Find Phlebotomy Training Near Me in Patuxent River MD 20670

Choosing a Phlebotomy School near Patuxent River Maryland

Patuxent River MD phlebotomist taking blood samplePicking the right phlebotomy school near Patuxent River MD is an important initial step toward a rewarding career as a phlebotomist. It may seem like a daunting undertaking to assess and compare all of the school options that are available to you. However it’s vital that you perform your due diligence to ensure that you obtain a superior education. In reality, most prospective students start the process by looking at 2 of the qualifiers that initially come to mind, which are location and cost. Yet another factor you might look into is whether to attend classes online or commute to a nearby campus. We’ll review a bit more about online schools later in this article. What you need to keep in mind is that there is a lot more to checking out phlebotomist training programs than locating the closest or the cheapest one. Other factors such as reputation and accreditation are also significant considerations and need to be part of your selection 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 evaluating to help you choose the right one for you. But before we do that, let’s cover what a phlebotomist is and does, and then resume our conversation about online training.

Phlebotomy Technician Career Summary

Patuxent River MD phlebotomist holding blood sampleA phlebotomist, or phlebotomy tech, draws blood from patients. While that is their primary function, there is actually much more to their job description. Before drawing a blood sample, a phlebotomist has to check that the instruments being employed are sterile and single use only. Following the collection, the sample needs to be correctly labeled with the patient’s information. Next, paperwork must be accurately completed to be able to track the sample from the point 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 can be tested for such things as infectious diseases, pregnancy or blood type. A number of phlebotomists in fact work in Patuxent River MD area laboratories and are responsible for making certain that samples are tested correctly utilizing the highest quality assurance procedures. And if those weren’t sufficient duties, they might be required to instruct other phlebotomists in the collection, delivery and follow-up process.

Where do Phlebotomists Practice?

Patuxent River MD diagnostic lab blood analysisThe most basic answer is wherever they treat patients. Their workplaces are numerous and varied, such as Patuxent River MD hospitals, medical clinics, nursing homes, or blood centers. They may be assigned to collect blood samples from patients of of every age, from infants or young children to seniors. Some phlebotomists, based on their training and their practice, specialize in collecting blood samples from a particular kind of patient. For example, those practicing in a nursing home or assisted living facility would exclusively be collecting blood from elderly patients. If they are working in a maternity ward, they would be drawing blood from newborns and mothers solely. In contrast, phlebotomy technicians practicing in a general hospital setting would be drawing samples from a wide variety of patients and would collect samples from different patients each day.

Phlebotomy Education, Certification and Licensing

Patuxent River MD phlebotomy lab There are primarily two types of programs that provide phlebotomist training, which are degree and certificate programs. The certificate program normally takes less than a year to complete and furnishes a basic education together with the training on how to draw blood. It provides the fastest means to becoming a phlebotomy tech. An Associate of Science Degree in Clinical Laboratory Science, even though it’s not exclusively a phlebotomist degree, will include training to become a phlebotomist. Offered at Patuxent River MD community and junior colleges, they typically take two years to complete. Bachelor’s Degrees are not as accessible and as a 4 year program provide a more extensive background in lab sciences. After you have finished your training, you will no doubt want to get certified. While not required in most states, many Patuxent River MD employers require certification prior to hiring technicians. A few of the primary 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 phlebotomy tech, including California and Nevada. California and a few additional states even require licensing. So it’s important that you choose a phlebotomy training program that not only supplies a quality education, but also readies you for any certification or licensing exams that you are required or elect to take.

Phlebotomist Online Training

attending phlebotomy training classes online in Patuxent River MDFirst, let’s dispel one possible mistaken belief. You can’t receive all of your phlebotomy training online. A significant part of the curriculum 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 in order to graduate. But since the non-clinical component of the training can be attended online, it might be a more practical alternative for many Patuxent River MD students. As an additional benefit, a number of online classes are more affordable than their traditional counterparts. And some costs, including those for commuting or textbooks, may be lessened as well. Just confirm that the online phlebotomist college you select 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 approach to learning. If you are dedicated enough to learn at home, then obtaining your degree or certificate online might be the ideal choice for you.

What to Ask Phlebotomist Colleges

Since you now have a general understanding about what it takes to become a phlebotomist, it’s time to initiate your due diligence process. You may have already picked the kind of program you wish to enroll in, whether it be for a degree or a certificate. As we previously mentioned, the location of the school is significant as well as the tuition expense. Perhaps you have opted to enroll in an phlebotomist online college. Each of these decisions are an important part of the procedure for selecting a school or program. But they are not the sole concerns when arriving at your decision. Below we have provided a few questions that you should ask about all of the Patuxent River MD colleges you are looking at before making your ultimate decision.

Is the Phlebotomy Program Specific to Your State? As previously mentioned, each state has its own requirements for practicing as a phlebotomy technician. Several states call for certification, while a few others require licensing. Each has its own requirement regarding the minimum amount of practical training completed prior to practicing as a phlebotomy tech. As a result, you may 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 Maryland or the state where you will be practicing and prepares you for all exams you may be required to take.

Is the School Accredited? The phlebotomist school and program you choose should be accredited by a reputable regional or national accrediting organization, such as the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS). There are several advantages to graduating from an accredited school aside from an assurance of a premium education. First, if your program has not received accreditation, you will not be able to sit for a certification examination offered by any of the earlier listed certifying agencies. Also, accreditation will help in obtaining financial aid or loans, which are frequently unavailable for non-accredited programs. Last, earning a certificate or a degree from an accredited college can make you more desirable to future employers in the Patuxent River MD job market.

What is the Program’s Reputation? In numerous states there is little or no regulation of phlebotomy schools, so there are some that are not of the highest quality. So along with accreditation, it’s important to check the reputations of all schools 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 placement program. You can research online school rating and review services and solicit the accrediting organizations for their reviews as well. You can even check with a few Patuxent River MD hospitals or clinics that you might have an interest in working for and ask if they can provide any insights. As a final thought, you can contact the Maryland school licensing authority and find out if any complaints have been submitted or if the schools are in total compliance.

Is Ample Training Included? First, check with 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. As a minimum, any phlebotomist program that you are reviewing should provide no less than 40 hours of classroom training (the majority require 120) and 120 hours of practical training. Anything lower than these minimums might indicate that the Patuxent River MD training program is not expansive enough to offer adequate training.

Are Internships Provided? Ask the schools you are considering if they have an internship program in partnership with Patuxent River MD healthcare facilities. They are the ideal way to get hands-on practical training frequently not obtainable on campus. As an additional benefit, internships can assist students develop contacts within the local Patuxent River medical community. And they are a plus on resumes as well.

Is Job Placement Assistance Provided? Getting your first phlebotomy position will be much easier with the assistance of a job placement program. Inquire if the colleges you are considering offer assistance and what their job placement rate is. If a college has a high rate, signifying they place most 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 Patuxent River MD health care community.

Are Class Times Offered to Fit Your Schedule? And last, it’s crucial to verify that the final program you select provides classes at times that are compatible with your hectic lifestyle. This is particularly important if you decide to still work while attending school. If you can only go to classes in the evenings or on weekends near Patuxent River MD, 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 also. And if you have decided to study online, with the practical training requirement, make certain those hours can also be fulfilled within your schedule. And ask what the make-up protocol is in case you have to miss any classes as a result of illness or emergencies.

Considering Phlebotomy Training near Patuxent River MD?

Patuxent River

The Patuxent River is a tributary of the Chesapeake Bay in the state of Maryland. There are three main river drainages for central Maryland: the Potomac River to the west passing through Washington, D.C., the Patapsco River to the northeast passing through Baltimore, and the Patuxent River between the two. The 908-square-mile (2,352 km2) [1] Patuxent watershed had a rapidly growing population of 590,769 in 2000. It is the largest and longest river entirely within Maryland, and its watershed is the largest completely within the state.

The river source, 115 miles (185 km) from the Chesapeake, is in the hills of the Maryland Piedmont near the intersection of four counties – Howard, Frederick, Montgomery and Carroll, and only 0.6 miles (0.97 km) from Parr's Spring, the source of the south fork of the Patapsco River. Flowing in a generally southeastward direction, the Patuxent crosses the urbanized corridor between Baltimore and Washington, D.C., and opens up into a navigable tidal estuary near the colonial seaport of Queen Anne in Prince George's County, Maryland, just southeast of Bowie, finding the Chesapeake Bay 52 miles (84 km) later. The fifty-two mile-long tidal estuary is never wider than 2.3 miles (3.7 km).

It marks the boundary between Montgomery, Prince George's, Charles and St. Mary's counties on the west and Howard, Anne Arundel, and Calvert counties on the east. The Chesapeake estuary's deepest point, 130 feet (40 m) below sea level, is in the lower Patuxent.

The two largest cities in the watershed are Bowie and Laurel, Maryland. There is a percentage of agricultural activity in the region as well. The mid and lower banks of the river have swamp and marshland ecosystems. Many of those ecosystems are protected by some form of parkland, on the state and local levels. The most notable of which include Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary, Merkle Wetlands Sanctuary, and Patuxent River Park, along with many more. Farther north, there is the 20 square mile Patuxent Research Refuge, which helps to protect Patuxent River wildlife.

The location could not be found.

Choose the Ideal Phlebotomist Course near Patuxent River MD

Making certain that you select the most suitable phlebotomy training is an important first step toward your success in this gratifying health care field. As we have addressed in this article, there are several factors that contribute toward the selection of a quality school. Phlebotomist certificate or degree programs can be available in a wide range of academic institutes, such as community or junior colleges, vocational schools, and colleges and universities that provide a comprehensive range of courses in healthcare and medical sciences. Training program offerings may differ somewhat across the country as each state has its own requirements when it pertains to phlebotomist training, licensing and certification. The most critical point is that you must diligently screen and compare each college before making your ultimate selection. By asking the questions that we have provided, you will be able to fine tune your choices so that you can select the right program for you. And with the appropriate education, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a phlebotomy technician in Patuxent River MD.

Other Cool Cities in Maryland

  • Find Phlebotomy Training Near Me in Brentwood MD 20722
  • Find Phlebotomy Training Near Me in Nottingham MD 21236
  • Find Phlebotomy Training Near Me in Westover MD 21871
  • Find Phlebotomy Training Near Me in Curtis Bay MD 21226
  • Find Phlebotomy Training Near Me in Cheltenham MD 20623
  • Find Phlebotomy Training Near Me in Reisterstown MD 21136
  • Find Phlebotomy Training Near Me in Aberdeen MD 21001
  • Find Phlebotomy Training Near Me in Lexington Park MD 20653
  • Find Phlebotomy Training Near Me in Hurlock MD 21643
  • Find Phlebotomy Training Near Me in Brandywine MD 20613
  •  

    Business Results 1 - 10 of 321

    Quest Diagnostics
    1 Reviews
    Laboratory Testing
    Phone:
    9131 Piscataway Road, Ste 180, Clinton, MD 20735

    Omni Medical Center
    7 Reviews
    Medical Centers
    Phone:
    20 Watkins Park Dr, Upper Marlboro, MD 20774

    B&W Stat Laboratory
    1 Reviews
    Laboratory Testing
    Phone:
    3104 Georgia Ave NW, Washington, DC 20010

    Evolve Direct Primary & Urgent Care
    33 Reviews
    Family Practice, Urgent Care, Walk-in Clinics
    Phone:
    509 S Cherry Grove Ave, Ste C, Annapolis, MD 21401

    Kaiser Permanente Camp Springs Medical Center
    13 Reviews
    Medical Centers
    Phone:
    6104 Old Branch Ave., Temple Hills, MD 20748

    Quest Diagnostics
    1 Reviews
    Laboratory Testing
    Phone:
    3460 Old Washington Road, Ste 104, Waldorf, MD 20602

    Patient First - Bowie
    29 Reviews
    Urgent Care, Occupational Therapy, Laboratory Testing
    Phone:
    15459 Annapolis Rd, Bowie, MD 20715

    Kaiser Permanente Marlow Heights Medical Center
    3 Reviews
    Medical Centers
    Phone:
    5100 Auth Way, Suitland, MD 20746

    Lab Corp
    1 Reviews
    Medical Centers
    Phone:
    3500 Old Washington Rd, Ste 104, Waldorf, MD 20602

    Patient First - Clinton
    21 Reviews
    Urgent Care
    Phone:
    9000 Woodyard Rd, Clinton, MD 20735