Phlebotomy Training and Career Guide Phlebotomy Training Resources and Guides for becoming Certified as a Phlebotomist!
Phlebotomy Certification in South Dakota
Bordered by six other states, South Dakota is a picturesque state with plenty to offer
those who can appreciate having four distinct seasons. National and State Parks and
monuments abound in this beautiful state, with of course Mount Rushmore taking pride
of place as one of the state’s top tourist destinations.
Ellsworth Air Force Base and other organizations contribute toward the state’s economy,
with retail and health care being two of the largest contributors and employers.
Agriculture continues to be an influential part of the state’s growth, with wheat, corn, and
soybeans being some of the major agricultural exports.
The Sturgis Motorcycle Rally continues to be one of the major annual events drawing
millions of guests to the state.
The population of the state is around 850,000. The cost of living in South Dakota can be
considered to be reasonably low, while the average salary of $24,000 for a certified
phlebotomist could be considered to be respectable. The health care field is continually
expanding in South Dakota; making this a good state in which to find employment as a
phlebotomist.
Fast-tracking your Phlebotomy Certification:
Let’s face it. When we want something, we generally want it right now. The great news
about earning your phlebotomy certification is that it will not take a lot of time to earn it.
You will still need to put in the hours and make the commitment to it, but it takes a lot
less time than many other certification programs for healthcare workers. Once you have
it in hand, you can get to work immediately and even pursue other healthcare paths
while you are earning a salary.
Getting started is fairly straightforward. Working as a phlebotomist allows you to
become comfortable working with patients and other medical professionals, and it also
allows you that valuable foundation upon which to establish your knowledge of the
healthcare field.
Here are some of the quick steps that will help you to pursue your new career as a
phlebotomist:
- First you should do some homework about the requirements of the job so that
you can be sure it is the right choice for you. If you have trouble with needles or
blood, then this is definitely not the best in career choices for you.
- Find the right training program that will work with your current schedule and with
your career goals. Some colleges offer just the training you need to pass your
phlebotomy certification exam, while others may offer the course as a part of a 2
year associate degree program.
- Some courses may last just one semester, anywhere from 4 to 6 months, so be
certain that you find one that will work effortlessly with your current obligations
Once you have wrapped up your classes and gone through the hands on externship,
you can then confidently take the phlebotomy certification exam. The exam is a written
test that will assess your theoretical and practical knowledge.
Knowing What to Expect from Phlebotomy Programs:
Each program that you look into may offer slight variations. However, since the goal is
to get well-trained and ultimately prepared to pass the certification exam, you will find
that the core content of the courses will be very similar.
Some of the areas that you will go through when taking your training course will include
the following:
- Basic medical terminology
- Patient care
- Procedures for drawing blood from fingers, veins, and other areas like on the
heels of infants
- Safety procedures
- Infection control
- Handling of specimens
- Patient privacy and potential legal concerns
As most courses offer the instruction period in a classroom setting, and also hands-on
clinical experience, you’ll also need to meet the requirements of the course while
working with patients. You will generally need to perform 100 successful draws on
patients, under the supervision of a medical assistant or nurse.
Finding the Right Training Program:
So how do you narrow down your choices from the many training programs available?
You will need to find one that can effortlessly meet all of your needs. Perhaps you are
working full time or taking care of your family. These types of obligations can sometimes
make it hard to find a program that can fit in with your schedule.
The good news is that there are classes that get together in the evenings, on the
weekends, or even offer online instruction so that you can learn using the method that is
the best option for your needs.
As you start looking into programs, you’ll see that there are often a lot of prerequisites
that you need to take into consideration. Some programs may also have absolutely no
prerequisites beyond needing to see that you are over 18 and have completed high
school.
Some of the other prerequisites could include the following:
- A valid CPR certification
- Drug testing
- Criminal background test
- Proof of immunizations; you may need to get some boosters if you are not
current on some of your vaccinations
Something else to keep in mind as you start to look for the perfect training college in
South Dakota is to make sure that your school is accredited. This will assure you that
you are getting the right type of training so that you can develop the skills that will stand
you in good stead as you embark upon your new career.
School Options for Phlebotomy Certification Training:
Southeast Technical Institute:
Southeast Technical Institute offers a comprehensive training program for phlebotomy.
The class covers all of the essentials needed to ensure that students are confident to
pass the certification exam. Students will need to pass a drug and background
screening prior to working with patients.
View more info on the school’s website:
http://www.southeasttech.edu/futurestudents/degrees/healthtechnology/phlebotomypati
entcaretechnician/
Western Dakota Tech:
Western Dakota Tech offers a program that trains students to gain employment as a
phlebotomist and laboratory assistant, which will definitely provide great options. The
course will cover basic computer skills, workplace professionalism, basic anatomy, and
more. The credits earned during this program can be applied toward further educational
pursuits.
Official Website:
http://www.wdt.edu/degree-programs/phlebotomy-laboratory-assistant/
Rasmussen College:
Rasmussen College offers a phlebotomy training program that helps prepare students
for working with patients in a range of settings. Students will get the opportunity to do
heel sticks, blood draws, and learn valuable safety and testing methods. Students are
required to have CPR training and complete a drug and criminal background check.
Here is the school’s website:
http://degrees.rasmussen.edu/healthsciencecertificate
More Phlebotomy Schools in the South Dakota Region:
Feel free to check out our Phlebotomy school directory to search for schools offering training programs in your area:
Fortis College-Montgomery
Alaska Career College
Phoenix College
Coconino Community College
Pima Community College
Brookline College-Phoenix
University of Alaska Anchorage
Brookline College-Tempe
Brookline College-Tucson
Yavapai College
External Websites Used in the Creation of this Article:
Salary.com – The average salary numbers for Phlebotomists were compiled from data from Salary.com.
Wikimedia Commons – The map of South Dakota at the top of this article is a modified version of a map from Wikimedia Commons and is protected by the General Public License.
