Find Phlebotomy Training Near Me in Pittston PA 18640

Choosing a Phlebotomist Training Course near Pittston Pennsylvania

Pittston PA phlebotomist taking blood sampleChoosing the ideal phlebotomist school near Pittston PA is a critical first step toward a fulfilling profession as a phlebotomist. It may seem like a challenging task to assess and compare all of the training options that are available to you. Nevertheless it’s necessary that you complete your due diligence to make sure that you receive a quality education. In reality, a large number of prospective students begin the process by considering 2 of the qualifiers that initially come to mind, which are cost and location. Another factor you might look into is whether to attend classes online or commute to a local campus. We’ll talk more about online classes later in this article. What’s important to remember is that there is far more to comparing phlebotomy training programs than finding the cheapest or the closest one. Other variables including reputation and accreditation are also significant considerations and should be part of your selection process too. Toward that end, we will provide a list of questions that you need to ask each of the phlebotomy schools you are considering 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 discussion about online training.

Phlebotomy Tech Career Description

Pittston PA phlebotomist holding blood sampleA phlebotomist, or phlebotomy tech, collects blood samples from patients. While that is their principal duty, there is actually much more to their job description. Before drawing a blood sample, a phlebotomist has to confirm that the instruments being employed are single use only and sterile. Following the collection, the sample must be properly labeled with the patient’s data. Afterward, paperwork must be properly completed in order to track the sample from the point of collection through the lab testing process. The phlebotomist then delivers the blood to either an an outside lab facility or an in-house lab where it may be screened for such things as pregnancy, infectious diseases or blood type. Some phlebotomists actually work in Pittston PA area labs and are accountable for making sure that samples are tested correctly utilizing the strictest quality assurance procedures. And if those weren’t enough duties, they may be asked to train other phlebotomists in the drawing, delivery and follow-up process.

Where are Phlebotomists Employed?

Pittston PA diagnostic lab blood analysisThe simplest response is wherever patients are treated. Their work places are many and varied, such as Pittston PA hospitals, medical clinics, long-term care facilities, or blood banks. They can be assigned to collect blood samples from patients of of every age, from infants or young children to senior citizens. Some phlebotomy techs, depending on their training and their practice, specialize in collecting blood from a specific kind of patient. For instance, those practicing in an assisted living facility or nursing home would only be drawing blood from senior patients. If they are practicing 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 range of patients and would work with different patients every day.

Phlebotomist Training, Licensing and Certification

Pittston PA phlebotomy lab There are basically two kinds of programs that furnish phlebotomy training, which are certificate and degree programs. The certificate program generally takes under a year to complete and offers a basic 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 exclusively a phlebotomist degree, will incorporate training on becoming a phlebotomy tech. Available at Pittston PA junior and community colleges, they normally take two years to complete. Bachelor’s Degrees are less available and as a four year program offer a more comprehensive foundation in lab sciences. After you have completed your training, you will probably want to get certified. While not required in the majority of states, most Pittston PA employers require certification before hiring technicians. Some 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 a few states that do require certification prior to practicing as a phlebotomist, including Nevada and California. California and a few other states even require licensing. So it’s imperative that you pick a phlebotomy training program that not only provides a quality education, but also preps you for any licensing or certification examinations that you elect or are required to take.

Online Phlebotomy Classes

attending phlebotomy training classes online in Pittston PAFirst, let’s resolve one likely misconception. You can’t get all of your phlebotomist training online. A good part of the program of studies will be clinical training and it will be conducted either in an on-campus lab or an approved healthcare facility. A large number of courses also require completing an internship prior to graduation. However since the non-practical part of the training can be accessed online, it could be a more convenient option for some Pittston PA students. As an added benefit, a number of online classes are more affordable than their traditional competitors. And some expenses, including those for commuting or textbooks, may be reduced also. Just verify that the online phlebotomist school you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency (more on accreditation later). With both the comprehensive clinical and online training, you can receive a quality education with this approach to learning. If you are disciplined enough to study at home, then obtaining your degree or certificate online may be the best choice for you.

Subjects to Ask Phlebotomy Schools

Now that you have a general understanding about what it takes to become a phlebotomy tech, it’s time to begin your due diligence process. You might have already selected the kind of program you wish to enroll in, whether it be for a certificate or a degree. As we previously mentioned, the location of the campus is important in addition to the tuition expense. Maybe you have opted to enroll in an phlebotomist online school. Each of these decisions are a critical component of the process for choosing a program or school. But they are not the only considerations when making your decision. Following are a few questions that you need to ask about each of the Pittston PA schools you are considering prior to making your final decision.

Is the Phlebotomist Program Specific to Pennsylvania? As earlier discussed, each state has its own laws for practicing as a phlebotomy technician. Some states call for certification, while some others mandate licensing. Each has its own prerequisite regarding the minimum hours of clinical training performed prior to practicing as a phlebotomist. As a result, you might need to pass a State Board, certification or licensing exam. Therefore it’s extremely important to enroll in a phlebotomist program that complies with the state specific requirements for Pennsylvania or the state where you will be practicing and prepares you for any exams you may be required to take.

Is the Program Accredited? The phlebotomist program and school you choose should be accredited by a reputable regional or national accrediting organization, for example the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS). There are a number of benefits to graduating from an accredited school aside from a guarantee of a premium education. To begin with, if your program has not received accreditation, you will not be able to sit for a certification examination administered by any of the earlier listed certifying organizations. Next, accreditation will help in obtaining loans or financial assistance, which are frequently not available for non-accredited schools. Last, earning a certificate or a degree from an accredited college can make you more attractive to potential employers in the Pittston PA job market.

What is the School’s Ranking? In numerous states there is minimal or no regulation of phlebotomist schools, so there are those that are not of the highest caliber. So in addition to accreditation, it’s important to check out the reputations of all schools you are considering. You can start by requesting references from the schools from employers where they refer their students as part of their job placement program. You can screen online school rating and review services and solicit the accrediting organizations for their reviews also. You can even contact several Pittston PA hospitals or clinics that you might have an interest in working for and find out if they can offer any insights. As a final thought, you can check with the Pennsylvania school licensing authority and ask if any complaints have been submitted or if the colleges are in total compliance.

Is Ample Training Provided? To begin with, contact the state regulator where you will be working to find out if there are any minimum requirements for the length of training, both clinical and classroom. As a minimum, any phlebotomy program that you are reviewing should provide at least 40 hours of classroom training (the majority require 120) and 120 hours of practical training. Anything lower than these minimums might indicate that the Pittston PA training program is not expansive enough to offer sufficient training.

Are Internships Included? Ask the colleges you are considering if they have an internship program in partnership with Pittston PA health care facilities. They are the optimal way to obtain hands-on practical training often not provided on campus. As an additional benefit, internships can assist students develop contacts within the local Pittston health care community. And they look good on resumes as well.

Is Job Placement Support Provided? Getting your first phlebotomist job will be a lot easier with the support of a job placement program. Inquire if the schools you are looking at provide assistance and what their job placement rate is. If a school has a high rate, meaning they place most of their students in jobs, it’s an indication that the program has both a good reputation along with a large network of professional contacts within the Pittston PA medical community.

Are Class Times Available as Needed? And last, it’s critical to verify that the ultimate program you select offers classes at times that will accommodate your active lifestyle. This is particularly true if you decide to still work while going to college. If you need to attend classes at night or on weekends near Pittston PA, make sure they are offered at those times. Additionally, 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 completed within your schedule. And find out what the make-up policy is in case you need to miss any classes as a result of emergencies or illness.

Considering Phlebotomy Training near Pittston PA?

Pittston, Pennsylvania

Pittston is a city in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is situated between Scranton and Wilkes-Barre. The city gained prominence in the late 19th and early 20th centuries as an active anthracite coal mining city, drawing a large portion of its labor force from European immigrants. The population was 7,739 as of the 2010 census, making it the fourth largest city in Luzerne County.[3] At its peak in 1920, the population of Pittston was 18,497. The city consists of three sections: The Downtown (in the center of the city), the Oregon Section (in the southern end), and the Junction (in the northern end). Pittston City is at the heart of the Greater Pittston region (a 65.35 square mile region in Luzerne County). Greater Pittston has a total population of 48,020 (as of 2010).[4]

Pittston lies in the Wyoming Valley on the east side of the Susquehanna River and on the south side of the Lackawanna River. It is approximately midway between Wilkes-Barre and Scranton. Named after the famous British statesman William Pitt the Elder, the city was settled around 1770 by the Susquehanna Company of Connecticut. It was originally called "Pittstown."

During the Revolutionary War, the Wyoming Valley was an active battleground between the British and the Continentals (American Patriots). On July 3, 1778, a force of British soldiers, with the assistance of about 700 Indians, attacked and killed nearly 300 American Patriots (in present-day Wyoming). Connecticut Continentals (Patriots), led by Captain Jeremiah Blanchard and Lieutenant Timothy Keyes, held and maintained a fort in Pittstown (present-day Pittston City). On July 4, 1778 (one day after the Battle of Wyoming), a group of British soldiers took over the fortress and some of it was destroyed. Two years later, the Continentals stormed the fortification and recaptured it. From then on it was under Patriot control until the end of the war in 1783, with the signing of the Treaty of Paris. Today a marker stands at the site where the fort once stood.

Pittston broke away from Pittston Township and officially became a borough in 1853. John Hosie served as the first burgess of the Borough of Pittston. It was later chartered as a city on December 10, 1894. Thomas J. Maloney served as the city’s first mayor from 1894 to 1898. Throughout the late 1890s, Pittston's borders extended from Scranton to Wilkes-Barre, but due to financial and civil differences, the community would soon be divided into the many townships and boroughs that exist throughout the central Wyoming Valley today.

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Find the Ideal Phlebotomy Course near Pittston PA

Making sure that you enroll in the ideal phlebotomist training is a critical first step toward your success in this gratifying medical care career position. As we have covered in this article, there are a number of factors that contribute toward the selection of a premium college. Phlebotomy certificate or degree programs can be offered in a number of educational institutions, such as junior or community colleges, trade schools, and colleges and universities that offer a wide assortment of programs in healthcare and medical sciences. Training program offerings may differ slightly across the country as every state has its own prerequisites when it concerns phlebotomy training, certification and licensing. The most important point is that you need to thoroughly evaluate and compare each school before making your final decision. By addressing the questions that we have presented, you will be able to narrow down your choices so that you can pick the ideal college for you. And with the proper education, you can achieve your goal of becoming a phlebotomy technician in Pittston PA.

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