Compliance & CE

 

The job of a Phlebotomist is to draw blood for tests or blood donations.  You need to undergo a proper training course and successfully complete the phlebotomy training course in order to work as a Phlebotomist.  There are plenty of phlebotomy training programs available.  Basically, you have two kinds of phlebotomy training programs which includes the traditional classroom based phlebotomy training program and the NPCE online phlebotomy training program.


The NPCE online phlebotomy training program is gaining immense popularity with more and more individuals opting for the online program.  The advantages of undergoing NPCE online training program for phlebotomy certification are huge.

It is recommended that you take NPCE tests seriously, since this will definitely help you to evaluate your progress and plan your studies better.  As discussed earlier, the benefits of the NPCE online course is immense.  The most important being the flexibility factor.  You can complete the phlebotomy training program from the comfort of your home and at the time most convenient to you.  If you already have a full time or a part time job, then the flexible NPCE online phlebotomy course is great for you.


Changing Technology

Although phlebotomy programs are designed to teach new phlebotomist the very latest in health care technology, there are new products coming out each year that the phlebotomists need to understand. For example, many medical facilities are in the process of switching to electronic health records. phlebotomists who have been in the field more than a few years may require training to learn how to use the new digital patient files and health care software.

Career Advancement

The first stage in phlebotomy is a licensed phlebotomist. Training to become an phlebotomist generally takes 12 months.  Each additional certification or specialization can lead to an increase in pay and benefits. NPCE continuing education can also open up new job opportunities, as certain types of phlebotomists are frequently in demand.

Special Situations

Phlebotomists must continually educate themselves to keep up to date on arising situations in health care. As with the case of the H1N1 flu virus, sometimes there is a need for phlebotomists to receive immediate additional training for a particular condition or medical development. Phlebotomists must be prepared to implement changes in patient care as soon as changes become necessary.

State Requirements

Almost all phlebotomists are required to receive continuing education from conferences, courses or seminars within two years of renewing their phlebotomist license. This ensures that medical patients get the very best care possible from phlebotomists who are up to date on their training.

 

States that require a phlebotomy license:

1. California                          2. Florida                             3. Georgia

4. Hawaii                               5. Louisiana                         6. Montana

7. Nevada                             8. New York                          9. North Dakota

10. Oregon                          11. Rhode Island                  12. Tennessee

13. West Virginia                  14. Puerto Rico

 


Consequences of Not Continuing Education

If a phlebotomist does not participate in continuing education opportunities, then they will not be up to date with all current technology and procedures.  On a larger scale, if continuing education was not completed by a phlebotomist in the past two years, the quality of care the phlebotomy community provides would diminish drastically. Each phlebotomist would only have the formal education they received before graduation, whether that was 10 months or 10 years before. Care would be inconsistent and dangerous mistakes could easily become commonplace through lack of understanding. The need for continuing education reflects the constantly developing nature of the phlebotomy field.

Because of the constantly changing nature of the medical field, phlebotomy continuing education is an important part of providing the best patient care possible.  This is the main reason that continuing education requirements go hand-in-hand with license renewal.

The initial education you receive before you enter the field provides you with a lot of practical knowledge and offers a great start to your career in phlebotomy. Unfortunately, because the healthcare industry is changing and growing at such a rapid pace, that initial training can quickly become outdated.  Medications are constantly being developed and modified, so there is a wealth of information that needs to be learned in that area. Medical technology advances quickly and in order to be a valuable member of any phlebotomy team you have to know how to use the latest equipment. Methods of providing treatments and procedures also evolve rapidly making it impossible to simply learn everything that you need to know all at one time.

By keeping up-to-date with the latest changes in the medical field, NPCE will insure you will be better prepared to take care of patients with confidence in knowing that you are providing the best treatment that is currently available. Being aware of changes in all areas of the healthcare industry will also help you keep yourself safe by using the latest safety protocols and being aware of the newest threats posed to your health as you work in this field.