Selecting a Phlebotomist Training Course near Jonesboro Louisiana
Picking the ideal phlebotomy technician school near Jonesboro LA is an essential first step toward a rewarding career as a phlebotomist. It might seem like a challenging undertaking to evaluate and compare each of the training alternatives that are available to you. However it’s vital that you do your due diligence to make sure that you obtain a superior education. In fact, many prospective students start the process by considering 2 of the qualifiers that first come to mind, which are cost and location. Another factor you may consider is whether to attend online classes or commute to a nearby campus. We’ll talk more about online classes later in this article. What’s important to keep in mind is that there is a lot more to checking out phlebotomy training programs than finding the cheapest or the closest one. Other factors such as accreditation and reputation are also significant considerations and must be part of your decision process as well. To assist in that effort, we will supply a list of questions that you need to ask each of the phlebotomist schools you are researching to help you select 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.
Phlebotomy Technician Career Description
A phlebotomist, or phlebotomy tech, draws blood from patients. While that is their main task, there is actually so much more to their job description. Before drawing a blood sample, a phlebotomist needs to confirm that the instruments being used are single use only and sterile. After collection, the sample must be accurately labeled with the patient’s data. Afterward, paperwork must be properly completed to be able to track the sample from the time of collection through the laboratory testing procedure. The phlebotomist then delivers the blood to either an in-house lab or to an outside lab facility where it may be tested for such things as pregnancy, infectious diseases or blood type. A number of phlebotomists actually work in Jonesboro LA area laboratories and are responsible for ensuring that samples are tested correctly using the highest quality control procedures. And if those weren’t enough responsibilities, they can be asked to train other phlebotomists in the collection, transport and follow-up process.
Where are Phlebotomists Employed?
The easiest response is wherever patients are treated. Their work environments are numerous and varied, including Jonesboro LA hospitals, medical clinics, long-term care facilities, or blood banks. They can be charged to draw blood samples from patients of all ages, from babies or young children to seniors. Some phlebotomists, based on their training and their practice, specialize in drawing blood samples from a specific kind of patient. For instance, those working in an assisted living facility or nursing home would exclusively be collecting blood from older patients. If they are practicing in a maternity ward, they would be drawing blood from mothers and newborns solely. In contrast, phlebotomy technicians working in a general hospital setting would be drawing blood from a wide variety of patients and would collect samples from different patients on a daily basis.
Phlebotomist Education, Certification and Licensing
There are basically 2 types of programs that offer phlebotomist training, which are certificate and degree programs. The certificate program usually takes under a year to complete and furnishes a general education as well as the training on how to draw blood. It offers the fastest route to becoming a phlebotomist. An Associate of Science Degree in Clinical Laboratory Science, even though it’s not exclusively a phlebotomy degree, will incorporate training to become a phlebotomy tech. Offered at Jonesboro LA junior and community colleges, they normally require 2 years to complete. Bachelor’s Degrees are less accessible and as a four year program furnish a more extensive background in lab sciences. After you have completed your training, you will no doubt want to be certified. Although not mandated in the majority of states, a number of Jonesboro LA employers require certification before employing technicians. A few of the key 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 require certification in order to practice as a phlebotomy tech, including California and Nevada. California and a handful of additional states even require licensing. So it’s imperative that you choose a phlebotomy training program that not only provides a superior education, but also readies you for any certification or licensing exams that you are required or elect to take.
Phlebotomist Online Training
First, let’s dispel one potential mistaken belief. You can’t receive all of your phlebotomist training online. A good part of the program of studies will be clinical training and it will be carried out either in an approved healthcare facility or an on-campus lab. A large number of courses also require completing an internship in order to graduate. However since the non-clinical part of the training may be attended online, it can be a more convenient alternative for many Jonesboro LA students. As an additional benefit, some online colleges are more affordable than their on-campus counterparts. And some costs, including those for textbooks or commuting, may be reduced also. Just make sure that the online phlebotomist school you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization (more on accreditation later). With both the extensive clinical and online training, you can receive a quality education with this approach to learning. If you are dedicated enough to study at home, then attaining your degree or certificate online might be the ideal option for you.
What to Ask Phlebotomy Schools
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 decided on the kind of program you intend to enroll in, whether it be for a certificate or a degree. As we previously mentioned, the location of the school is important in addition to the tuition expense. Maybe you have decided to enroll in an online phlebotomy program. Each of these decisions are a critical part of the process for choosing a school or program. But they are not the only concerns when making your decision. Following are a few questions that you should ask about each of the Jonesboro LA colleges you are reviewing prior to making your ultimate selection.
Is the Phlebotomist Program State Specific? As previously mentioned, each state has its own regulations for practicing as a phlebotomist. Some states require certification, while some others mandate licensing. Every state has its own prerequisite regarding the minimum hours of practical training completed prior to practicing as a phlebotomist. As a result, you may have to pass a State Board, licensing or certification examination. Therefore it’s very important to choose a phlebotomy program that meets the state specific requirements for Louisiana or the state where you will be working and prepares you for all exams you may be required to take.
Is the Program Accredited? The phlebotomy school and program you pick should be accredited by a highly regarded regional or national accrediting agency, such as the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS). There are a number of advantages to graduating from an accredited school in addition to an assurance of a quality education. To begin with, if your program is not accredited, you will not qualify to take a certification exam administered by any of the previously listed certifying agencies. Also, accreditation will help in obtaining loans or financial assistance, which are typically not available for non-accredited programs. Finally, earning a certificate or a degree from an accredited school can make you more attractive to prospective employers in the Jonesboro LA job market.
What is the College’s Reputation? In a number of states there is little or no regulation of phlebotomy colleges, so there are some that are not of the highest caliber. So in addition to accreditation, it’s imperative to check out the reputations of any schools you are considering. 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 solicit the accrediting agencies for their reviews as well. You can even talk to some Jonesboro LA hospitals or clinics that you may be interested in working for and ask if they can provide any recommendations. As a closing thought, you can check with the Louisiana school licensing authority and find out if any grievances have been submitted or if the schools are in full compliance.
Is Enough Training Provided? To begin with, check with 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 phlebotomist program that you are reviewing should furnish at least 40 hours of classroom training (the majority require 120) and 120 hours of clinical training. Anything below these minimums may indicate that the Jonesboro LA training program is not expansive enough to offer adequate training.
Are Internships Included? Ask the programs you are considering if they have an internship program in partnership with Jonesboro LA healthcare facilities. They are the ideal means to obtain hands-on practical training frequently not obtainable on campus. As an added benefit, internships can help students establish relationships within the local Jonesboro health care community. And they are a plus on resumes as well.
Is Job Placement Help Offered? Finding your first phlebotomist 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 rate is. If a school has a high rate, signifying they place most of their students in positions, it’s an indication that the college has both an excellent reputation together with a large network of professional contacts within the Jonesboro LA medical community.
Are Classes Available as Needed? Finally, it’s critical to make sure that the final program you select provides classes at times that will accommodate your hectic lifestyle. This is particularly important if you opt to still work while attending college. If you can only attend classes at night or on weekends near Jonesboro LA, make sure they are offered at those times. Also, if you can only attend part-time, verify it is an option also. And if you have decided to attend 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.
Considering Phlebotomy Training near Jonesboro LA?
Jonesboro, Louisiana
Jonesboro is a town in and the parish seat of Jackson Parish in the northern portion of the U.S. state of Louisiana.[3] The population was 3,914 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Ruston Micropolitan Statistical Area.
Jonesboro was an industrial mill town, founded in the early 20th century in northern Louisiana. During the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s, whites violently resisted African-American efforts to gain their constitutional rights as citizens, even after passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The Ku Klux Klan, which was active in the area, conducted what was called a "reign of terror" in 1964, including harassment of activists, "the burning of crosses on the lawns of African-American voters," murder, and destroying five black churches by fire, as well as their Masonic hall, and a Baptist center.[4][5]
In November 1964 leaders Earnest "Chilly Willy" Thomas and Frederick Douglass Kirkpatrick, the latter ordained that year as a minister of the Church of God in Christ), founded the Deacons for Defense and Justice in Jonesboro. It was an armed self-defense group, made up of mostly mature men who were veterans of World War II and the Korean War. At night, they conducted regular patrols of the black community in the city, which occupied an area known as "the Quarters."[5][4] They protected civil rights activists and their families during and outside demonstrations. At the request of activists in Bogalusa, Louisiana, another mill town where blacks were under pressure by violent whites, Thomas and Kirkpatrick helped found an affiliated chapter in that city.[5] Ultimately there were 21 chapters in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama, operating through 1968. In Jonesboro, the Deacons achieved some changes, such as integrating parks and a swimming pool. Activists achieved more after congressional passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and their entry into politics.
Jonesboro is located at 32°14′23″N 92°42′41″W / 32.23972°N 92.71139°W / 32.23972; -92.71139 (32.239611, -92.711501).[6] According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 4.9 square miles (13 km2), of which 4.8 square miles (12 km2) is land and 0.04 square miles (0.10 km2) (0.82%) is water.
Find the Best Phlebotomist School near Jonesboro LA
Making certain that you pick the most suitable phlebotomist training is an important first step toward your success in this fulfilling health care career position. As we have discussed in this article, there are multiple factors that contribute toward the selection of a superior program. Phlebotomist training programs are available in a number of educational institutes, such as community or junior colleges, trade schools, and colleges and universities that offer an extensive array of courses in healthcare and medical sciences. Program options can differ slightly across the country as every state has its own criteria when it comes to phlebotomy training, licensing and certification. The most critical point is that you must thoroughly research and compare each college before making your ultimate selection. By addressing the questions that we have furnished, you will be able to fine tune your choices so that you can pick the best program for you. And with the proper education, you can achieve your goal of becoming a phlebotomy technician in Jonesboro LA.
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