Choosing a Phlebotomist School near Rapid City South Dakota

Picking the right phlebotomy school near Rapid City SD is an essential first step toward a fulfilling career as a phlebotomist. It might seem like a daunting undertaking to evaluate and compare all of the training alternatives that are accessible to you. However it’s vital that you complete your due diligence to make sure that you receive a superior education. In reality, most prospective students begin their search by looking at two of the qualifiers that initially come to mind, which are cost and location. Yet another factor you may look into is whether to attend online classes or commute to a nearby campus. We’ll discuss 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 finding the cheapest or the closest one. Other factors including accreditation and reputation are also important considerations and need to be part of your decision process too. Toward that end, we will supply a list of questions that you need to ask each of the phlebotomy schools you are evaluating to help you choose the right one for you. But before we do that, let’s cover what a phlebotomist is and does, and then resume our conversation about online schools.

Phlebotomy Technician Career Summary

A phlebotomist, or phlebotomy tech, draws blood from patients. While that is their main duty, there is in fact so much more to their job description. Before drawing a blood sample, a phlebotomist has to confirm that the instruments being employed are single use only and sterile. Following the collection, the sample must be properly labeled with the patient’s data. Afterward, paperwork needs to be properly filled out to be able to track the sample from the time of collection through the lab testing process. 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. Some Rapid City SD phlebotomists actually work in laboratories and are in charge of making certain that samples are analyzed properly using the strictest quality assurance procedures. And if those weren’t sufficient responsibilities, they may be required to instruct other phlebotomists in the collection, transport and follow-up process.

Where do Phlebotomy Techs Work?

The simplest answer is wherever patients are treated. Their work places are numerous and diverse, including Rapid City SD medical clinics, hospitals, nursing homes, or blood centers. They can be tasked to collect blood samples from patients of of every age, from babies or toddlers to seniors. Some phlebotomists, based on their training and their practice, specialize in collecting blood from a certain kind of patient. For example, those practicing in an assisted living facility or nursing home would solely be drawing blood from older patients. If they are working in a maternity ward, they would be collecting blood from newborns and mothers exclusively. On the other hand, phlebotomists practicing in a general hospital setting would be drawing samples from a wide range of patients and would collect samples from different patients each day.

Phlebotomy Technician Education, Licensing and Certification

There are essentially two types of programs that offer phlebotomist training in Rapid City SD, which are degree and certificate programs. The certificate program normally takes less than a year to finish and provides a basic education along with the training on how to draw blood. It provides the fastest route to becoming a phlebotomy tech. An Associate of Science Degree in Clinical Laboratory Science, even though it’s not specifically a phlebotomist degree, will provide training on becoming a phlebotomy tech. Offered at junior and community colleges, they normally take two years to finish. Bachelor’s Degrees are not as accessible and as a four year program furnish a more extensive background in lab sciences. After you have finished your training, you will no doubt want to become certified. Although not required in the majority of states, many employers require certification prior to hiring technicians. Some of the main certifying agencies 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 phlebotomy tech, like California and Nevada. California and a handful of additional states even require licensing. So it’s important that you pick a phlebotomist training program that not only offers a premium education, but also prepares you for any licensing or certification exams that you elect or are required to take.

Online Phlebotomy Certificates and Degrees

To begin with, let’s dispel one potential misconception. You can’t receive all of your phlebotomist training online. A substantial component of the curriculum will be practical training and it will be conducted either in an approved Rapid City SD healthcare facility or an on-campus lab|an on-campus lab or an approved healthcare facility}. Many courses also require completing an internship prior to graduation. But since the non-clinical part of the training can be attended online, it may be a more convenient alternative for some students. As an additional benefit, many online classes are more affordable than their traditional counterparts. And some expenses, such as those for textbooks or commuting, may be reduced also. Just verify that the online phlebotomy program you enroll in is accredited by a national or regional accrediting organization (more on accreditation later). With both the extensive online and clinical training, you can obtain a superior education with this means of learning. If you are disciplined enough to study at home, then earning your degree or certificate online may be the right choice for you.

Topics to Ask Phlebotomy Colleges

Since you now have a basic idea about what is involved in becoming a phlebotomist, it’s time to start your due diligence process. You may have already selected the kind of program you wish to enroll in, whether it be for a certificate or a degree. As we previously mentioned, the location of the South Dakota campus is relevant as well as the tuition expense. Perhaps you have opted to enroll in an phlebotomy online school. All of these decisions are a critical part of the procedure for picking a program or school. But they are not the sole considerations when arriving at your decision. Below we have provided a few questions that you need to ask about all of the Rapid City SD programs you are reviewing before making your ultimate selection.

Is the Phlebotomy Program Specific to South Dakota? As earlier discussed, each state has its own regulations for practicing as a phlebotomist. Several states require certification, while a few others mandate licensing. Every state has its own requirement regarding the minimum hours of clinical training completed prior to practicing as a phlebotomist. Consequently, you may need to pass a State Board, licensing or certification exam. Therefore it’s extremely important to select a phlebotomy program that complies with the state specific requirements for South Dakota or the state where you will be practicing and preps you for any examinations you may have to take.

Is the Program Accredited? The phlebotomy program and school you enroll in should be accredited by a recognized national or regional accrediting organization, for example the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS). There are several advantages to graduating from an accredited school aside from a guarantee of a quality education. To begin with, if your program has not received accreditation, you will not qualify to sit for a certification exam offered by any of the previously listed certifying agencies. Next, accreditation will help in securing loans or financial assistance, which are often not available for non-accredited colleges in Rapid City SD. Last, graduating from an accredited school can make you more desirable to potential employers in the job market.

What is the College’s Reputation? In many states there is minimal or no regulation of phlebotomy schools, so there are some that are not of the highest quality. So along with accreditation, it’s imperative to check out the reputations of all colleges you are considering. You can start by asking the schools for references from employers where they place their students as part of their job placement program. You can research online school reviews and rating services and ask the accrediting organizations for their reviews as well. You can even talk to a few Rapid City SD area clinics or hospitals that you may have an interest in working for and find out if they can offer any recommendations. As a closing thought, you can check with the South Dakota school licensing authority and ask if any grievances have been submitted or if the colleges are in full compliance.

Is Ample Training Included? First, contact the South Dakota regulator or the state regulator where you will be practicing to learn if there are any minimum requirements for the length of training, both classroom and practical. At a minimum, any Rapid City SD phlebotomist 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 below these minimums may signify that the program is not expansive enough to provide sufficient training.

Are Internship Programs Provided? Ask the South Dakota programs you are looking at if they have an internship program in partnership with area healthcare facilities. They are the ideal way to obtain hands-on clinical training often not available on campus. As an added benefit, internships can help students develop relationships within the local Rapid City SD healthcare community. And they look good on resumes as well.

Is Job Placement Support Offered? Finding your first phlebotomy job will be much easier with the assistance of a job placement program. Find out if the programs you are reviewing provide assistance and what their job placement rate is. If a college has a high rate, signifying 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 Rapid City SD healthcare community.

Are Class Times Available as Needed? And last, it’s crucial to confirm that the ultimate school you select offers classes at times that are compatible with your busy lifestyle. This is particularly true if you choose to continue working while attending school. If you need to attend classes at night or on weekends near Rapid City SD, make sure 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 attend online, with the practical training requirement, make certain those hours can also be fulfilled within your schedule. And find out what the make-up policy is in case you need to miss any classes because of emergencies or illness.

Why Did You Desire to Be a Phlebotomy Technician?

When preparing to interview for a Phlebotomist position, it's advantageous to review questions you could be asked. One of the things that interviewers frequently ask Phlebotomy Technician candidates is "What compelled you to decide on Phlebotomy as a profession?". What the interviewer is hoping to learn is not only the private reasons you might have for being Phlebotomist, but additionally what characteristics and talents you have that make you good at what you do. You will likely be asked questions relating specifically to Phlebotomy, along with a significant number of typical interview questions, so you should organize several approaches about how you want to address them. Because there are so many variables that go into selecting a career, you can respond to this primary question in a number of ways. When formulating an answer, attempt to include the reasons the work interests you as well as the abilities you possess that make you an excellent Phlebotomy Tech and the leading candidate for the position. Don't attempt to memorize an answer, but take down a few concepts and talking points that pertain to your own strengths and experiences. Reading through sample answers can help you to prepare your own thoughts, and give you ideas of what to discuss to enthuse the interviewer.

Select the Ideal Phlebotomy College near Rapid City SD

Making sure that you enroll in the ideal phlebotomy training is an important first step toward your success in this gratifying medical care field. As we have addressed in this article, there are a number of factors that go into the selection of a premium school. Phlebotomist certificate or degree programs are offered in a number of academic institutions, such as community or junior colleges, trade schools, and colleges and universities that offer a comprehensive array of courses in medical care and health sciences. Training program options may differ somewhat across the country as every state has its own prerequisites when it concerns phlebotomy training, licensing and certification. The most critical point is that you need to diligently research and compare each school prior to making your final decision. By addressing the questions that we have furnished, you will be able to narrow down your options so that you can select the best school for you. And with the appropriate training, you can achieve your goal of becoming a phlebotomy technician in Rapid City SD.

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