Selecting a Phlebotomy School near Spearfish South Dakota

Selecting the right phlebotomy training near Spearfish SD is an essential initial step toward a fulfilling career as a phlebotomist. It may seem like a daunting task to evaluate and compare each of the school options that are available to you. However it’s vital that you do your due diligence to ensure that you receive a superior education. In fact, many prospective students begin the process by looking at 2 of the qualifiers that initially come to mind, which are cost and location. Yet another factor you may consider is whether to attend online classes or commute to a nearby campus. We’ll review a bit more about online schools later in this article. What’s important to remember is that there is a lot more to checking out phlebotomy training programs than locating the closest or the cheapest one. Other variables including accreditation and reputation are also important considerations and should be part of your decision process also. To assist in that effort, we will furnish a list of questions that you need to ask each of the phlebotomy schools you are reviewing to help you select the ideal one for you. But prior to doing that, let’s cover what a phlebotomist is and does, and then continue our discussion about online training.

Phlebotomy Tech Job Summary

A phlebotomist, or phlebotomy technician, collects blood samples from patients. Although that is their primary duty, there is in fact so much more to their job description. Prior to collecting a blood sample, a phlebotomist needs to check that the instruments being used are sterile and single use only. Following the collection, the sample has to be accurately labeled with the patient’s information. Afterward, paperwork must be properly completed to be able to track the sample from the point 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 can be tested for such things as pregnancy, infectious diseases or blood type. Some Spearfish SD phlebotomists actually work in labs and are accountable for ensuring that samples are analyzed properly utilizing the highest quality assurance procedures. And if those weren’t enough duties, they may be called upon to instruct other phlebotomists in the drawing, transport and follow-up process.

Where do Phlebotomists Practice?

The simplest answer is wherever there are patients. Their workplaces are many and varied, including Spearfish SD medical clinics, hospitals, long-term care facilities, or blood banks. They can be assigned to draw blood samples from patients of all ages, from babies or young children to senior citizens. A number of phlebotomists, depending on their practice and their training, specialize in collecting blood from a certain kind of patient. For example, those working in an assisted living facility or nursing home would exclusively be drawing blood from senior patients. If they are working in a maternity ward, they would be collecting blood from mothers and newborns exclusively. In contrast, phlebotomists practicing in a general hospital environment would be drawing blood from a wide variety of patients and would work with different patients each day.

Phlebotomy Technician Education, Licensing and Certification

There are basically two kinds of programs that furnish phlebotomist training in Spearfish SD, which are certificate and degree programs. The certificate program typically takes under a year to complete and offers a basic education as well as the training on how to draw blood. It offers the fastest means to becoming a phlebotomist. An Associate of Science Degree in Clinical Laboratory Science, although not specifically a phlebotomy degree, will include training on becoming a phlebotomy tech. Offered at junior and community colleges, they usually require 2 years to finish. Bachelor’s Degrees are less accessible and as a four year program offer a more extensive background in lab sciences. When you have finished your training, you will probably want to become certified. While not required in the majority of states, a number of employers look for certification prior to hiring technicians. Some 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 call for certification prior to practicing as a phlebotomy tech, like California and Nevada. California and a few additional states even require licensing. So it’s essential that you enroll in a phlebotomist training program that not only furnishes a premium education, but also prepares you for any licensing or certification examinations that you are required or elect to take.

Online Phlebotomist Schools

First, let’s dispel one likely mistaken belief. You can’t get all of your phlebotomy training online. A substantial portion of the course of study will be clinical training and it will be conducted either in an approved Spearfish SD healthcare facility or an on-campus lab|an on-campus lab or an approved healthcare facility}. A large number of courses also require completion of an internship prior to graduation. But since the non-practical component of the training may be accessed online, it might be a more practical alternative for many students. As an additional benefit, a number of online classes are less expensive than their on-campus competitors. And some expenses, such as those for commuting or textbooks, may be lowered also. Just make certain that the online phlebotomist college you enroll in is accredited by a national or regional accrediting agency (more on accreditation later). With both the extensive online and clinical training, you can obtain a premium education with this means of 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 Schools

Now that you have a general idea about what it takes to become a phlebotomy tech, it’s time to begin your due diligence process. You might have already decided on the type of program you wish to enroll in, whether it be for a certificate or a degree. As we mentioned earlier, the location of the South Dakota campus is relevant in addition to the cost of tuition. Perhaps you have decided to enroll in an online phlebotomy college. All of these decisions are an important part of the process for selecting a school or program. But they are not the sole concerns when making your decision. Following are several questions that you should ask about all of the Spearfish SD schools you are considering prior to making your final decision.

Is the Phlebotomy Program Specific to Your State? As previously mentioned, each state has its own laws for practicing as a phlebotomist. Some states require certification, while a few others require licensing. Every state has its own prerequisite regarding the minimum hours of clinical training performed prior to practicing as a phlebotomy tech. As a result, you might need to pass a State Board, certification or licensing examination. Therefore it’s extremely important to enroll in a phlebotomist program that complies with the state specific requirements for South Dakota or the state where you will be practicing and prepares you for all exams you may be required to take.

Is the Program Accredited? The phlebotomist school and program you select 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 aside from an assurance of a superior education. First, if your program is not accredited, you will not be able to take a certification examination offered by any of the earlier listed certifying organizations. Also, accreditation will help in getting financial aid or loans, which are typically unavailable for non-accredited colleges in Spearfish SD. Last, earning a certificate or a degree from an accredited school can make you more desirable to future employers in the job market.

What is the Program’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 in addition to accreditation, it’s important to check the reputations of any schools you are considering. You can begin by asking the schools for references from employers where they refer their students as part of their job assistance program. You can screen online school reviews and rating services and solicit the accrediting agencies for their reviews also. You can even check with a few Spearfish SD area hospitals or clinics that you might have an interest in working for and ask if they can offer any recommendations. As a final thought, you can check with the South Dakota school licensing authority and find out if any grievances have been filed or if the schools are in total compliance.

Is Adequate Training Included? First, contact the South Dakota regulator or the state regulator where you will be working to find out if there are any minimum requirements for the amount of training, both clinical and classroom. As a minimum, any Spearfish SD phlebotomist program that you are reviewing should provide at least 40 hours of classroom training (most require 120) and 120 hours of clinical training. Anything less than these minimums may indicate that the program is not expansive enough to provide sufficient training.

Are Internship Programs Included? Ask the South Dakota colleges you are considering if they have an internship program in collaboration with local medical facilities. They are the ideal way to get hands-on practical training frequently not obtainable on campus. As an additional benefit, internships can help students establish contacts within the local Spearfish SD medical community. And they look good on resumes also.

Is Job Placement Help Available? Landing your first phlebotomist position will be a lot easier with the support of a job placement program. Ask if the colleges you are reviewing offer assistance and what their job placement percentage is. If a school has a high rate, meaning they place most of their students in positions, it’s an indication that the college has both an excellent reputation as well as a substantial network of professional contacts within the Spearfish SD health care community.

Are Class Times Conveniently Scheduled? Finally, it’s critical to confirm that the final program you select offers classes at times that are compatible with your hectic lifestyle. This is particularly important if you choose to still work while attending college. If you need to attend classes in the evenings or on weekends near Spearfish SD, check that they are available at those times. Also, if you can only attend part-time, confirm it is an option also. 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 protocol is in case you need to miss any classes because of emergencies or illness.

Why Did You Want to Be a Phlebotomist?

When prepping to interview for a Phlebotomist position, it's a good idea to consider questions you may be asked. One of the things that hiring managers frequently ask Phlebotomy Technician applicants is "What drove you to select Phlebotomy as a profession?". What the interviewer is attempting to discover is not only the personal reasons you may have for becoming Phlebotomy Tech, but additionally what characteristics and talents you have that make you outstanding 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 should organize several strategies about how you want to address them. Given that there are numerous factors that go into choosing a career, you can answer this primary question in a variety of ways. When readying an answer, attempt to include the reasons the profession appeals to you as well as the talents you have that make you an exceptional Phlebotomist and the perfiect candidate for the position. Don't make an effort to memorize a response, but write down a few ideas and talking points that relate to your own strengths and experiences. Going over sample answers can help you to formulate your own thoughts, and inspire ideas of what to include to wow the interviewer.

Find the Ideal Phlebotomy College near Spearfish SD

Making sure that you enroll in the most suitable phlebotomist training is an essential first step toward your success in this gratifying healthcare field. As we have covered in this article, there are several factors that contribute toward the selection of a premium school. Phlebotomy training programs can be available in a number of educational institutions, such as community or junior colleges, trade schools, and colleges and universities that provide an extensive assortment of programs in medical care and health sciences. Course options can vary slightly from state to state as each state has its own mandates when it concerns phlebotomist training, licensing and certification. The most important point is that you must carefully screen and compare each school before 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 select the right program for you. And with the appropriate education, you can achieve your goal of becoming a phlebotomy technician in Spearfish SD.

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