Selecting a Phlebotomy Technician School near Cottonwood Falls Kansas
Enrolling in the right phlebotomist training near Cottonwood Falls KS is an important first step toward a gratifying career as a phlebotomist. It may seem like a daunting undertaking to investigate and compare each of the training alternatives that are accessible to you. Nevertheless it’s important that you complete your due diligence to make sure that you receive a superior education. In fact, a large number of students begin their search by looking at 2 of the qualifiers that initially come to mind, which are cost and location. An additional factor you might consider is whether to attend classes online or commute to a local campus. We’ll review more about online schools later in this article. What’s important to remember is that there is far more to checking out phlebotomy training programs than locating the cheapest or the closest one. Other variables such as reputation and accreditation are also important considerations and should be part of your decision process also. Toward that end, we will furnish a list of questions that you should ask each of the phlebotomist schools you are reviewing to help you choose the best one for you. But before we do that, let’s address what a phlebotomist is and does, and afterwards continue our conversation about online classes.
Phlebotomy Tech Work Summary
A phlebotomist, or phlebotomy technician, draws blood from patients. Although that is their principal task, there is in fact so much more to their job description. Prior to drawing a blood sample, a phlebotomist must confirm that the tools being used are single use only and sterile. Following the collection, the sample must be properly labeled with the patient’s data. Next, paperwork has to be correctly filled out to be able to track the sample from the time of collection through the lab testing process. The phlebotomist then transports the blood to either an an outside lab facility or an in-house lab where it can be screened for such things as infectious diseases, pregnancy or blood type. A number of phlebotomists actually work in Cottonwood Falls KS area labs and are responsible for making certain that samples are tested correctly utilizing the strictest quality assurance procedures. And if those weren’t enough duties, they can be required to train other phlebotomists in the drawing, transport and follow-up process.
Where do Phlebotomists Work?
The most basic answer is wherever patients are treated. Their workplaces are numerous and diverse, such as Cottonwood Falls KS hospitals, medical clinics, nursing homes, or blood banks. They can be tasked to draw blood samples from patients of all ages, from infants or toddlers to senior citizens. A number of phlebotomists, depending on their training and their practice, specialize in collecting blood samples from a specific type of patient. For example, those working in an assisted living facility or nursing home would solely be collecting blood from older patients. If they are practicing in a maternity ward, they would be collecting blood from mothers and newborns solely. On the other hand, phlebotomists practicing in a general hospital environment would be collecting blood from a wide range of patients and would work with new patients every day.
Phlebotomist Training, Certification and Licensing
There are essentially 2 kinds of programs that offer phlebotomist training, which are degree and certificate programs. The certificate program normally takes under a year to finish and provides a basic education along with the training on how to draw blood. It provides the quickest means to becoming a phlebotomist. An Associate of Science Degree in Clinical Laboratory Science, although not exclusively a phlebotomy degree, will incorporate training on becoming a phlebotomist. Offered at Cottonwood Falls KS community and junior colleges, they typically take two years to complete. Bachelor’s Degrees are less available and as a 4 year program offer a more comprehensive background in lab sciences. Once you have completed your training, you will probably want to become certified. While not required in most states, most Cottonwood Falls KS employers require certification prior to employing technicians. A few of the primary certifying organizations 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 phlebotomist, including California and Nevada. California and a few additional states even require licensing. So it’s important that you enroll in a phlebotomist training program that not only provides a premium education, but also prepares you for any licensing or certification exams that you are required or elect to take.
Online Phlebotomy Schools
To begin with, let’s resolve one potential misconception. You can’t obtain all of your phlebotomy training online. A good portion of the curriculum will be clinical training and it will be conducted either in an approved healthcare facility or an on-campus lab. Many courses also require completing an internship prior to graduation. But since the non-clinical portion of the training can be accessed online, it can be a more convenient alternative for some Cottonwood Falls KS 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 commuting or textbooks, may be minimized also. Just make sure that the online phlebotomist program you enroll in is accredited by a national or regional accrediting organization (more on accreditation later). With both the comprehensive online and clinical training, you can obtain a quality education with this means of learning. If you are disciplined enough to learn at home, then obtaining your degree or certificate online may be the best choice for you.
Subjects to Ask Phlebotomy Schools
Since you now have a general understanding about what it takes to become a phlebotomist, it’s time to start your due diligence process. You might have already picked the type of program you intend to enroll in, whether it be for a certificate or a degree. As we previously mentioned, the location of the college is significant in addition to the cost of tuition. Possibly you have decided to enroll in an online phlebotomist program. Each of these decisions are an important part of the procedure for picking a program or school. But they are not the only concerns when making your decision. Following are several questions that you need to ask about each of the Cottonwood Falls KS programs you are considering prior to making your final decision.
Is the Phlebotomy Program Specific to Kansas? As previously mentioned, each state has its own laws for practicing as a phlebotomist. Some states require certification, while a few others mandate licensing. Each has its own prerequisite regarding the minimum hours of clinical training completed before practicing as a phlebotomy tech. Consequently, you might have to pass a State Board, certification or licensing exam. Therefore it’s very important to select a phlebotomy program that fulfills the state specific requirements for Kansas or the state where you will be practicing and preps you for all exams you may have to take.
Is the School Accredited? The phlebotomist school and program you pick should be accredited by a reputable national or regional accrediting agency, such as the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS). There are a number of advantages to graduating from an accredited program aside from an assurance of a quality education. First, if your program is not accredited, you will not be able to sit for a certification exam administered by any of the previously listed certifying agencies. Next, accreditation will help in obtaining loans or financial assistance, which are often unavailable for non-accredited colleges. Finally, graduating from an accredited school can make you more desirable to prospective employers in the Cottonwood Falls KS job market.
What is the Program’s Reputation? In numerous states there is little or no regulation of phlebotomist schools, so there are some that are not of the highest quality. So in addition to accreditation, it’s imperative to investigate the reputations of any colleges you are looking at. You can start by requesting references from the schools from employers where they place their graduates as part of their job assistance program. You can research online school rating and review services and ask the accrediting agencies for their reviews as well. You can also check with a few Cottonwood Falls KS hospitals or clinics that you might have an interest in working for and see if they can provide any insights. As a closing thought, you can contact the Kansas school licensing authority and ask if any grievances have been filed or if the schools are in total compliance.
Is Enough Training Included? First, check with 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. At a minimum, any phlebotomist program that you are considering should furnish no less than 40 hours of classroom training (most require 120) and 120 hours of practical training. Anything less than these minimums may signify that the Cottonwood Falls KS training program is not comprehensive enough to offer sufficient training.
Are Internship Programs Sponsored? Find out from the schools you are reviewing if they have an internship program in partnership with Cottonwood Falls KS healthcare facilities. They are the ideal means to receive hands-on clinical training often not provided on campus. As an added benefit, internships can assist students develop contacts within the local Cottonwood Falls medical community. And they are a plus on resumes as well.
Is Job Placement Support Offered? Landing your first phlebotomist position will be a lot easier with the help of a job placement program. Find out if the programs you are considering provide assistance and what their job placement rate is. If a college has a higher rate, signifying they place the majority of their students in positions, it’s an indication that the school has both a good reputation as well as a substantial network of professional contacts within the Cottonwood Falls KS medical community.
Are Classes Offered to Fit Your Schedule? Finally, it’s critical to confirm that the ultimate program you pick provides classes at times that are compatible with your busy schedule. This is particularly important if you choose to still work while going to school. If you can only attend classes in the evenings or on weekends near Cottonwood Falls KS, make sure they are available at those times. Also, if you can only attend on a part-time basis, confirm it is an option as well. Even if you have decided to study online, with the practical training requirement, make sure those hours can also be completed within your schedule. And find out what the make-up policy is should you have to miss any classes as a result of illness or emergencies.
Considering Phlebotomy Training near Cottonwood Falls KS?
Cottonwood Falls, Kansas
For many millennia, the Great Plains of North America was inhabited by nomadic Native Americans. From the 16th century to 18th century, the Kingdom of France claimed ownership of large parts of North America. In 1762, after the French and Indian War, France secretly ceded New France to Spain, per the Treaty of Fontainebleau.
In 1802, Spain returned most of the land to France. In 1803, most of the land for modern day Kansas was acquired by the United States from France as part of the 828,000 square mile Louisiana Purchase for 2.83 cents per acre.
In 1854, the Kansas Territory was organized, then in 1861 Kansas became the 34th U.S. state. In 1859, Chase County was established within the Kansas Territory, which included the land for modern day Cottonwood Falls.
The first settlement in the area of Cottonwood Falls was in 1854, when an Indian trader named Seth Hayes founded a cattle ranch on the Cottonwood River close to the mouth of Diamond Spring Creek. The area around the town was organized as Chase County in 1859, and Cottonwood Falls was designated the temporary county seat.[7] Other early settlers arrived in Cottonwood and surrounding lands in 1856 to 1858.[8]
Enroll in the Ideal Phlebotomy Training Program near Cottonwood Falls KS
Making sure that you pick the most suitable phlebotomy training is an essential first step toward your success in this fulfilling medical care career position. As we have addressed in this article, there are multiple factors that contribute toward the selection of a quality school. Phlebotomist certificate or degree programs are found in a wide range of academic institutes, including junior or community colleges, trade schools, and colleges and universities that provide an extensive range of programs in healthcare and medical sciences. Training program offerings can vary a bit across the country as every state has its own mandates when it comes to phlebotomist training, certification and licensing. The most important point is that you need to carefully screen and compare each school before making your final decision. By addressing the questions that we have furnished, you will be able to fine tune your options so that you can pick the ideal program for you. And with the appropriate training, you can realize your goal of becoming a phlebotomist in Cottonwood Falls KS.
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