommodate your busy schedule. This is particularly important if you choose to continue working while attending school. If you need to go to classes in the evenings or on weekends near Ashland OR, make certain they are offered at those times. Also, if you can only attend part-time, make sure it is an option as well. And if you have decided to attend online, with the practical training requirement, make sure those hours can also be completed within your schedule. And ask what the make-up policy is should you have to miss any classes as a result of illness or emergencies.

Why Did You Want to Become a Phlebotomy Tech?

When prepping to interview for a Phlebotomy Technician job, it's important to review questions you could be asked. Among the questions that hiring managers frequently ask Phlebotomist applicants is "What drove you to decide on Phlebotomy as a career?". What the interviewer is hoping to learn is not just the personal reasons you might have for being Phlebotomist, but also what qualities and talents you have that make you good at what you do. You will probably be asked questions relating primarily to Phlebotomy, along with a significant number of general interview questions, so you need to organize some ideas about how you want to respond to them. Given that there are several factors that go into selecting a career, you can address this primary question in a number of ways. When formulating an answer, try to include the reasons the profession appeals to you as well as the abilities you possess that make you an outstanding Phlebotomist and the perfiect candidate for the job. Don't make an effort to memorize a response, but write down a few ideas and talking points that pertain to your personal strengths and experiences. Reviewing sample responses can help you to develop your own concepts, and give you ideas of what to discuss to enthuse the recruiter.

Find the Best Phlebotomy Program near Ashland OR

Making sure that you enroll in the right phlebotomy training is an important first step toward your success in this gratifying medical care career position. As we have covered in this article, there are multiple factors that contribute toward the selection of a quality school. Phlebotomist certificate or degree programs are offered in a wide range of academic institutes, including community or junior colleges, trade schools, and colleges and universities that offer a wide range of courses in medical care and health sciences. Program options can vary a bit from state to state as every state has its own prerequisites when it pertains to phlebotomist training, licensing and certification. The most important point is that you must thoroughly research and compare each program prior to making your final selection. By asking the questions that we have presented, you will be able to narrow down your choices so that you can select the right school for you. And with the proper training, you can realize your goal of becoming a phlebotomy technician in Ashland OR.

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