Picking a Phlebotomy Technician School near Spring Mills Pennsylvania

Choosing the ideal phlebotomy technician school near Spring Mills PA is an important first step toward a rewarding career as a phlebotomist. It may seem like a daunting undertaking to assess and compare all of the training alternatives that are available to you. However it’s vital that you perform your due diligence to make sure that you get a superior education. In fact, a large number of potential students start the process by looking at two 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 a local campus. We’ll talk a bit more about online classes later in this article. What’s important to remember is that there is much more to comparing phlebotomy training programs than locating the cheapest or the closest one. Other variables including accreditation and reputation are also significant considerations and should be part of your selection process as well. Toward that end, we will supply a list of questions that you need to ask each of the phlebotomy schools you are assessing to help you select the best one for you. But prior to doing that, let’s address what a phlebotomist is and does, and afterwards resume our discussion about online training.

Phlebotomy Tech Work Description

A phlebotomist, or phlebotomy technician, collects blood samples from patients. Although that is their principal responsibility, there is actually so much more to their job description. Prior to drawing a blood sample, a phlebotomist must verify that the tools being used are sterile and single use only. Following the collection, the sample has to be properly labeled with the patient’s data. Next, paperwork needs to be correctly filled out in order to track the sample from the point of collection through the lab 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. Some Spring Mills PA phlebotomists in fact work in laboratories and are responsible for ensuring that samples are analyzed correctly using the highest quality control procedures. And if those weren’t sufficient responsibilities, they may be required to instruct other phlebotomists in the collection, delivery and follow-up process.

Where do Phlebotomists Practice?

The easiest response is wherever there are patients. Their work environments are many and diverse, such as Spring Mills PA hospitals, medical clinics, nursing homes, or blood banks. They may be charged to collect blood samples from patients of all ages, from babies or young children to senior citizens. Some phlebotomists, based on their practice and their training, specialize in drawing samples from a particular type of patient. For example, those practicing in a nursing home or assisted living facility would exclusively be drawing blood from elderly patients. If they are practicing in a maternity ward, they would be collecting blood from newborns and mothers solely. On the other hand, phlebotomists practicing in a general hospital setting would be collecting blood from a wide range of patients and would collect samples from new patients on a daily basis.

Phlebotomy Training, Licensing and Certification

There are basically two kinds of programs that furnish phlebotomist training in Spring Mills PA, which are certificate and degree programs. The certificate program normally takes under a year to finish and offers a general education together with the training on how to draw blood. It offers the fastest route to becoming a phlebotomy tech. An Associate of Science Degree in Clinical Laboratory Science, even though it’s not exclusively a phlebotomy degree, will incorporate training on becoming a phlebotomist. Available at junior and community colleges, they usually require two years to finish. Bachelor’s Degrees are less available and as a 4 year program offer a more extensive foundation in lab sciences. Once you have finished your training, you will probably want to be certified. While not mandated in the majority of states, many employers look for certification prior to employing 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 several states that do call for certification prior to practicing as a phlebotomist, like Nevada and California. California and a few additional states even require licensing. So it’s imperative that you pick a phlebotomist training program that not only supplies a superior education, but also preps you for any certification or licensing examinations that you elect or are required to take.

Online Phlebotomist Training

First, let’s resolve one potential misconception. You can’t obtain all of your phlebotomy training online. A good portion of the curriculum will be clinical training and it will be conducted either in an approved Spring Mills PA healthcare facility or an on-campus lab|an on-campus lab or an approved healthcare facility}. Numerous courses also require completion of an internship in order to graduate. However since the non-clinical part of the training may be attended online, it may be a more convenient alternative for some students. As an additional benefit, a number of online colleges are more affordable than their traditional competitors. And some expenses, including those for textbooks or commuting, may be lowered also. Just make certain that the online phlebotomy school you choose 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 study at home, then attaining your certificate or degree online may be the right option for you.

What to Ask Phlebotomy Colleges

Since you now have a general idea about what is involved in becoming a phlebotomy tech, it’s time to initiate your due diligence process. You may have already picked 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 Pennsylvania college is significant in addition to the tuition expense. Perhaps you have decided to enroll in an phlebotomy online program. All of these decisions are an important part of the procedure for choosing a school or program. But they are not the only considerations when arriving at your decision. Following are several questions that you need to ask about each of the Spring Mills PA colleges you are considering before making your final selection.

Is the Phlebotomy Program Specific to Pennsylvania? As previously mentioned, each state has its own laws for practicing as a phlebotomist. Some states require certification, while a few others mandate licensing. Every state has its own prerequisite regarding the minimum hours of practical training performed prior to working as a phlebotomist. As a result, you may have to pass a State Board, certification or licensing exam. Therefore it’s very important to enroll in a phlebotomist program that complies with the state specific requirements for Pennsylvania or the state where you will be practicing and prepares you for any examinations you may be required to take.

Is the Program Accredited? The phlebotomy program and school you enroll in should be accredited by a highly regarded regional or national accrediting agency, such as the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS). There are many advantages to graduating from an accredited program in addition to a guarantee of a quality education. To begin with, if your program has not received accreditation, you will not qualify to take a certification examination administered by any of the earlier listed certifying organizations. Next, accreditation will help in securing loans or financial assistance, which are frequently not available for non-accredited schools in Spring Mills PA. Finally, graduating from an accredited school can make you more attractive to potential employers in the job market.

What is the School’s Reputation? In many states there is minimal 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 any colleges you are looking at. You can begin by requesting references from the schools from employers where they place their students as part of their job assistance program. You can research internet school rating and review services and ask the accrediting organizations for their reviews also. You can also check with some Spring Mills PA local hospitals or clinics that you may have an interest in working for and find out if they can provide any insights. As a final thought, you can check with the Pennsylvania school licensing authority and find out if any grievances have been submitted or if the colleges are in total compliance.

Is Sufficient Training Provided? To begin with, contact the Pennsylvania regulator or the state regulator where you will be practicing to learn if there are any minimum requirements for the amount of training, both classroom and practical. At a minimum, any Spring Mills PA phlebotomist program that you are reviewing should provide no less than 40 hours of classroom training (the majority require 120) and 120 hours of practical training. Anything less than these minimums might signify that the program is not expansive enough to furnish adequate training.

Are Internships Included? Find out from the Pennsylvania programs you are considering if they have an internship program in partnership with area healthcare facilities. They are the optimal way to obtain hands-on clinical training often not provided on campus. As an added benefit, internships can assist students develop contacts within the local Spring Mills PA healthcare community. And they look good on resumes as well.

Is Job Placement Help Provided? Finding your first phlebotomy job will be much easier with the support of a job placement program. Inquire if the programs you are reviewing offer assistance and what their job placement percentage is. If a college has a high rate, meaning they place the majority of their students in jobs, it’s an indication that the school has both a good reputation as well as a substantial network of professional contacts within the Spring Mills PA health care community.

Are Classes Offered to Fit Your Schedule? Finally, it’s crucial to confirm that the ultimate school you pick offers classes at times that will accommodate your hectic schedule. This is particularly important if you choose to continue working while attending college. If you need to attend classes at night or on weekends near Spring Mills PA, make certain they are offered at those times. Also, if you can only attend on a part-time basis, verify it is an option as well. Even 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 because of emergencies or illness.

Why Did You Desire to Be a Phlebotomist?

When preparing to interview for a Phlebotomy Tech job, it's helpful to consider questions you might be asked. Among the questions that interviewers often ask Phlebotomist prospects is "What drove you to choose Phlebotomy as a profession?". What the interviewer is hoping to learn is not only the private reasons you may have for being Phlebotomy Tech, but additionally what qualities and skills you possess that make you outstanding at your profession. You will likely be asked questions pertaining specifically to Phlebotomy, as well as a certain number of general interview questions, so you should ready a number of approaches about how you would like to address them. Since there are numerous factors that go into selecting a career, you can respond to this primary question in a variety of ways. When preparing an answer, attempt to include the reasons the work interests you along with the talents you possess that make you an excellent Phlebotomy Technician and the leading choice for the job. Don't try to memorize a response, but write down several ideas and talking points that pertain to your personal experiences and strengths. Reading through sample responses can help you to prepare your own thoughts, and inspire ideas of what to discuss to wow the interviewer.

Find the Best Phlebotomy Course near Spring Mills PA

Making sure that you choose the right phlebotomist training is an important first step toward your success in this gratifying medical care career position. As we have addressed in this article, there are several factors that contribute toward the selection of a quality college. Phlebotomy training programs can be offered in a number of academic institutions, such as junior or community colleges, vocational schools, and colleges and universities that provide a comprehensive array of courses in healthcare and medical sciences. Course options may differ a bit from state to state as each state has its own prerequisites when it pertains to phlebotomist training, certification and licensing. The most critical point is that you need to diligently screen and compare each college before making your final decision. By asking the questions that we have provided, you will be able to fine tune your options so that you can select the ideal college for you. And with the appropriate training, you can reach your goal of becoming a phlebotomist in Spring Mills PA.

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