Overview

A career as a Phlebotomy Technician is a good path for someone who desires to work directly with patients. The laboratory and physicians depend upon the phlebotomy technician to collect quality patient specimens in order to produce quality laboratory results. Phlebotomy technicians are trained to create an atmosphere of trust and confidence in patients while drawing blood specimens in a skillful and safe manner.

Employment opportunities include, but are not limited to, hospitals, clinics, physicians' offices, laboratories, and blood banks.

Students enrolled in the Allied Health Science Degree Program have the option of working towards the Phlebotomy Certificate in addition to the AHS degree. All AHS Program required coursework plus a 120-hour clinical phlebotomy experience are required to earn the certificate and be eligible to take the certificate examination offered by the American Society of Clinical Pathologists. Clinical experience will be arranged through the Program Director.

Phlebotomy Certificate Program Description

Students will learn phlebotomy practice by reviewing anatomy and physiology of the body systems, equipment used for phlebotomy, venipuncture techniques, and safety practices. Through lecture, assigned readings, class discussion, and "hands on" participation, the student will demonstrate competency in the following areas:

• Demonstrate knowledge of the health care delivery system and medical terminology
• Demonstrate knowledge of infection and control safety
• Demonstrate a basic understanding of the anatomy and physiology of body systems and anatomic terminology in order to relate major areas of the clinical laboratory to general pathologic conditions associated with the body systems
• Demonstrate understanding of the importance of specimen collection in the overall patient care system
• Demonstrate knowledge of collection equipment, various types of additives used, special precautions necessary, and substances that can interfere in clinical analysis of blood constituents
• Demonstrate proper techniques to perform venipuncture and capillary puncture
• Demonstrate understanding of requisitions, specimen transport and processing
• Demonstrate understanding of quality assurance in phlebotomy
• Demonstrate understanding of the basic concepts of communication, personal, and patient interaction, stress management, professional behavior, and legal implications of this work environment

The above listed competencies are from the national Accrediting Agency of Clinical Lab Scientist Phlebotomist Competencies.

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