Texas Archives - Train to Become a Phlebotomist

Choosing a Phlebotomist Training Course near Van Alstyne Texas

Van Alstyne TX phlebotomist taking blood sample Selecting the right phlebotomy technician school near Van Alstyne TX is an essential first step toward a rewarding profession as a phlebotomist. It may seem like a difficult task to investigate and compare all of the school alternatives that are accessible to you. However it’s vital that you do your due diligence to make certain that you get a superior education. In fact, many potential students start the process by considering 2 of the qualifiers that first come to mind, which are cost and location. Yet another option you may look into is whether to attend online classes or commute to a nearby campus. We’ll discuss more about online schools later in this article. What you need to keep in mind is that there is far more to checking out phlebotomist training programs than locating the cheapest or the closest one. Other variables such as accreditation and reputation are also significant considerations and must be part of your decision process also. To assist in that effort, we will furnish a list of questions that you need to ask each of the phlebotomist schools you are reviewing to help you select the best one for you. But before we do that, let’s cover what a phlebotomist is and does, and then resume our discussion about online classes.

Phlebotomy Tech Job Description

Van Alstyne TX phlebotomist holding blood sample A phlebotomist, or phlebotomy tech, draws blood from patients. Although that is their principal responsibility, there is actually much more to their job description. Before drawing a blood sample, a phlebotomist has to verify that the instruments being used are sterile and single use only. Following the collection, the sample has to be correctly labeled with the patient’s data. Next, paperwork needs to be properly completed in order to track the sample from the point of collection through the laboratory testing procedure. 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 in fact work in Van Alstyne TX area laboratories and are responsible for ensuring that samples are tested properly under the highest quality control procedures. And if those weren’t sufficient duties, they can be asked to instruct other phlebotomists in the drawing, transport and follow-up process.

Where do Phlebotomists Work?

Van Alstyne TX diagnostic lab blood analysis The simplest answer is wherever patients are treated. Their work environments are many and varied, including Van Alstyne TX medical clinics, hospitals, nursing homes, or blood centers. They can be charged to draw blood samples from patients of of every age, from infants or young children to senior citizens. A number of phlebotomists, depending on their practice and their training, specialize in drawing blood samples from a specific type 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 practicing in a maternity ward, they would be drawing blood from mothers and newborns exclusively. In contrast, phlebotomists practicing in a general hospital setting would be drawing blood from a wide variety of patients and would collect samples from different patients each day.

Phlebotomist Education, Certification and Licensing

Van Alstyne TX phlebotomy lab There are essentially two types of programs that provide phlebotomy training, which are certificate and degree programs. The certificate program normally takes less than a year to finish and furnishes a general education as well as the training on how to draw blood. It provides the quickest means to becoming a phlebotomist. An Associate of Science Degree in Clinical Laboratory Science, although not specifically a phlebotomy degree, will include training to become a phlebotomy tech. Offered at Van Alstyne TX junior and community colleges, they typically take 2 years to finish. Bachelor’s Degrees are less accessible and as a 4 year program offer a more extensive background in lab sciences. After you have completed your training, you will no doubt want to become certified. While not mandated in the majority of states, most Van Alstyne TX employers require certification prior to hiring technicians. Some of the primary certifying organizations include:

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

There are several states that do require certification prior to practicing as a phlebotomist, such as California and Nevada. California and a handful of other states even require licensing. So it’s imperative that you pick a phlebotomy training program that not only furnishes a premium education, but also prepares you for any licensing or certification exams that you are required or elect to take.

Phlebotomist Online Colleges

attending phlebotomy training classes online in Van Alstyne TX To start with, let’s resolve one potential misconception. You can’t receive all of your phlebotomist training online. A good part of the curriculum will be practical training and it will be performed either in an approved healthcare facility or an on-campus lab. A large number of courses also require completion of an internship prior to graduation. But since the non-practical part of the training may be accessed online, it might be a more convenient option for some Van Alstyne TX students. As an added benefit, a number of online schools are more affordable than their on-campus counterparts. And some costs, including those for textbooks or commuting, may be lessened also. Just make sure that the online phlebotomy school you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization (more on accreditation to follow). With both the comprehensive online and clinical training, you can obtain a quality education with this method of learning. If you are disciplined enough to learn at home, then obtaining your degree or certificate online may be the best choice for you.

Subjects to Ask Phlebotomist Programs

Since you now have a general idea about what it takes to become a phlebotomist, it’s time to start your due diligence process. You may have already selected the kind of program you intend to enroll in, whether it be for a degree or a certificate. As we mentioned earlier, the location of the campus is relevant as well as the tuition expense. Perhaps you have decided to enroll in an phlebotomist online program. Each of these decisions are a critical part of the procedure for choosing a school or program. But they are not the sole considerations when arriving at your decision. Following are several questions that you should ask about all of the Van Alstyne TX schools you are considering prior to making your ultimate selection.

Is the Phlebotomist Program Specific to Your State? As previously mentioned, each state has its own requirements for practicing as a phlebotomy technician. Some states require certification, while some others require licensing. Each has its own requirement regarding the minimum hours of clinical training performed prior to working as a phlebotomist. As a result, you may need to pass a State Board, licensing or certification exam. Therefore it’s extremely important to choose a phlebotomist program that fulfills the state specific requirements for Texas or the state where you will be practicing and preps you for any examinations you may have to take.

Is the Program Accredited? The phlebotomy school and program you enroll in should be accredited by a respected regional or national accrediting agency, for example the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS). There are several advantages to graduating from an accredited school aside from a guarantee of a superior education. To begin with, 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. Next, accreditation will help in getting loans or financial assistance, which are frequently not available for non-accredited colleges. Finally, earning a certificate or a degree from an accredited school can make you more attractive to potential employers in the Van Alstyne TX job market.

What is the College’s Ranking? 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 essential to check the reputations of all colleges you are reviewing. 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 reviews and rating services and ask the accrediting agencies for their reviews as well. You can even check with several Van Alstyne TX clinics or hospitals that you might have an interest in working for and ask if they can offer any recommendations. As a closing thought, you can contact the Texas school licensing authority and ask if any complaints have been submitted or if the schools are in total compliance.

Is Sufficient Training Provided? To begin with, check with the state regulator where you will be working to learn if there are any minimum requirements for the amount of training, both clinical and classroom. At a minimum, any phlebotomy program that you are reviewing should provide no less than 40 hours of classroom training (the majority require 120) and 120 hours of clinical training. Anything less than these minimums may signify that the Van Alstyne TX training program is not expansive enough to provide adequate training.

Are Internship Programs Provided? Ask the colleges you are reviewing if they have an internship program in partnership with Van Alstyne TX health care facilities. They are the ideal way to obtain hands-on practical training typically not available on campus. As an additional benefit, internships can help students establish relationships within the local Van Alstyne health care community. And they are a plus on resumes as well.

Is Job Placement Support Offered? Landing your first phlebotomy job will be much easier with the support of a job placement program. Ask if the colleges you are considering offer assistance and what their job placement percentage is. If a college has a higher rate, signifying they place the majority of their students in positions, it’s an indication that the school has both a good reputation together with a substantial network of professional contacts within the Van Alstyne TX health care community.

Are Class Times Offered to Fit Your Schedule? And last, it’s important to make sure that the final college you select offers classes at times that are compatible with your busy schedule. This is particularly true if you choose to still work while attending school. If you need to go to classes in the evenings or on weekends near Van Alstyne TX, make sure they are offered at those times. Additionally, if you can only attend part-time, make sure it is an option also. Even if you have decided to attend online, with the clinical training requirement, make certain those hours can also be completed within your schedule. And ask what the make-up policy is in case you have to miss any classes due to illness or emergencies.

Considering Phlebotomy Training near Van Alstyne TX?

Van Alstyne, Texas

Van Alstyne is a city in Grayson and Collin Counties in the U.S. state of Texas. The population was 3,046 at the 2010 census,[3] up from 2,502 at the 2000 census. The Grayson County portion of Van Alstyne is part of the Sherman–Denison Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Van Alstyne was built in 1872, for settlers to be near the railroad stop of the Houston and Texas Central Railway.[4] The town was named for either William A. Van Alstyne, a civil engineer with the railroad, or for Marie Van Alstyne, a shareholder in the railroad company.[5]

Van Alstyne is located in southeastern Grayson County at 33°25′26″N 96°34′43″W / 33.42389°N 96.57861°W / 33.42389; -96.57861 (33.423911, -96.578730).[6] The city limits extend south slightly into Collin County.

The U.S. Route 75 freeway runs through the western side of the city, with access from Exits 50 and 51. US 75 leads north 27 miles (43 km) to Denison and south 50 miles (80 km) to the center of Dallas. Van Alstyne's immediate neighbors are Anna to the south and Howe to the north.

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Select the Ideal Phlebotomist College near Van Alstyne TX

Making sure that you pick the right phlebotomy training is an essential first step toward your success in this fulfilling health care career position. As we have addressed in this article, there are a number of factors that contribute toward the selection of a premium program. Phlebotomy certificate or degree programs can be found in a wide range of academic institutes, such as community or junior colleges, trade schools, and colleges and universities that provide a wide range of programs in healthcare and medical sciences. Program options can differ somewhat from state to state as each state has its own mandates when it pertains to phlebotomist training, licensing and certification. The most critical point is that you must carefully research and compare each college before 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 select the best school for you. And with the appropriate education, you can realize your goal of becoming a phlebotomist in Van Alstyne TX.