Picking a Phlebotomy School near Franklin Tennessee

Picking the ideal phlebotomy school near Franklin TN is an important first step toward a gratifying profession as a phlebotomist. It may seem like a difficult task to evaluate and compare all of the training options that are available to you. Nevertheless it’s vital that you complete your due diligence to make certain that you receive a quality education. In fact, most prospective students begin the process by considering two of the qualifiers that initially come to mind, which are location and cost. Another option you may consider is whether to attend online classes or commute to a nearby campus. We’ll talk more about online schools later in this article. What’s important to keep in mind is that there is far more to checking out phlebotomy training programs than locating the cheapest or the closest one. Other variables such as accreditation and reputation are also significant considerations and should be part of your decision process also. Toward that end, we will provide a list of questions that you need to ask each of the phlebotomy schools you are assessing to help you select the ideal one for you. But before we do that, let’s cover what a phlebotomist is and does, and then continue our conversation about online classes.

Phlebotomy Technician Work Description

A phlebotomist, or phlebotomy tech, draws blood from patients. While that is their main responsibility, there is in fact much more to their job description. Prior to collecting a blood sample, a phlebotomist has to verify that the instruments being used are single use only and sterile. After collection, the sample must be accurately labeled with the patient’s data. Next, paperwork must be properly completed to be able to track the sample from the time of collection through the laboratory screening process. The phlebotomist then delivers the blood to either an an outside lab facility or an in-house lab where it can be tested for such things as pregnancy, infectious diseases or blood type. Many Franklin TN phlebotomists in fact work in laboratories and are accountable for ensuring that samples are analyzed correctly using the strictest quality control procedures. And if those weren’t sufficient responsibilities, they might be asked to instruct other phlebotomists in the drawing, transport and follow-up process.

Where are Phlebotomy Techs Employed?

The most basic response is wherever they treat patients. Their work environments are many and diverse, such as Franklin TN hospitals, medical clinics, long-term care facilities, or blood centers. They may be tasked to draw blood samples from patients of all ages, from infants or toddlers to senior citizens. A number of phlebotomists, based on their training and their practice, specialize in drawing blood from a certain type of patient. For instance, those practicing in an assisted living facility or nursing home would solely be collecting blood from elderly patients. If they are practicing in a maternity ward, they would be collecting blood from newborns and mothers exclusively. In contrast, phlebotomy technicians working in a general hospital environment would be collecting samples from a wide variety of patients and would collect samples from different patients each day.

Phlebotomy Technician Education, Certification and Licensing

There are primarily two kinds of programs that offer phlebotomist training in Franklin TN, which are degree and certificate programs. The certificate program usually takes under a year to finish and offers a general education along with the training on how to draw blood. It offers the fastest route to becoming a phlebotomist. An Associate of Science Degree in Clinical Laboratory Science, even though it’s not specifically a phlebotomy degree, will include training to become a phlebotomist. Available at community and junior colleges, they usually take two years to complete. Bachelor’s Degrees are less accessible and as a four year program furnish a more extensive foundation in lab sciences. After you have finished your training, you will probably want to become certified. Although not required in most states, a number of employers require certification prior to employing 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 a few states that do call for certification in order to practice as a phlebotomy tech, like Nevada and California. California and a few other states even require licensing. So it’s essential that you pick a phlebotomy training program that not only provides a premium education, but also prepares you for any certification or licensing examinations that you are required or elect to take.

Phlebotomist Online Training

To begin with, let’s resolve one potential misconception. You can’t obtain all of your phlebotomist training online. A good portion of the curriculum will be practical training and it will be performed either in an approved Franklin TN healthcare facility or an on-campus lab|an on-campus lab or an approved healthcare facility}. Many courses also require completing an internship in order to graduate. 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, many online programs are less expensive than their traditional competitors. And some expenses, including those for textbooks or commuting, may be lowered as well. Just make certain that the online phlebotomy school you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization (more on accreditation later). With both the extensive clinical and online training, you can receive a premium education with this means of learning. If you are dedicated enough to learn at home, then earning your certificate or degree online may be the ideal choice for you.

What to Ask Phlebotomist Programs

Since you now have a general idea about what is involved in becoming a phlebotomy tech, it’s time to start your due diligence process. You may have already selected the type of program you intend to enroll in, whether it be for a degree or a certificate. As we previously mentioned, the location of the Tennessee campus is important in addition to the tuition expense. Maybe you have decided to enroll in an online phlebotomy college. Each of these decisions are an important part of the process for choosing a program or school. But they are not the sole considerations when making your decision. Following are several questions that you need to ask about each of the Franklin TN programs you are considering prior to making your final decision.

Is the Phlebotomist Program Specific to Tennessee? As earlier discussed, each state has its own regulations for practicing as a phlebotomy technician. Several states call for certification, while some others mandate licensing. Every state has its own requirement regarding the minimum hours of clinical training performed prior to practicing as a phlebotomy tech. Consequently, you might have to pass a State Board, certification or licensing exam. Therefore it’s extremely important to choose a phlebotomy program that fulfills the state specific requirements for Tennessee or the state where you will be working and preps you for any exams you may have to take.

Is the College Accredited? The phlebotomist school and program you choose should be accredited by a highly regarded regional or national accrediting organization, 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 superior education. To begin with, if your program has not received accreditation, you will not qualify to sit for a certification exam administered by any of the earlier listed certifying organizations. Also, accreditation will help in getting financial aid or loans, which are frequently unavailable for non-accredited colleges in Franklin TN. Finally, graduating from an accredited school can make you more desirable to potential employers in the job market.

What is the Program’s Ranking? In many states there is little or no regulation of phlebotomy schools, so there are some that are not of the highest caliber. So in addition to accreditation, it’s important to investigate the reputations of any schools you are reviewing. You can start by requesting references from the schools from employers where they refer their graduates as part of their job assistance program. You can screen online school rating and review services and ask the accrediting agencies for their reviews also. You can also talk to some Franklin TN local hospitals or clinics that you may have an interest in working for and find out if they can offer any recommendations. As a closing thought, you can contact the Tennessee school licensing authority and find out if any complaints have been submitted or if the colleges are in total compliance.

Is Adequate Training Included? To begin with, check with the Tennessee 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. As a minimum, any Franklin TN phlebotomist program that you are looking at should furnish at least 40 hours of classroom training (most require 120) and 120 hours of clinical training. Anything less than these minimums may signify that the program is not expansive enough to provide sufficient training.

Are Internships Provided? Find out from the Tennessee programs you are considering if they have an internship program in collaboration with regional medical facilities. They are the optimal means to obtain hands-on clinical training often not obtainable on campus. As an additional benefit, internships can assist students establish relationships within the local Franklin TN health care community. And they look good on resumes also.

Is Job Placement Assistance Provided? Getting your first phlebotomy position will be much easier with the assistance of a job placement program. Find out if the schools you are looking at offer 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 an excellent reputation together with a substantial network of professional contacts within the Franklin TN medical community.

Are Class Times Offered to Fit Your Schedule? And last, it’s critical to confirm that the final college you select offers classes at times that are compatible with your busy schedule. This is especially important if you opt to continue working while attending school. If you need to go to classes in the evenings or on weekends near Franklin TN, make sure they are offered at those times. Also, if you can only attend on a part-time basis, verify it is an option as well. And if you have decided to attend online, with the practical training requirement, make sure those hours can also be fulfilled within your schedule. And ask what the make-up procedure is should you need to miss any classes as a result of illness or emergencies.

Why Did You Want to Be a Phlebotomy Technician?

When prepping to interview for a Phlebotomist job, it's a good idea to review questions you may be asked. Among the things that recruiters frequently ask Phlebotomist candidates is "What made you decide on Phlebotomy as a career?". What the interviewer is attempting to learn is not merely the personal reasons you may have for becoming Phlebotomy Tech, but also what attributes and skills you have that make you outstanding at your profession. You will likely be asked questions relating specifically to Phlebotomy, along with a significant number of general interview questions, so you must prepare a number of approaches about how you would like to respond to them. Because there are several factors that go into choosing a career, you can respond to this primary question in a variety of ways. When preparing an answer, aim to include the reasons the work interests you as well as the abilities you have that make you an excellent Phlebotomy Tech and the perfiect choice for the position. Don't try to memorize a response, but take down some concepts and topics that relate to your own strengths and experiences. Reading through sample answers can help you to formulate your own concepts, and provide ideas of what to include to impress the recruiter.

Select the Ideal Phlebotomist School near Franklin TN

Making sure that you choose the ideal phlebotomist training is an important first step toward your success in this fulfilling healthcare field. As we have addressed in this article, there are multiple factors that contribute toward the selection of a superior college. Phlebotomy certificate or degree programs can be available in a wide range of academic institutes, such as junior or community colleges, vocational schools, and colleges and universities that provide a comprehensive assortment of courses in healthcare and medical sciences. Course options can vary slightly across the country as each state has its own requirements when it comes to phlebotomy training, certification and licensing. The most critical point is that you must thoroughly research and compare each college prior to making your ultimate selection. By asking the questions that we have provided, you will be able to fine tune your options so that you can select the best college for you. And with the appropriate education, you can reach your goal of becoming a phlebotomy technician in Franklin TN.

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