Selecting a Phlebotomist Training Program near Surgoinsville Tennessee

Enrolling in the right phlebotomy technician school near Surgoinsville TN is a critical first step toward a rewarding career as a phlebotomist. It may seem like a difficult task to analyze and compare all of the school alternatives that are available to you. Nevertheless it’s important that you perform your due diligence to ensure that you obtain a quality education. In reality, many students start their search by looking at two of the qualifiers that initially come to mind, which are cost and location. Another factor you may consider is whether to attend classes online or commute to an area campus. We’ll talk a bit more about online classes later in this article. What’s important to keep in mind is that there is a lot more to checking out phlebotomy training programs than finding the closest or the cheapest one. Other factors including accreditation and reputation are also significant considerations and must be part of your decision process too. To assist in that effort, we will provide 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 continue our conversation about online schools.

Phlebotomy Tech Work Summary

A phlebotomist, or phlebotomy tech, collects blood samples from patients. Although that is their main function, there is in fact much more to their job description. Before collecting a blood sample, a phlebotomist needs to verify that the instruments being used are single use only and sterile. Following the collection, the sample needs to be accurately labeled with the patient’s information. Afterward, paperwork must be properly filled out in order to track the sample from the point of collection through the lab screening procedure. The phlebotomist then transports 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 Surgoinsville TN phlebotomists actually work in laboratories and are accountable for making certain that samples are analyzed correctly utilizing the highest quality assurance procedures. And if those weren’t enough duties, they might be required to train other phlebotomists in the collection, transport and follow-up process.

Where do Phlebotomists Practice?

The simplest answer is wherever there are patients. Their work places are numerous and diverse, including Surgoinsville TN medical clinics, hospitals, long-term care facilities, or blood centers. They may be tasked to collect blood samples from patients of of every age, from infants or young children to seniors. A number of phlebotomy techs, based on their training and their practice, specialize in collecting blood from a particular kind of patient. For instance, those practicing in an assisted living facility or nursing home would exclusively be collecting blood from older patients. If they are working in a maternity ward, they would be collecting blood from newborns and mothers solely. In contrast, phlebotomy technicians working in a general hospital setting would be drawing samples from a wide range of patients and would collect samples from new patients every day.

Phlebotomy Education, Certification and Licensing

There are essentially 2 types of programs that offer phlebotomist training in Surgoinsville TN, which are certificate and degree programs. The certificate program generally takes less than a year to complete and furnishes a general education as well as the training on how to draw blood. It provides the quickest route to becoming a phlebotomy tech. An Associate of Science Degree in Clinical Laboratory Science, although not specifically a phlebotomist degree, will provide training to become a phlebotomy tech. Available at junior and community colleges, they usually take 2 years to complete. Bachelor’s Degrees are not as accessible and as a 4 year program offer a more extensive foundation in lab sciences. Once you have completed your training, you will no doubt want to get certified. While not required in most states, many employers look for certification before hiring 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 require certification prior to practicing as a phlebotomist, including Nevada and California. California and a handful of additional states even require licensing. So it’s imperative that you select a phlebotomy training program that not only provides a superior education, but also preps you for any licensing or certification examinations that you elect or are required to take.

Phlebotomy Online Schools

To start with, let’s dispel one potential mistaken belief. You can’t get all of your phlebotomy training online. A good portion of the course of study will be clinical training and it will be performed either in an approved Surgoinsville TN healthcare facility or an on-campus lab|an on-campus lab or an approved healthcare facility}. Many courses also require completion of an internship prior to graduation. But since the non-clinical portion of the training may be accessed online, it can be a more convenient option for many students. As an added benefit, a number of online classes are less expensive than their on-campus competitors. And some costs, for instance those for textbooks or commuting, may be minimized as well. Just make certain that the online phlebotomist school you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization (more on accreditation to follow). With both the comprehensive clinical and online training, you can receive a quality education with this means of learning. If you are dedicated enough to learn at home, then attaining your certificate or degree online might be the ideal option for you.

Subjects to Ask Phlebotomist Schools

Now that you have a basic idea about what it takes to become a phlebotomy tech, 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 Tennessee school is important as well as the tuition expense. Perhaps you have decided to enroll in an online phlebotomy college. All of these decisions are an important component of the process for choosing a school or program. But they are not the sole concerns when making your decision. Below we have provided several questions that you should ask about all of the Surgoinsville TN programs you are reviewing prior to making your final selection.

Is the Phlebotomy Program Specific to Your State? As mentioned previously, each state has its own regulations for practicing as a phlebotomy technician. Some states require certification, while some others mandate licensing. Each has its own requirement regarding the minimum hours of practical training performed prior to working as a phlebotomist. Consequently, you may need to pass a State Board, certification or licensing examination. Therefore it’s very important to choose a phlebotomy program that fulfills the state specific requirements for Tennessee or the state where you will be working and readies you for all exams you may have to take.

Is the College Accredited? The phlebotomist school and program you choose should be accredited by a highly regarded national or regional accrediting organization, such as the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS). There are a number of benefits to graduating from an accredited school aside from a guarantee of a superior education. First, if your program is not accredited, you will not qualify to sit for a certification examination administered by any of the previously listed certifying organizations. Also, accreditation will help in securing loans or financial assistance, which are frequently unavailable for non-accredited schools in Surgoinsville TN. Finally, graduating from an accredited school can make you more desirable to potential employers in the job market.

What is the Program’s Reputation? In a number of states there is little or no regulation of phlebotomy colleges, so there are some that are not of the highest quality. So in addition to accreditation, it’s important to check out the reputations of any colleges you are reviewing. You can begin by asking the schools for references from employers where they place their graduates as part of their job placement program. You can research internet school reviews and rating services and solicit the accrediting agencies for their reviews also. You can also contact a few Surgoinsville TN local hospitals or clinics that you might have an interest in working for and find out if they can provide any recommendations. As a final thought, you can check with the Tennessee school licensing authority and find out if any complaints have been submitted or if the schools are in full compliance.

Is Ample Training Provided? To begin with, check with the Tennessee regulator or the state regulator where you will be practicing to find out if there are any minimum requirements for the amount of training, both clinical and classroom. As a minimum, any Surgoinsville TN phlebotomy program that you are looking at should furnish at least 40 hours of classroom training (most require 120) and 120 hours of practical training. Anything lower than these minimums might indicate that the program is not comprehensive enough to provide sufficient training.

Are Internship Programs Sponsored? Ask the Tennessee colleges you are reviewing if they have an internship program in collaboration with area healthcare facilities. They are the optimal means to obtain hands-on clinical training frequently not provided on campus. As an additional benefit, internships can help students establish relationships within the local Surgoinsville TN healthcare community. And they look good on resumes also.

Is Job Placement Help Available? Finding your first phlebotomy position will be much easier with the help of a job placement program. Ask if the colleges you are considering offer assistance and what their job placement percentage is. If a college has a higher rate, signifying they place the majority of their students in jobs, it’s an indication that the program has both an excellent reputation along with a substantial network of professional contacts within the Surgoinsville TN healthcare community.

Are Class Times Available as Needed? And last, it’s important to make sure that the ultimate program you pick provides classes at times that are compatible with your hectic schedule. This is especially true if you decide to still work while attending school. If you can only attend classes at night or on weekends near Surgoinsville TN, make certain they are offered at those times. Also, if you can only attend on a part-time basis, make sure it is an option also. And if you have decided to study online, with the clinical training requirement, make sure those hours can also be completed within your schedule. And ask what the make-up procedure is in case you have to miss any classes as a result of illness or emergencies.

Why Did You Want to Be a Phlebotomy Tech?

When prepping to interview for a Phlebotomy Technician job, it's helpful to review questions you could be asked. Among the things that hiring managers frequently ask Phlebotomy Tech prospects is "What drove you to decide on Phlebotomy as a career?". What the interviewer is attempting to uncover is not merely the personal reasons you may have for becoming Phlebotomist, but also what characteristics and talents you have that make you good at your profession. You will undoubtedly be asked questions relating specifically to Phlebotomy, along with a significant number of routine interview questions, so you need to organize several ideas about how you want to address them. Considering there are several factors that go into choosing a career, you can answer this primary question in a multitude of ways. When readying an answer, try to include the reasons the profession appeals to you in addition to the abilities you have that make you an excellent Phlebotomist and the leading choice for the job. Don't try to memorize an answer, but write down some ideas and talking points that relate to your own experiences and strengths. Reviewing sample answers can assist you to develop your own thoughts, and provide ideas of what to include to wow the interviewer.

Choose the Best Phlebotomist Course near Surgoinsville TN

Making certain that you enroll in the most suitable phlebotomist training is an important first step toward your success in this rewarding healthcare career position. As we have discussed in this article, there are a number of factors that go into the selection of a quality program. Phlebotomy certificate or degree programs are offered in a wide range of educational institutes, including junior or community colleges, trade schools, and colleges and universities that provide a wide range of courses in healthcare and medical sciences. Training program options can vary slightly from state to state as every state has its own criteria when it comes to phlebotomy training, certification and licensing. The most critical point is that you need to diligently research and compare each program before making your ultimate choice. By addressing the questions that we have furnished, you will be able to narrow down your options so that you can pick the best school for you. And with the proper training, you can reach your goal of becoming a phlebotomy technician in Surgoinsville TN.

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