Choosing a Phlebotomist School near Pocono Lake Pennsylvania

Enrolling in the right phlebotomy technician training near Pocono Lake PA is an important first step toward a rewarding profession as a phlebotomist. It may seem like a challenging task to analyze and compare all of the school options that are available to you. However it’s vital that you do your due diligence to make certain that you get a quality education. In reality, most potential students begin the process by considering 2 of the qualifiers that first come to mind, which are cost and location. Yet another factor you might look into is whether to attend classes online or commute to a nearby campus. We’ll review a bit more about online classes later in this article. What you need to remember is that there is far more to checking out phlebotomy training programs than locating the closest or the cheapest one. Other factors including accreditation and reputation are also important considerations and must be part of your decision process too. 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 select the best one for you. But before we do that, let’s address what a phlebotomist is and does, and afterwards resume our discussion about online classes.

Phlebotomy Technician Career Summary

A phlebotomist, or phlebotomy technician, draws blood from patients. While that is their primary responsibility, there is actually far more to their job description. Prior to collecting a blood sample, a phlebotomist has to check that the instruments being utilized are single use only and sterile. Following the collection, the sample needs to be correctly labeled with the patient’s information. Next, paperwork needs to be correctly filled out in order to track the sample from the time of collection through the lab screening process. The phlebotomist then delivers the blood to either an an outside lab facility or an in-house lab where it can be screened for such things as pregnancy, infectious diseases or blood type. Some Pocono Lake PA phlebotomists actually work in labs and are in charge of ensuring that samples are analyzed correctly using the strictest quality control procedures. And if those weren’t enough duties, they might be required to train other phlebotomists in the drawing, delivery and follow-up process.

Where do Phlebotomists Work?

The easiest response is wherever there are patients. Their workplaces are many and varied, such as Pocono Lake PA medical clinics, hospitals, long-term care facilities, or blood centers. They can be assigned to draw blood samples from patients of all ages, from babies or young children to seniors. Some phlebotomists, based on their practice and their training, specialize in drawing blood from a particular type of patient. For instance, those working in an assisted living facility or nursing home would only be collecting blood from older patients. If they are working in a maternity ward, they would be collecting blood from newborns and mothers solely. On the other hand, phlebotomists practicing in a general hospital environment would be collecting blood from a wide range of patients and would collect samples from different patients every day.

Phlebotomist Education, Certification and Licensing

There are primarily two kinds of programs that offer phlebotomist training in Pocono Lake PA, which are degree and certificate programs. The certificate program usually takes less than a year to finish and furnishes a general education as well as 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 exclusively a phlebotomist degree, will include training on becoming a phlebotomist. Offered at junior and community colleges, they usually take two years to complete. Bachelor’s Degrees are not as accessible and as a four year program provide a more extensive foundation in lab sciences. When you have completed your training, you will no doubt want to become certified. While not mandated in the majority of states, a number of employers look for certification prior to hiring technicians. A few 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 in order to practice as a phlebotomist, such as Nevada and California. California and a handful of other states even require licensing. So it’s essential that you choose a phlebotomy training program that not only offers a superior education, but also readies you for any certification or licensing exams that you are required or elect to take.

Phlebotomy Online Certificates and Degrees

To begin with, let’s dispel one potential mistaken belief. You can’t obtain all of your phlebotomist training online. A good portion of the program of studies will be clinical training and it will be performed either in an approved Pocono Lake PA healthcare facility or an on-campus lab|an on-campus lab or an approved healthcare facility}. Numerous courses also require completing an internship prior to graduation. But since the non-practical part of the training may be accessed online, it could be a more practical option for some students. As an added benefit, some online programs are more affordable than their on-campus counterparts. And some expenditures, such as those for textbooks or commuting, may be minimized also. Just make certain that the online phlebotomy program you choose is accredited by a national or regional accrediting agency (more on accreditation to follow). With both the extensive clinical and online training, you can receive a superior education with this means of learning. If you are disciplined enough to study at home, then attaining your certificate or degree online might be the right choice for you.

What to Ask Phlebotomist Schools

Since you now have a general idea about what it takes to become a phlebotomist, it’s time to start your due diligence process. You may have already selected the kind 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 school is significant as well as the tuition expense. Maybe you have opted to enroll in an phlebotomist online college. All of these decisions are a critical part of the procedure for choosing a program or school. But they are not the sole concerns when arriving at your decision. Below we have provided several questions that you need to ask about each of the Pocono Lake PA programs you are reviewing prior to making your final decision.

Is the Phlebotomist 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. Every state has its own requirement regarding the minimum hours of practical training performed prior to practicing as a phlebotomist. As a result, you may have to pass a State Board, certification or licensing examination. Therefore it’s extremely important to choose a phlebotomist program that fulfills the state specific requirements for Pennsylvania or the state where you will be practicing and preps you for all exams you may be required to take.

Is the Program Accredited? The phlebotomist program and school you pick should be accredited by a respected regional or national 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 a guarantee of a premium education. To begin with, if your program has not received accreditation, you will not be able to take a certification exam offered by any of the earlier listed certifying organizations. Next, accreditation will help in getting financial aid or loans, which are typically not available for non-accredited programs in Pocono Lake PA. Finally, earning a certificate or a degree from an accredited school can make you more desirable to potential employers in the job market.

What is the School’s Reputation? In many states there is little or no regulation of phlebotomist schools, so there are some that are not of the highest caliber. So along with accreditation, it’s essential to check the reputations of any 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 research internet school reviews and rating services and ask the accrediting organizations for their reviews as well. You can also talk to several Pocono Lake PA area clinics or hospitals that you may have an interest in working for and ask if they can provide any insights. As a closing thought, you can contact the Pennsylvania school licensing authority and find out if any grievances have been submitted or if the schools are in full compliance.

Is Sufficient Training Included? To begin with, contact 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. At a minimum, any Pocono Lake PA 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 may signify that the program is not expansive enough to offer adequate training.

Are Internship Programs Provided? Ask the Pennsylvania programs you are considering if they have an internship program in collaboration with local healthcare facilities. They are the ideal way to get hands-on practical training typically not available on campus. As an added benefit, internships can assist students develop contacts within the local Pocono Lake PA health care community. And they look good on resumes as well.

Is Job Placement Support Available? Getting your first phlebotomist job will be a lot easier with the assistance of a job placement program. Ask if the schools you are reviewing provide assistance and what their job placement percentage is. If a school has a high rate, meaning they place the majority of their students in positions, it’s an indication that the college has both an excellent reputation along with a large network of professional contacts within the Pocono Lake PA healthcare community.

Are Classes Conveniently Scheduled? Finally, it’s critical to confirm that the ultimate program you choose provides classes at times that are compatible with your active schedule. This is especially true if you choose to still work while attending college. If you need to go to classes at night or on weekends near Pocono Lake PA, check that they are available at those times. Additionally, if you can only attend on a part-time basis, make sure it is an option also. Even if you have decided to study online, with the clinical training requirement, make certain those hours can also be fulfilled within your schedule. And ask what the make-up procedure is should you need to miss any classes because of illness or emergencies.

Why Did You Decide to Become a Phlebotomy Technician?

When getting ready to interview for a Phlebotomy Technician job, it's important to review questions you might be asked. Among the things that hiring managers frequently ask Phlebotomy Tech candidates is "What compelled you to select Phlebotomy as a profession?". What the interviewer is hoping to discover is not only the personal reasons you might have for being Phlebotomy Tech, but also what attributes and abilities you possess that make you outstanding at what you do. You will undoubtedly be asked questions pertaining exclusively to Phlebotomy, along with a significant number of typical interview questions, so you should ready several approaches about how you want to respond to them. Considering there are so many factors that go into choosing a career, you can respond to this primary question in a number of ways. When readying an answer, try to include the reasons the work appeals to you as well as the strengths you possess that make you an outstanding Phlebotomy Technician and the best choice for the job. Don't try to memorize an answer, but jot down some concepts and talking points that relate to your own experiences and strengths. Going over sample answers can help you to develop your own thoughts, and inspire ideas of what to include to wow the recruiter.

Find the Best Phlebotomist College near Pocono Lake PA

Making sure that you enroll in the right phlebotomist training is an essential first step toward your success in this rewarding healthcare field. As we have addressed in this article, there are multiple factors that go into the selection of a quality program. Phlebotomist training programs are found in a wide range of educational institutions, including junior or community colleges, trade schools, and colleges and universities that provide an extensive array of programs in healthcare and medical sciences. Program options can vary somewhat across the country as each state has its own prerequisites when it comes to phlebotomy training, licensing and certification. The most important point is that you need to thoroughly screen and compare each school before making your final decision. By asking the questions that we have furnished, you will be able to fine tune your choices so that you can select the best school for you. And with the proper training, you can reach your goal of becoming a phlebotomy technician in Pocono Lake PA.

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