Find Phlebotomy Training Near Me in Radcliff KY 40159

Choosing a Phlebotomist School near Radcliff Kentucky

Radcliff KY phlebotomist taking blood sample Selecting the right phlebotomy training near Radcliff KY is a critical initial step toward a rewarding career as a phlebotomist. It might seem like a daunting task to investigate and compare each of the school options that are accessible to you. However it’s important that you complete your due diligence to make sure that you obtain a superior education. In fact, many students start their search by considering two of the qualifiers that initially come to mind, which are location and cost. Yet another factor you may consider is whether to attend online classes 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 much more to comparing phlebotomist training programs than locating the closest or the cheapest one. Other factors including reputation and accreditation are also significant considerations and need to be part of your selection process also. Toward that end, we will furnish a list of questions that you should ask each of the phlebotomy schools you are researching to help you choose the ideal one for you. But before we do that, let’s cover what a phlebotomist is and does, and afterwards continue our conversation about online classes.

Phlebotomy Tech Work Description

Radcliff KY phlebotomist holding blood sample A phlebotomist, or phlebotomy tech, collects blood samples from patients. While that is their primary function, there is in fact far more to their job description. Before drawing a blood sample, a phlebotomist needs to check that the tools being employed are single use only and sterile. After collection, the sample has to be properly labeled with the patient’s information. Next, paperwork needs to be properly completed to be able to track the sample from the point of collection through the lab testing process. The phlebotomist then transports the blood to either an in-house lab or to an outside lab facility where it can be screened for such things as pregnancy, infectious diseases or blood type. Some phlebotomists actually work in Radcliff KY area laboratories and are accountable for ensuring that samples are analyzed properly under the highest quality control procedures. And if those weren’t enough responsibilities, they might be called upon to instruct other phlebotomists in the collection, transport and follow-up process.

Where do Phlebotomists Work?

Radcliff KY diagnostic lab blood analysis The most basic answer is wherever patients are treated. Their work places are many and diverse, including Radcliff KY hospitals, medical clinics, nursing homes, or blood banks. They may be tasked to draw blood samples from patients of all ages, from babies or toddlers to senior citizens. Some phlebotomists, based on their practice and their training, specialize in drawing blood samples from a particular kind of patient. For example, 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 exclusively. On the other hand, phlebotomists practicing in a general hospital environment would be drawing blood from a wide variety of patients and would collect samples from new patients on a daily basis.

Phlebotomy Education, Licensing and Certification

Radcliff KY phlebotomy lab There are basically 2 kinds of programs that furnish phlebotomist training, which are certificate and degree programs. The certificate program generally takes under a year to finish and offers a general education as well as the training on how to draw blood. It provides the quickest method to becoming a phlebotomist. An Associate of Science Degree in Clinical Laboratory Science, even though it’s not specifically a phlebotomy degree, will provide training on becoming a phlebotomy tech. Offered at Radcliff KY junior and community colleges, they normally take 2 years to complete. Bachelor’s Degrees are less accessible and as a four year program offer a more expansive foundation in lab sciences. After you have completed your training, you will probably want to get certified. Although not required in most states, a number of Radcliff KY employers require certification before employing technicians. Some of the principal certifying organizations include:

National Phlebotomy Association
National Healthcareer Association (NHA).
American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP).
American Medical Technologists (AMT).

There are a few states that do require certification in order to practice as a phlebotomy tech, such as 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 supplies a quality education, but also prepares you for any licensing or certification exams that you elect or are required to take.

Online Phlebotomy Colleges

attending phlebotomy training classes online in Radcliff KY First, let’s dispel one potential misconception. You can’t get all of your phlebotomist training online. A significant part of the course of study will be practical training and it will be conducted either in an on-campus lab or an approved healthcare facility. Numerous courses also require completing an internship prior to graduation. But since the non-practical component of the training may be attended online, it can be a more convenient option for many Radcliff KY students. As an added benefit, some online schools are more affordable than their on-campus competitors. And some expenses, including those for textbooks or commuting, may be lowered as well. Just verify that the online phlebotomist program you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency (more on accreditation to follow). With both the comprehensive online and clinical training, you can receive a superior education with this method of learning. If you are dedicated enough to study at home, then attaining your certificate or degree online may be the ideal choice for you.

Subjects to Ask Phlebotomy Colleges

Since you now have a basic understanding about what it takes to become a phlebotomy tech, it’s time to initiate your due diligence process. You may have already decided on the kind of program you want to enroll in, whether it be for a degree or a certificate. As we mentioned earlier, the location of the campus is significant as well as the cost of tuition. Perhaps you have decided to enroll in an online phlebotomist school. All of these decisions are an important component of the process for picking a program or school. But they are not the sole considerations when arriving at your decision. Below we have provided some questions that you should ask about all of the Radcliff KY colleges you are considering prior to making your final selection.

Is the Phlebotomy Program State Specific? As previously mentioned, each state has its own requirements for practicing as a phlebotomist. Some states require certification, while a few others require licensing. Each has its own prerequisite regarding the minimum hours of practical training completed before working as a phlebotomist. Consequently, you might need to pass a State Board, licensing or certification exam. Therefore it’s very important to select a phlebotomy program that fulfills the state specific requirements for Kentucky or the state where you will be working and readies you for all exams you may have to take.

Is the Program Accredited? The phlebotomist program and school you choose should be accredited by a recognized national or regional accrediting agency, for example the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS). There are a number of benefits to graduating from an accredited program aside from an assurance of a quality education. To begin with, if your program has not received accreditation, you will not qualify to take a certification exam administered by any of the previously listed certifying organizations. Next, accreditation will help in securing financial aid or loans, which are frequently unavailable for non-accredited schools. Finally, graduating from an accredited school can make you more attractive to potential employers in the Radcliff KY job market.

What is the Program’s Reputation? In many states there is little or no regulation of phlebotomy schools, so there are some that are not of the highest caliber. So in addition to accreditation, it’s important to investigate the reputations of all colleges you are reviewing. You can start by requesting references from the schools from employers where they refer their graduates as part of their job placement program. You can screen online school rating and review services and ask the accrediting organizations for their reviews as well. You can even check with a few Radcliff KY clinics or hospitals that you might have an interest in working for and ask if they can provide any insights. As a closing thought, you can check with the Kentucky school licensing authority and find out if any complaints have been filed or if the schools are in full compliance.

Is Adequate Training Included? First, check with the state regulator where you will be working to find out if there are any minimum requirements for the length of training, both classroom and practical. As a minimum, any phlebotomy program that you are looking at should provide no less than 40 hours of classroom training (the majority require 120) and 120 hours of practical training. Anything below these minimums may indicate that the Radcliff KY training program is not comprehensive enough to provide adequate training.

Are Internships Sponsored? Ask the colleges you are considering if they have an internship program in collaboration with Radcliff KY medical facilities. They are the optimal way to get hands-on clinical training often not obtainable on campus. As an additional benefit, internships can assist students establish contacts within the local Radcliff medical community. And they are a plus on resumes also.

Is Job Placement Help Available? Getting your first phlebotomy position will be a lot easier with the help of a job placement program. Find out if the schools you are considering provide assistance and what their job placement rate is. If a college has a high rate, meaning they place the majority of their students in positions, it’s an indication that the college has both an excellent reputation along with a large network of professional contacts within the Radcliff KY healthcare community.

Are Classes Conveniently Scheduled? Finally, it’s crucial to make sure that the ultimate school you pick offers classes at times that will accommodate your busy schedule. This is especially true if you opt to continue working while going to school. If you can only go to classes in the evenings or on weekends near Radcliff KY, make certain they are available 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 practical training requirement, make certain 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 because of emergencies or illness.

Considering Phlebotomy Training near Radcliff KY?

Radcliff, Kentucky

Radcliff is a home rule-class city[3] in Hardin County, Kentucky, in the United States. The population was 21,692 at the 2010 census,[4] and in 2016 the estimated population was 22,490.[2] It is included in the Elizabethtown–Fort Knox Metropolitan Area.

Its economy is largely dominated by the adjacent U.S. Army base Fort Knox and by the nearby city of Elizabethtown. Radcliff's population previously fluctuated greatly depending on the deployments of the units at the base, but the BRAC reorganization of 2005, and the quartering of the U.S. Army's Human Resources Command to Fort Knox has created a larger and more stable population.[5]

Radcliff is in northern Hardin County at 37°49′48″N 85°56′44″W / 37.83000°N 85.94556°W / 37.83000; -85.94556 (37.829918, -85.945541).[6] It is bordered to the north by Fort Knox and to the west by Vine Grove. U.S. Route 31W runs through the east side of the city, leading north 34 miles (55 km) to Louisville and south 11 miles (18 km) to Elizabethtown.

According to the United States Census Bureau, Radcliff has a total area of 12.4 square miles (32.2 km2), of which 12.4 square miles (32.1 km2) are land and 0.04 square miles (0.1 km2), or 0.25%, are water.[4]

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Choose the Right Phlebotomy College near Radcliff KY

Making sure that you pick the right phlebotomist training is a critical first step toward your success in this fulfilling healthcare career position. As we have discussed in this article, there are multiple factors that contribute toward the selection of a superior college. Phlebotomist training programs are available in a variety of academic institutes, such as community or junior colleges, trade schools, and colleges and universities that provide a wide assortment of courses in healthcare and medical sciences. Program offerings may vary slightly across the country as each state has its own criteria when it pertains to phlebotomy training, certification and licensing. The most critical point is that you need to thoroughly evaluate and compare each college prior to making your final decision. By asking the questions that we have presented, you will be able to narrow down your options so that you can select the best college for you. And with the proper training, you can achieve your goal of becoming a phlebotomy technician in Radcliff KY.