Picking a Phlebotomy Technician Training Program near Ft Mitchell Kentucky
Selecting the ideal phlebotomist school near Ft Mitchell KY is an important initial step toward a rewarding profession as a phlebotomist. It might seem like a challenging undertaking to evaluate and compare all of the training alternatives that are available to you. Nevertheless it’s vital that you do your due diligence to ensure that you receive a quality education. In fact, many students start the process by looking at 2 of the qualifiers that initially come to mind, which are cost and location. Yet another factor you might look into is whether to attend online classes or commute to a nearby campus. We’ll review more about online schools later in this article. What you need to remember is that there is a lot more to comparing phlebotomist training programs than locating the closest or the cheapest one. Other factors such as accreditation and reputation are also important considerations and should be part of your selection process too. Toward that end, we will supply a list of questions that you should ask each of the phlebotomy schools you are reviewing to help you select the ideal one for you. But prior to doing that, let’s cover what a phlebotomist is and does, and afterwards resume our discussion about online classes.
Phlebotomy Tech Job Summary
A phlebotomist, or phlebotomy technician, draws blood from patients. Although that is their primary function, there is in fact far more to their job description. Prior to collecting a blood sample, a phlebotomist must verify that the tools being employed are sterile and single use only. After collection, the sample must be accurately labeled with the patient’s information. Next, paperwork has to be accurately filled out in order to track the sample from the time of collection through the lab screening process. The phlebotomist then delivers the blood to either an in-house lab or to an outside lab facility where it may be screened for such things as pregnancy, infectious diseases or blood type. Some phlebotomists in fact work in Ft Mitchell KY area laboratories and are in charge of making certain that samples are analyzed correctly using the strictest quality control procedures. And if those weren’t sufficient duties, they might be asked to instruct other phlebotomists in the drawing, delivery and follow-up process.
Where do Phlebotomists Practice?
The easiest response is wherever there are patients. Their workplaces are many and diverse, such as Ft Mitchell KY medical clinics, hospitals, long-term care facilities, or blood centers. They can be charged to draw blood samples from patients of of every age, from babies or toddlers to seniors. A number of phlebotomy techs, based on their training and their practice, specialize in collecting blood from a certain kind of patient. For example, those practicing in a nursing home or assisted living facility would only be drawing 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 setting would be collecting samples from a wide variety of patients and would collect samples from different patients every day.
Phlebotomy Technician Education, Certification and Licensing
There are primarily 2 types of programs that offer phlebotomy training, which are certificate and degree programs. The certificate program generally takes less than a year to complete and provides a general education together with the training on how to draw blood. It offers the fastest means to becoming a phlebotomist. An Associate of Science Degree in Clinical Laboratory Science, although not specifically a phlebotomist degree, will provide training to become a phlebotomist. Available at Ft Mitchell KY junior and community colleges, they typically require two years to complete. Bachelor’s Degrees are not as accessible and as a 4 year program offer a more comprehensive background in lab sciences. After you have finished your training, you will probably want to become certified. Although not mandated in the majority of states, most Ft Mitchell KY employers look for certification before employing technicians. A few 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 several states that do require certification in order to practice as a phlebotomy tech, like Nevada and California. California and a few additional states even require licensing. So it’s important that you choose a phlebotomist training program that not only provides a quality education, but also readies you for any licensing or certification exams that you elect or are required to take.
Online Phlebotomist Certificates and Degrees
First, let’s dispel one potential misconception. You can’t get all of your phlebotomist training online. A significant component of the program of studies will be practical 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. However since the non-clinical part of the training may be attended online, it could be a more convenient option for some Ft Mitchell KY students. As an additional benefit, some online schools are more affordable than their on-campus counterparts. And some expenses, such as those for textbooks or commuting, may be lowered also. Just verify that the online phlebotomist program you choose is accredited by a national or regional accrediting organization (more on accreditation later). With both the extensive online and clinical training, you can receive a superior education with this method of learning. If you are dedicated enough to learn at home, then attaining your certificate or degree online may be the right option for you.
Questions to Ask Phlebotomy Schools
Now that you have a basic idea about what is involved in becoming a phlebotomy tech, it’s time to start your due diligence process. You might have already selected 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 school is significant as well as the cost of tuition. Perhaps you have decided to enroll in an phlebotomy online college. All of these decisions are an important part of the procedure for picking 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 each of the Ft Mitchell KY colleges you are considering before making your final selection.
Is the Phlebotomist Program Specific to Kentucky? As previously mentioned, each state has its own regulations for practicing as a phlebotomy technician. Some states call for certification, while some others require licensing. Each has its own requirement regarding the minimum hours of practical training completed prior to working as a phlebotomy tech. As a result, you may need to pass a State Board, licensing or certification examination. Therefore it’s extremely important to choose a phlebotomy program that meets the state specific requirements for Kentucky or the state where you will be practicing and readies you for any exams you may have to take.
Is the Program Accredited? The phlebotomy program and school you pick should be accredited by a reputable regional or national accrediting agency, for example the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS). There are a number of benefits to graduating from an accredited school in addition to a guarantee of a quality education. First, if your program is not accredited, you will not qualify to sit for a certification examination offered by any of the earlier listed certifying agencies. Also, accreditation will help in obtaining loans or financial assistance, which are frequently unavailable for non-accredited colleges. Finally, graduating from an accredited school can make you more attractive to future employers in the Ft Mitchell KY job market.
What is the Program’s Reputation? 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 investigate the reputations of all schools you are looking at. You can start by asking the schools for references from employers where they place their students as part of their job assistance program. You can screen internet school rating and review services and solicit the accrediting organizations for their reviews also. You can also contact some Ft Mitchell KY hospitals or clinics that you might be interested in working for and ask if they can offer any insights. As a closing thought, you can check with the Kentucky school licensing authority and ask if any grievances have been submitted or if the schools are in full compliance.
Is Enough Training Included? To begin with, contact the state regulator where you will be working to learn if there are any minimum requirements for the length of training, both classroom and practical. At a minimum, any phlebotomy program that you are considering should furnish at least 40 hours of classroom training (most require 120) and 120 hours of practical training. Anything lower than these minimums may signify that the Ft Mitchell KY training program is not expansive enough to provide sufficient training.
Are Internship Programs Sponsored? Find out from the colleges you are reviewing if they have an internship program in partnership with Ft Mitchell KY medical facilities. They are the ideal way to get hands-on clinical training frequently not obtainable on campus. As an additional benefit, internships can help students establish relationships within the local Ft Mitchell health care community. And they look good on resumes as well.
Is Job Placement Assistance Available? Getting your first phlebotomy job will be a lot easier with the support of a job placement program. Find out if the programs you are reviewing 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 school has both a good reputation together with an extensive network of professional contacts within the Ft Mitchell KY healthcare community.
Are Classes Offered to Fit Your Schedule? And last, it’s critical to make sure that the final college you select provides classes at times that will accommodate your hectic lifestyle. This is particularly true if you opt to continue working while attending school. If you can only go to classes at night or on weekends near Ft Mitchell KY, make sure they are available at those times. Also, if you can only attend on a part-time basis, verify it is an option also. And if you have decided to attend online, with the clinical training requirement, make certain those hours can also be fulfilled within your schedule. And ask what the make-up procedure is in case you have to miss any classes because of emergencies or illness.
Considering Phlebotomy Training near Ft Mitchell KY?
Fort Mitchell, Kentucky
Fort Mitchell was the site of one of seven Civil War fortifications built for the Defense of Cincinnati. The community was named for General Ormsby M. Mitchel, a professor at Cincinnati College (now the University of Cincinnati) who designed the fortifications.[4]
Fort Mitchell is home to Beechwood Independent School District, a public K-12 institution and Blessed Sacrament, a Catholic K-8 institution. Beechwood High School was ranked #333 on the U.S. News & World Report 2015 list of best high schools nationwide.
As of the census of 2010,[7] there were 8,207 people, 3,530 households, and 2,033 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,581.8 people per square mile (997.8/km²). There were 3,744 housing units at an average density of 1,195.0 per square mile (461.8/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 96.87% White, 0.99% African American, 0.10% Native American, 0.80% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.47% from other races, and 0.74% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.85% of the population.
There were 3,446 households out of which 28.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.2% were married couples living together, 9.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 42.4% were non-families. 35.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.29 and the average family size was 3.05.
Find the Ideal Phlebotomist Training Program near Ft Mitchell KY
Making certain that you enroll in the right phlebotomist training is an essential first step toward your success in this fulfilling healthcare career position. As we have addressed in this article, there are several factors that contribute toward the selection of a quality program. Phlebotomy training programs are available in a variety of educational institutes, including community or junior colleges, vocational schools, and colleges and universities that provide a wide range of courses in medical care and health sciences. Course offerings may differ slightly from state to state as each state has its own criteria when it pertains to phlebotomist training, licensing and certification. The most important point is that you must thoroughly research and compare each college before making your final selection. By asking the questions that we have presented, you will be able to fine tune your choices so that you can pick the ideal program for you. And with the proper training, you can achieve your goal of becoming a phlebotomy technician in Ft Mitchell KY.
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