Picking a Phlebotomist School near Christiansburg Virginia

Picking the right phlebotomy technician school near Christiansburg VA is an important initial step toward a rewarding profession as a phlebotomist. It may seem like a difficult undertaking to assess and compare each of the school options that are available to you. However it’s vital that you perform your due diligence to ensure that you obtain a quality education. In fact, most potential students begin the process by considering two of the qualifiers that first come to mind, which are cost and location. Yet another factor you might consider is whether to attend classes online or commute to an area campus. We’ll review 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 cheapest or the closest one. Other factors such as reputation and accreditation are also important considerations and must be part of your selection process too. To assist in that effort, we will supply a list of questions that you should ask each of the phlebotomy schools you are assessing to help you pick the best one for you. But prior to doing that, let’s address what a phlebotomist is and does, and then resume our discussion about online classes.

Phlebotomist Job Description

A phlebotomist, or phlebotomy tech, collects blood samples from patients. While that is their principal duty, there is actually far more to their job description. Before collecting a blood sample, a phlebotomist needs to confirm that the tools being used are single use only and sterile. After collection, the sample must be correctly labeled with the patient’s information. Next, paperwork must be correctly filled out to be able to track the sample from the point of collection through the lab testing procedure. The phlebotomist then delivers the blood to either an in-house lab or to an outside lab facility where it can be screened for such things as infectious diseases, pregnancy or blood type. A number of Christiansburg VA phlebotomists in fact work in labs and are responsible for making sure that samples are analyzed properly using the strictest quality assurance procedures. And if those weren’t sufficient duties, they may be required to instruct other phlebotomists in the collection, transport and follow-up process.

Where do Phlebotomy Techs Practice?

The easiest response is wherever they treat patients. Their work environments are numerous and diverse, including Christiansburg VA medical clinics, hospitals, long-term care facilities, or blood centers. They may be assigned to draw blood samples from patients of all ages, from infants or young children to senior citizens. A number of phlebotomists, based on their practice and their training, specialize in collecting samples from a specific type of patient. For example, those practicing in a nursing home or assisted living facility would solely be drawing blood from elderly patients. If they are practicing in a maternity ward, they would be drawing blood from mothers and newborns exclusively. On the other hand, phlebotomy technicians practicing in a general hospital environment would be drawing blood from a wide variety of patients and would collect samples from new patients every day.

Phlebotomy Technician Education, Certification and Licensing

There are essentially two kinds of programs that offer phlebotomist training in Christiansburg VA, which are certificate and degree programs. The certificate program generally takes under a year to complete and offers a general education as well as 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 exclusively a phlebotomist degree, will include training to become a phlebotomist. Offered at community and junior colleges, they normally take two years to complete. Bachelor’s Degrees are less accessible and as a 4 year program offer a more expansive background in lab sciences. When you have finished your training, you will probably want to get certified. While not mandated in most states, most employers look for certification before hiring technicians. A few of the main 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 phlebotomy tech, like Nevada and California. California and a handful of additional states even require licensing. So it’s essential that you pick a phlebotomist training program that not only provides a superior education, but also preps you for any certification or licensing exams that you are required or elect to take.

Online Phlebotomy Colleges

To begin with, let’s dispel one possible mistaken belief. You can’t obtain all of your phlebotomy training online. A good portion of the program of studies will be practical training and it will be conducted either in an approved Christiansburg VA 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 part of the training may be attended online, it could be a more convenient option for some students. As an added benefit, many online classes are more affordable than their traditional competitors. And some expenditures, such as those for textbooks or commuting, may be lessened as well. Just make certain that the online phlebotomist program you enroll in is accredited by a national or regional accrediting agency (more on accreditation to follow). With both the extensive clinical and online training, you can obtain a premium education with this approach to learning. If you are disciplined enough to learn at home, then obtaining your degree or certificate online may be the best option for you.

Subjects to Ask Phlebotomy Programs

Now that you have a basic understanding about what it takes to become a phlebotomist, it’s time to begin your due diligence process. You may have already picked the kind of program you intend to enroll in, whether it be for a certificate or a degree. As we mentioned earlier, the location of the Virginia college is important in addition to the cost of tuition. Perhaps you have opted to enroll in an online phlebotomist program. All of these decisions are a critical part of the process for picking a program or school. But they are not the only considerations when making your decision. Following are a few questions that you should ask about all of the Christiansburg VA schools you are reviewing prior to making your final selection.

Is the Phlebotomist Program Specific to Virginia? As mentioned previously, each state has its own regulations for practicing as a phlebotomist. Several states call for certification, while a few others mandate licensing. Each has its own requirement regarding the minimum amount of clinical training completed before practicing as a phlebotomy tech. As a result, you may have to pass a State Board, licensing or certification exam. Therefore it’s extremely important to select a phlebotomist program that satisfies the state specific requirements for Virginia or the state where you will be working and readies you for any examinations you may have to take.

Is the Program Accredited? The phlebotomist school and program you enroll in should be accredited by a respected national or regional accrediting organization, for example the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS). There are a number of advantages to graduating from an accredited school aside from an assurance of a superior education. To begin with, if your program is not accredited, you will not be able to sit for a certification exam offered by any of the previously listed certifying agencies. Next, accreditation will help in getting financial aid or loans, which are often not available for non-accredited colleges in Christiansburg VA. Last, earning a certificate or a degree from an accredited college can make you more desirable to future employers in the job market.

What is the School’s Ranking? In numerous states there is minimal or no regulation of phlebotomist schools, so there are those that are not of the highest caliber. So in addition to accreditation, it’s imperative to check out the reputations of all colleges you are looking at. You can start by asking the schools for references from employers where they place their graduates as part of their job assistance program. You can screen internet school reviews and rating services and solicit the accrediting agencies for their reviews also. You can even contact several Christiansburg VA local hospitals or clinics that you might be interested in working for and ask if they can offer any recommendations. As a closing thought, you can check with the Virginia school licensing authority and find out if any complaints have been filed or if the colleges are in total compliance.

Is Adequate Training Provided? First, contact the Virginia 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 classroom and practical. As a minimum, any Christiansburg VA phlebotomy program that you are looking at should furnish no less than 40 hours of classroom training (most require 120) and 120 hours of practical training. Anything lower than these minimums may signify that the program is not expansive enough to furnish sufficient training.

Are Internships Provided? Ask the Virginia schools you are reviewing if they have an internship program in collaboration with local healthcare facilities. They are the optimal way to receive hands-on practical training often not provided on campus. As an added benefit, internships can assist students develop relationships within the local Christiansburg VA healthcare community. And they are a plus on resumes also.

Is Job Placement Assistance Provided? Landing your first phlebotomist position will be much easier with the assistance of a job placement program. Find out 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 positions, it’s an indication that the college has both an excellent reputation along with an extensive network of professional contacts within the Christiansburg VA health care community.

Are Classes Available as Needed? And last, it’s critical to make sure that the final college you pick offers classes at times that are compatible with your busy schedule. This is especially important if you choose to continue working while attending school. If you can only attend classes in the evenings or on weekends near Christiansburg VA, make sure they are available at those times. Additionally, if you can only attend on a part-time basis, 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 find out what the make-up protocol is should you need to miss any classes because of emergencies or illness.

Why Did You Want to Be a Phlebotomy Technician?

When prepping to interview for a Phlebotomy Technician position, it's helpful to review questions you might be asked. One of the questions that recruiters often ask Phlebotomy Tech applicants is "What made you choose Phlebotomy as a profession?". What the interviewer is hoping to discover is not only the personal reasons you might have for being Phlebotomist, but additionally what characteristics and abilities you have that make you exceptional at your profession. You will undoubtedly be asked questions pertaining primarily to Phlebotomy, as well as a significant number of typical interview questions, so you should ready several approaches about how you want to address them. Given that 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 work interests you in addition to the strengths you have that make you an outstanding Phlebotomy Tech and the leading choice for the job. Don't make an effort to memorize a response, but write down some concepts and topics that pertain to your personal strengths and experiences. Reading through sample responses can assist you to prepare your own thoughts, and inspire ideas of what to include to enthuse the recruiter.

Select the Best Phlebotomist College near Christiansburg VA

Making certain that you pick the most suitable phlebotomist training is a critical first step toward your success in this fulfilling medical care field. As we have discussed in this article, there are a number of factors that go into the selection of a superior program. Phlebotomist training programs can be offered in a wide range of educational institutions, including community or junior colleges, vocational schools, and colleges and universities that provide an extensive array of courses in medical care and health sciences. Training program offerings can vary slightly across the country as each state has its own prerequisites when it comes to phlebotomy training, licensing and certification. The most important point is that you need to carefully screen 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 choices so that you can select the best program for you. And with the proper training, you can reach your goal of becoming a phlebotomy technician in Christiansburg VA.

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