Choosing a Phlebotomist Course near New Kensington Pennsylvania

Choosing the ideal phlebotomy school near New Kensington PA is an important first step toward a rewarding profession as a phlebotomist. It might seem like a challenging task to assess and compare each of the training options that are available to you. Nevertheless it’s necessary that you complete your due diligence to make certain that you receive a superior education. In fact, a large number of prospective students begin the process by considering 2 of the qualifiers that initially come to mind, which are location and cost. An additional factor you might look into is whether to attend classes online or commute to an area campus. We’ll review a bit 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 cheapest or the closest one. Other factors including reputation and accreditation are also significant considerations and should be part of your decision process also. To assist in that effort, we will provide a list of questions that you should ask each of the phlebotomy schools you are evaluating to help you choose the ideal one for you. But before we do that, let’s cover what a phlebotomist is and does, and then resume our conversation about online training.

Phlebotomist Job Summary

A phlebotomist, or phlebotomy technician, collects blood samples from patients. While that is their primary task, there is actually so much more to their job description. Before drawing 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 correctly labeled with the patient’s data. Afterward, paperwork must be correctly completed to be able to track the sample from the point of collection through the laboratory testing process. The phlebotomist then transports the blood to either an in-house lab or to an outside lab facility where it can be screened for such things as pregnancy, infectious diseases or blood type. A number of New Kensington PA phlebotomists actually work in laboratories and are accountable for making sure that samples are analyzed properly using the strictest quality assurance procedures. And if those weren’t enough duties, they may be called upon to instruct other phlebotomists in the collection, transport and follow-up process.

Where are Phlebotomy Techs Employed?

The quickest answer is wherever they treat patients. Their workplaces are numerous and diverse, such as New Kensington PA medical clinics, hospitals, nursing homes, or blood centers. They can be charged to collect blood samples from patients of all ages, from infants or young children to seniors. A number of phlebotomy techs, based on their practice and their training, specialize in collecting 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 senior patients. If they are working in a maternity ward, they would be collecting blood from newborns and mothers solely. In contrast, phlebotomists working in a general hospital setting would be collecting blood from a wide range of patients and would work with new patients each day.

Phlebotomy Technician Education, Licensing and Certification

There are essentially two types of programs that provide phlebotomist training in New Kensington PA, which are degree and certificate programs. The certificate program typically takes less than a year to finish and furnishes a basic education as well as the training on how to draw blood. It provides the quickest route to becoming a phlebotomy tech. An Associate of Science Degree in Clinical Laboratory Science, although not specifically a phlebotomy degree, will include training on becoming a phlebotomist. Available at junior and community colleges, they typically take two years to complete. Bachelor’s Degrees are less available and as a 4 year program provide a more extensive background in lab sciences. Once you have completed your training, you will no doubt want to get certified. While not mandated in most states, a number of employers require certification prior to employing technicians. Some of the main 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, including California and Nevada. California and a few additional states even require licensing. So it’s important that you pick a phlebotomist training program that not only furnishes a premium education, but also preps you for any certification or licensing examinations that you are required or elect to take.

Online Phlebotomy Classes

To begin with, let’s resolve one likely misconception. You can’t obtain all of your phlebotomy training online. A good part of the program of studies will be practical training and it will be conducted either in an approved New Kensington PA 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. However since the non-practical component of the training can be attended online, it may be a more practical option for some students. As an additional benefit, many online schools are more affordable than their traditional counterparts. And some expenditures, for instance those for textbooks or commuting, may be reduced as well. Just make sure that the online phlebotomy program you enroll in 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 approach to learning. If you are disciplined enough to learn at home, then obtaining your degree or certificate online might be the best choice for you.

Points to Ask Phlebotomist Colleges

Now that you have a general 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 want to enroll in, whether it be for a degree or a certificate. As we previously mentioned, the location of the Pennsylvania campus is significant as well as the cost of tuition. Maybe you have decided to enroll in an phlebotomist online program. Each of these decisions are an important part of the process for picking a program or school. But they are not the sole considerations when arriving at your decision. Following are several questions that you need to ask about each of the New Kensington PA colleges you are reviewing before making your ultimate decision.

Is the Phlebotomy Program Specific to Your State? As mentioned previously, each state has its own requirements for practicing as a phlebotomy technician. Some states require certification, while a few others mandate licensing. Every state has its own requirement regarding the minimum amount of practical training performed before practicing as a phlebotomy tech. As a result, you may need to pass a State Board, licensing or certification exam. Therefore it’s extremely important to enroll in a phlebotomist program that fulfills the state specific requirements for Pennsylvania or the state where you will be practicing and prepares you for all examinations you may have to take.

Is the Program Accredited? The phlebotomy program and school you enroll in should be accredited by a respected national or regional accrediting agency, such as the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS). There are several benefits to graduating from an accredited school 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 previously listed certifying agencies. Next, accreditation will help in securing loans or financial assistance, which are frequently not available for non-accredited schools in New Kensington PA. 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 schools, so there are some that are not of the highest quality. So in addition to accreditation, it’s essential to check the reputations of any colleges you are reviewing. You can start by asking the schools for references from employers where they refer their graduates as part of their job assistance program. You can screen internet school rating and review services and solicit the accrediting agencies for their reviews as well. You can even talk to several New Kensington PA area clinics or hospitals that you may be interested in working for and find out if they can offer any recommendations. As a closing thought, you can check with the Pennsylvania school licensing authority and ask if any grievances have been filed or if the colleges are in total compliance.

Is Ample Training Included? First, check with the Pennsylvania regulator or the state regulator where you will be working to learn if there are any minimum requirements for the amount of training, both classroom and practical. As a minimum, any New Kensington PA phlebotomy program that you are reviewing should furnish at least 40 hours of classroom training (the majority require 120) and 120 hours of practical training. Anything lower than these minimums might signify that the program is not comprehensive enough to furnish sufficient training.

Are Internships Sponsored? Ask the Pennsylvania programs you are looking at if they have an internship program in collaboration with area medical facilities. They are the optimal means to obtain hands-on clinical training often not available on campus. As an additional benefit, internships can help students establish contacts within the local New Kensington PA healthcare community. And they are a plus on resumes as well.

Is Job Placement Support Offered? Landing your first phlebotomy position will be much easier with the support of a job placement program. Inquire if the colleges you are reviewing provide assistance and what their job placement rate is. If a school has a higher rate, signifying they place the majority of their students in jobs, it’s an indication that the school has both an excellent reputation along with an extensive network of professional contacts within the New Kensington PA health care community.

Are Classes Conveniently Scheduled? And last, it’s crucial to make sure that the final school you pick provides classes at times that are compatible with your active schedule. This is particularly important if you choose to continue working while going to college. If you can only go to classes at night or on weekends near New Kensington PA, make sure they are offered at those times. Additionally, if you can only attend part-time, confirm it is an option also. And if you have decided to study online, with the clinical training requirement, make sure those hours can also be fulfilled within your schedule. And find out what the make-up procedure is in case you have to miss any classes as a result of illness or emergencies.

Why Did You Decide to Become a Phlebotomy Technician?

When preparing to interview for a Phlebotomy Technician job, it's advantageous to reflect on questions you could be asked. Among the things that hiring managers often ask Phlebotomy Technician prospects is "What drove you to pick Phlebotomy as a profession?". What the interviewer is hoping to discover is not merely the private reasons you may have for being Phlebotomy Tech, but also what qualities and abilities you possess that make you good at what you do. You will likely be asked questions relating specifically to Phlebotomy, along with a certain number of standard interview questions, so you must prepare some approaches about how you would like to address them. Since there are so many factors that go into selecting a career, you can address 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 excellent Phlebotomy Tech and the leading choice for the position. Don't make an effort to memorize a response, but take down several ideas and anecdotes that relate to your personal experiences and strengths. Reviewing sample responses can assist you to develop your own thoughts, and provide ideas of what to include to wow the interviewer.

Find the Ideal Phlebotomist Course near New Kensington PA

Making certain that you pick the most suitable phlebotomy training is an important first step toward your success in this gratifying health care career position. As we have addressed in this article, there are several factors that go into the selection of a superior program. Phlebotomy training programs can be found in a variety of educational institutions, such as junior or community colleges, vocational schools, and colleges and universities that offer an extensive assortment of programs in medical care and health sciences. Training program offerings may vary slightly across the country as each state has its own requirements when it concerns phlebotomist training, certification and licensing. The most critical point is that you need to diligently evaluate and compare each school prior to making your final selection. By asking the questions that we have presented, you will be able to fine tune your choices so that you can pick the ideal college for you. And with the proper training, you can realize your goal of becoming a phlebotomy technician in New Kensington PA.

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