Find Phlebotomy Training Near Me in Metairie LA 70001

Picking a Phlebotomist School near Metairie Louisiana

Metairie LA phlebotomist taking blood sample Enrolling in the right phlebotomy technician school near Metairie LA is an important initial step toward a fulfilling career as a phlebotomist. It may seem like a difficult undertaking to investigate and compare all of the training options that are available to you. However it’s necessary that you perform your due diligence to ensure that you get a superior education. In fact, a large number of students begin the process by looking at two of the qualifiers that first come to mind, which are cost and location. An additional factor you might look into is whether to attend online classes or commute to a local campus. We’ll discuss a bit more about online classes later in this article. What’s important to keep in mind is that there is far more to comparing phlebotomist training programs than finding the cheapest or the closest one. Other factors 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 phlebotomy schools you are reviewing to help you choose the right one for you. But before we do that, let’s cover what a phlebotomist is and does, and afterwards resume our conversation about online classes.

Phlebotomy Tech Work Summary

Metairie LA phlebotomist holding blood sample A phlebotomist, or phlebotomy technician, collects blood samples from patients. Although that is their primary task, there is in fact so much more to their job description. Prior to collecting a blood sample, a phlebotomist has to check that the instruments being used are single use only and sterile. After collection, the sample needs to be correctly labeled with the patient’s information. Afterward, paperwork has to be properly filled out to be able to track the sample from the point of collection through the lab screening 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 pregnancy, infectious diseases or blood type. A number of phlebotomists in fact work in Metairie LA area laboratories and are in charge of making sure that samples are analyzed correctly utilizing the highest quality assurance procedures. And if those weren’t sufficient responsibilities, they may be asked to instruct other phlebotomists in the drawing, delivery and follow-up process.

Where are Phlebotomists Employed?

Metairie LA diagnostic lab blood analysis The easiest answer is wherever there are patients. Their workplaces are numerous and diverse, such as Metairie LA hospitals, medical clinics, nursing homes, or blood banks. They may be charged to draw blood samples from patients of all ages, from infants or young children to seniors. A number of phlebotomists, depending on their practice and their training, specialize in collecting blood from a certain kind of patient. For example, those practicing in a nursing home or assisted living facility would exclusively be drawing blood from elderly patients. If they are working in a maternity ward, they would be collecting blood from newborns and mothers solely. In contrast, phlebotomists working in a general hospital environment would be collecting blood from a wide variety of patients and would collect samples from new patients on a daily basis.

Phlebotomist Education, Certification and Licensing

Metairie LA phlebotomy lab There are basically 2 kinds of programs that offer phlebotomist training, which are certificate and degree programs. The certificate program typically takes less than a year to complete and furnishes a basic education as well as the training on how to draw blood. It provides the quickest means to becoming a phlebotomy tech. An Associate of Science Degree in Clinical Laboratory Science, although not exclusively a phlebotomy degree, will incorporate training on becoming a phlebotomist. Offered at Metairie LA junior and community colleges, they usually require two years to finish. Bachelor’s Degrees are not as available and as a 4 year program offer a more extensive foundation in lab sciences. Once you have finished your training, you will no doubt want to become certified. Although not required in most states, many Metairie LA employers look for certification prior to hiring technicians. A few of the main 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 call for certification in order to practice as a phlebotomist, such as California and Nevada. California and a few additional states even require licensing. So it’s important that you enroll in a phlebotomy training program that not only furnishes a quality education, but also readies you for any licensing or certification examinations that you elect or are required to take.

Phlebotomy Online Certificates and Degrees

attending phlebotomy training classes online in Metairie LA To begin with, let’s dispel one potential mistaken belief. You can’t receive all of your phlebotomy training online. A good portion of the program of studies will be clinical training and it will be performed either in an on-campus lab or an approved healthcare facility. Many courses also require completing an internship prior to graduation. But since the non-clinical part of the training can be accessed online, it could be a more practical option for many Metairie LA students. As an additional benefit, a number of online classes are more affordable than their on-campus counterparts. And some costs, including those for commuting or textbooks, may be lowered as well. Just make sure that the online phlebotomist college 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 premium education with this method of learning. If you are dedicated enough to study at home, then obtaining your degree or certificate online may be the ideal option for you.

Points to Ask Phlebotomy Colleges

Since you now have a basic understanding about what it takes to become 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 degree or a certificate. As we previously mentioned, the location of the school is important as well as the cost of tuition. Possibly you have decided to enroll in an phlebotomy online program. Each of these decisions are an important part of the procedure for picking a program or school. But they are not the sole concerns when arriving at your decision. Following are some questions that you need to ask about all of the Metairie LA schools you are reviewing before making your final decision.

Is the Phlebotomy Program Specific to Your State? As mentioned previously, each state has its own requirements for practicing as a phlebotomy technician. Several states require certification, while some others mandate licensing. Every state has its own requirement regarding the minimum hours of clinical training completed before practicing as a phlebotomist. As a result, you may need to pass a State Board, certification or licensing examination. Therefore it’s very important to enroll in a phlebotomy program that fulfills the state specific requirements for Louisiana or the state where you will be practicing and prepares you for any exams you may have to take.

Is the College Accredited? The phlebotomy school and program you choose should be accredited by a highly regarded regional or national accrediting organization, for example the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS). There are a number of advantages to graduating from an accredited program aside from a guarantee of a superior education. To begin with, if your program is not accredited, you will not qualify to sit for a certification examination administered by any of the previously listed certifying organizations. Also, accreditation will help in getting loans or financial assistance, which are typically not available for non-accredited programs. Finally, graduating from an accredited school can make you more desirable to prospective employers in the Metairie LA job market.

What is the Program’s Reputation? In many states there is minimal or no regulation of phlebotomist schools, so there are some that are not of the highest caliber. So in addition to accreditation, it’s imperative to investigate the reputations of any schools you are reviewing. You can begin by asking the schools for references from employers where they place their students 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 even check with a few Metairie LA hospitals or clinics that you may have an interest in working for and find out if they can offer any recommendations. As a final 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 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 clinical and classroom. At a minimum, any phlebotomy program that you are reviewing should furnish no less than 40 hours of classroom training (the majority require 120) and 120 hours of clinical training. Anything lower than these minimums may indicate that the Metairie LA training program is not expansive enough to furnish sufficient training.

Are Internship Programs Provided? Ask the programs you are looking at if they have an internship program in collaboration with Metairie LA medical facilities. They are the optimal means to get hands-on practical training frequently not obtainable on campus. As an additional benefit, internships can assist students develop contacts within the local Metairie healthcare community. And they are a plus on resumes also.

Is Job Placement Help Provided? Getting your first phlebotomy job will be much easier with the assistance of a job placement program. Inquire if the schools you are considering provide assistance and what their job placement percentage is. If a college has a higher rate, signifying they place the majority of their students in jobs, it’s an indication that the program has both an excellent reputation together with a substantial network of professional contacts within the Metairie LA medical community.

Are Class Times Compatible With Your Schedule? Finally, it’s important to make sure that the ultimate college you select offers classes at times that will accommodate your active schedule. This is especially important if you choose to still work while attending school. If you need to attend classes in the evenings or on weekends near Metairie LA, make certain they are offered at those times. Additionally, if you can only attend on a part-time basis, make sure it is an option as well. And if you have decided to attend online, with the practical training requirement, make sure those hours can also be completed within your schedule. And ask what the make-up procedure is in case you need to miss any classes because of emergencies or illness.

Considering Phlebotomy Training near Metairie LA?

Metairie, Louisiana

Metairie (/ˈmɛtəri/ MET-ər-ee; French: Métairie [metɛʁi]) is a census-designated place (CDP) in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, United States and is a major section of the New Orleans Metropolitan Area. Metairie is the largest community in Jefferson Parish and the fifth-largest CDP in the United States.[1] It is an unincorporated area that would be Louisiana's fourth-largest city if it were incorporated.[2][3] The zip codes that serve the community are 70001-70006.

Métairie is the French term for a small tenant farm which paid the landlord with a share of the produce, also known as sharecropping. In the 1760s, many of the original French farmers were tenants; after the Civil War, the majority of the community's inhabitants were sharecroppers until urbanization started in the 1910s.

In the 1720s French settlers became the first Europeans to settle Metairie in the area known then as Tchoupitoulas and now as Metairie Ridge, a natural levee formed by an ancient branch of the Mississippi River which flowed through modern-day River Ridge, Metairie, Gentilly, and New Orleans East. It emptied into Mississippi Sound. The Acolapissa Native Americans used this ridge as a road, and it is the oldest road in the New Orleans area. Paved in the 1920s, it is called Metairie Road. An electric streetcar was installed running along Metairie Road in the late 1910s, opening the area to greater development. Upscale housing tracts were constructed off the road in the 1920s; this area is now known as "Old Metairie." It is today the most prestigious area of Metairie. The areas to the north and northwest of Metairie Road were not developed until after World War II. The land between Metairie Ridge and Lake Pontchartrain, which was cypress swamps and marshlands, was drained with the Wood Pump. With development of this new land for residences, Metairie's population grew in the 1940s as a result of cheaper land, lower taxes, and larger lots than in Orleans Parish.

In 1990, Metairie made history when one of its districts elected white supremacist David Duke to the Louisiana state legislature for a single term. In 2005, Hurricane Katrina caused a new migration from Orleans Parish, because housing was needed to replace what had been destroyed in the flooding of the city. It has been a racially neutral migration, with equal numbers of black and white residents moving to Jefferson Parish. The 2010 Census showed that Metairie has increasingly become more diverse.

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Find the Right Phlebotomist Course near Metairie LA

Making sure that you select the most suitable phlebotomist training is a critical first step toward your success in this gratifying healthcare career position. As we have covered in this article, there are multiple factors that go into the selection of a premium college. Phlebotomist training programs are found in a number of academic institutions, including junior or community colleges, trade schools, and colleges and universities that offer a comprehensive array of courses in healthcare and medical sciences. Course options may vary somewhat from state to state as each state has its own criteria when it concerns phlebotomist training, certification and licensing. The most critical point is that you must carefully evaluate and compare each school prior to making your final choice. By addressing the questions that we have furnished, you will be able to fine tune your choices so that you can pick the ideal school for you. And with the appropriate training, you can realize your goal of becoming a phlebotomy technician in Metairie LA.