Topics to Ask Phlebotomist Colleges<\/strong><\/h3>\nNow that you have a basic idea about what is involved in becoming a phlebotomy tech, it’s time to begin your due diligence process. You may have already decided on the kind of program you want to enroll in, whether it be for a certificate or a degree. As we previously mentioned, the location of the Alaska school is important as well as the tuition expense. Perhaps you have opted to enroll in an phlebotomy online school. Each of these decisions are an important part of the procedure for choosing a program or school. But they are not the only considerations when making your decision. Below we have provided several questions that you should ask about each of the Palmer AK colleges you are reviewing prior to making your ultimate selection.<\/p>\n
Is the Phlebotomist Program State Specific?<\/strong> As mentioned previously, each state has its own laws for practicing as a phlebotomist. Several states require certification, while a few others mandate licensing. Each has its own prerequisite regarding the minimum hours of practical training performed prior to practicing as a phlebotomy tech. As a result, you may have to pass a State Board, licensing or certification exam. Therefore it’s very important to enroll in a phlebotomy program that satisfies the state specific requirements for Alaska or the state where you will be practicing and readies you for any exams you may be required to take.<\/p>\nIs the Program Accredited?<\/strong> The phlebotomy program and school you pick should be accredited by a recognized 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 quality education. First, if your program has not received accreditation, you will not qualify to sit for a certification examination offered by any of the previously listed certifying agencies. Also, accreditation will help in getting financial aid or loans, which are frequently not available for non-accredited programs in Palmer AK. Last, graduating from an accredited college can make you more attractive to prospective employers in the job market.<\/p>\nWhat is the College’s Ranking?<\/strong> In many states there is little or no regulation of phlebotomist colleges, so there are some that are not of the highest caliber. So along with accreditation, it’s imperative to check the reputations of all schools you are looking at. You can begin by requesting references from the schools from employers where they place their graduates as part of their job placement program. You can screen internet school reviews and rating services and solicit the accrediting agencies for their reviews also. You can even contact a few Palmer AK area hospitals or clinics that you may have an interest in working for and see if they can offer any recommendations. As a final thought, you can contact the Alaska school licensing authority and ask if any grievances have been filed or if the colleges are in full compliance.<\/p>\nIs Sufficient Training Provided?<\/strong> To begin with, contact the Alaska regulator or the state regulator where you will be working to learn if there are any minimum requirements for the amount of training, both clinical and classroom. At a minimum, any Palmer AK phlebotomy program that you are looking at should provide at least 40 hours of classroom training (the majority require 120) and 120 hours of practical training. Anything lower than these minimums may indicate that the program is not comprehensive enough to furnish adequate training.<\/p>\nAre Internship Programs Included?<\/strong> Find out from the Alaska schools you are reviewing if they have an internship program in partnership with area health care facilities. They are the ideal way to receive hands-on clinical training frequently not available on campus. As an added benefit, internships can assist students develop contacts within the local Palmer AK medical community. And they look good on resumes also.<\/p>\nIs Job Placement Assistance Offered?<\/strong> Finding your first phlebotomy job will be much easier with the assistance 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 high rate, meaning they place the majority of their students in jobs, it’s an indication that the college has both an excellent reputation as well as a large network of professional contacts within the Palmer AK medical community.<\/p>\nAre Class Times Available as Needed?<\/strong> And last, it’s important to verify that the final school you choose offers classes at times that are compatible with your active schedule. This is particularly true if you choose to still work while attending school. If you can only attend classes at night or on weekends near Palmer AK, make sure they are offered at those times. Also, if you can only attend part-time, confirm 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 policy is should you need to miss any classes as a result of illness or emergencies.<\/p>\nWhy Did You Want to Be a Phlebotomy Technician?<\/strong><\/h3>\r\nWhen prepping to interview for a Phlebotomist position, it's advantageous to review questions you could be asked. One of the questions that recruiters frequently ask Phlebotomy Tech candidates is \"What compelled you to choose Phlebotomy as a profession?\". What the interviewer is trying to discover is not only the private reasons you may have for being Phlebotomy Tech, but also what attributes and talents you have that make you good at your profession. You will probably be asked questions pertaining exclusively to Phlebotomy, in addition to a significant number of general interview questions, so you must ready a number of strategies about how you want to respond to them. Since there are several variables that go into selecting a career, you can address this fundamental question in a number of ways. When formulating an answer, attempt to include the reasons the work interests you in addition to the strengths you possess that make you an excellent Phlebotomist and the best candidate for the job. Don't try to memorize an answer, but take down some concepts and talking points that relate to your personal strengths and experiences. Going over sample answers can help you to develop your own thoughts, and provide ideas of what to discuss to impress the recruiter.\nChoose the Right Phlebotomy Program near Palmer AK<\/strong><\/h3>\nMaking sure that you choose the ideal phlebotomist training is an important first step toward your success in this fulfilling health care career position. As we have covered in this article, there are multiple factors that go into the selection of a superior program. Phlebotomy certificate or degree programs are found in a wide range of academic institutions, including junior or community colleges, trade schools, and colleges and universities that provide a comprehensive range of courses in medical care and health sciences. Training program offerings may vary a bit from state to state as each state has its own prerequisites when it pertains to phlebotomist training, licensing and certification. The most important point is that you must thoroughly research and compare each school prior to making your final choice. By asking the questions that we have provided, you will be able to fine tune your choices so that you can pick the ideal school for you. And with the proper training, you can reach your goal of becoming a phlebotomist in Palmer AK<\/strong>.<\/p>\nLearn About Palmer Alaska<\/h3>\nPalmer, Alaska<\/h3>
Palmer is a city in and the borough seat of the Matanuska-Susitna Borough in the U.S. state of Alaska. It is part of the Anchorage Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2010 census, the population of the city is 5,937.<\/p>
The first people to live in the Matanuska Valley, where Palmer is located, were the Dena'ina and Ahtna Athabaskans. They moved throughout the area, living a subsistence lifestyle and trading with other native groups. Their trade routes were along the Matanuska River. Russians came to Alaska in 1741 and brought the Russian Orthodox religious tradition to the indigenous peoples of the region. In the early 1890s, an entrepreneur named George W. Palmer built a trading post on the Matanuska River, near present-day Palmer. The town was later named after Palmer.[4]<\/p>
In the late 19th century, the U.S. government began to take interest in the Matanuska coal fields located north of Palmer. This interest sparked financiers to consider constructing the Alaska Central Railroad in 1904. The advent of World War I created a need for high quality coal to fuel U.S. battleships, and by 1917 the US Navy had constructed rail from the port of Seward to the Chickaloon coal deposits. At the end of World War I, the U.S. Navy distributed land in the coal fields to war veterans and additional land was opened to homesteading. Farmers, miners and homesteaders began to populate the area. The Palmer Post Office was opened July 6, 1917 under the name of Warton. With railroad accessibility, new markets for agriculture began to open up for farmers in the Matanuska Valley.<\/p>
In one year, Palmer transformed from a mere whistle stop rail siding to a planned community with modern utilities and community services. Eleven million dollars from Federal Emergency Relief Administration was spent to create the town of Palmer and relocate 203 families from the hard hit Iron Range region of Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin. Families traveled by train and ship to Palmer, arriving in May 1935. Upon their arrival they were housed in a tent city during their first Alaskan summer. Each family drew lots for 40-acre (160,000\u00a0m2) tracts and their farming adventure began in earnest. The failure rate was high, but many of their descendants still live in the area and there are still many operating farms in the Palmer area, including the Vanderwheele and Wolverine farms. In 1971, the National Outdoor Leadership School started operating wilderness education courses in the nearby Talkeetna and Chugach mountain ranges from a local historic farmhouse, the Berry House, which is currently listed on the National Register of Historic Places.<\/p><\/div>\n
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