Approval
The Phlebotomy Technician program is approved by the National Center for Competency Testing (NCCT), 7007 College Boulevard, Suite 385, Overland Park, Kansas, 66211.
|
Mission Statement
The mission of the Phlebotomy Technician program is to educate students to become qualified Phlebotomy Technicians who are compassionate, competent, ethical, professional, and who respond to the needs of the patient and the needs of the organization.
|
Work Environment
Because phlebotomists collect blood and are at risk of exposure to a variety of diseases, phlebotomists are trained in laboratory safety and must adhere to very strict policies and procedures. To be successful in this profession, an individual must enjoy working with people, work well under pressure, be attentive to detail, and have excellent manual dexterity. Another consideration that must be taken into account is how uneasy most people are around needles and blood. This fear requires a phlebotomist to calm patients and be an effective communicator and a good listener. Due to recent technological advances, a phlebotomist must also be able to use a computer, as well as other high-tech devices.
|
Nature of the Work
The primary function of phlebotomy technicians is to obtain patient blood specimens by venipuncture or micro-techniques. They aid in the collection and transportation of other laboratory specimens and may be involved with patient data entry. Phlebotomy technicians also draw blood for transfusions, donations, and research. Phlebotomy technicians must like challenge and responsibility. They must be accurate, work well under pressure, and communicate effectively. They must be able to deal with patients and be able to calm patients. Safety is essential, and all safety precautions must be taken to prevent the transmission of infectious diseases.
Duties differ by doctor office, hospital, and laboratory, but may include:
- Drawing blood from patients or donors in hospitals, blood banks, clinics, physicians' offices, laboratories, or similar facilities for medical purposes
- Assembling equipment (such as needles, blood collection devices, gauze, tourniquets, cotton, and alcohol)
- Verifying or recording identity of patients or donors
- Conversing with patients to allay fears about the procedures
- Applying tourniquets to arms, locating veins, swabbing areas with disinfectant, and inserting needles into veins to draw blood into collection tubes
- Labeling and storing blood containers for processing
- Conducting interviews, taking vital signs, and testing blood samples to screen donors at a blood bank
- Analyzing information and making appropriate recommendations
|
Employment
Phlebotomists typically work in hospitals, commercial laboratories, physicians' offices, blood banks, pharmaceutical firms, home health agencies, research institutions, and public health clinics. Employment opportunities nationally for phlebotomists are expected to be good as the demand for skilled laboratory personnel increases. The market is expect to increase from 10 percent to 20 percent over the next decade. The rapidly growing older population will be a major reason for this growth, since older people tend to have more medical problems that require lab work. The fastest growth in this field is expected to occur in independent medical laboratories because hospitals continue to send more and more of their lab work to outside facilities.
|
Salary
Median annual wages nationally of medical and clinical laboratory technicians (phlebotomists) were $35,380. The middle 50 percent earned between $28,420 and $44,310. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $23,480, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $53,520.
Source: American Medical Technologists (2011)http://www.amt1.com/page.asp?i=160
Source: U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2010-2011 Edition (http://www.bls.gov/oco/)
|
Student Learning Outcomes
Graduates of the technical certificate in Phlebotomy Technician will be able to complete the following tasks:
- Demonstrate proficient and accurate collection techniques when performing venipuncture
- Draw and process blood specimens
- Demonstrate the personal and professional ethics and interpersonal skills that are expected in the workplace
|
Essential Functions
The purpose of the essential functions list is to allow prospective students who are considering a career to be informed of the physical, emotional, and psychological demands related to training and employment in a field of study. These lists are provided to allow prospective students to make informed career choices by providing them with a summary of the physical abilities and personality traits that are generally required for the successful completion of a curriculum and result in employment in their field of study after graduation.
For students to be successful in the Phlebotomy Technician program, they must be able to perform the following essential functions:
Essential Function: Observation
The ability to discriminate between color differences/variations
Examples
- See color, changes in color, shapes, and texture differences
- Read color chemical reactions, identify organisms, and differentiate blood cells
- Read small print on collection tubes and physician orders
Essential Function: Communication
The ability to communicate effectively in English using verbal, non-verbal, and written formats with faculty, other students, patients, families, and other members of the healthcare team
Examples
- Read medication labels, clinical documentation, physician orders, legal forms, and e-mail
- Produce written communication with the healthcare team, including physicians, supervisors, and patients (may be done via charts, pre-hospital care forms, and/or narratives)
- Communicate verbally with healthcare team members, including physicians, supervisors, and patients
Essential Function: Motor
Sufficient motor ability and dexterity to execute the movement and skills required for safe and effective care
Examples
- Manipulate glass slides, tourniquets, needles, small tubes, and collection devices
- Handle and manipulate safely and properly small phlebotomy devices
- Stand, walk, and bend repeatedly throughout an eight-hour period
- Travel quickly throughout an institution
- Collect specimens at the bedside, chairside, and difficult-to-reach situations
Essential Function: Intellectual
The ability to collect, interpret, and integrate information and make decisions
Examples
- Recognize and adapt to changing patient conditions
- Analyze procedural tasks
- Solve problems and think critically in order to address patient needs
Essential Function: Behavioral and Social Attributes
Possess the emotional health and stability required for full utilization of the student's intellectual abilities, the exercise of good judgment, the prompt completion of all academic and patient care responsibilities, and the development of mature, sensitive, and effective relationships with clients and other members of the healthcare team; possess the ability to tolerate taxing workloads, function effectively under stress, adapt to changing environments, display flexibility, and learn to function in the face of uncertainties inherent in clinical settings with patients; possess compassion, integrity, concern for others, and motivation; possess the ability to demonstrate professional behaviors and a strong work ethic.
Examples
- Maintain patient confidentiality and exercise ethical judgement, integrity, honesty, dependability, and accountability in the performance of laboratory responsibilities
- Adapt to the changing environment and technology
- Maintain composure and continue phlebotomy procedures when subjected to high stress levels)
|
Program Expenses
The Higher Education Act requires all colleges and universities to notify students and prospective students of all program costs for which they will be responsible. Students will be responsible for the following expenses each semester (unless otherwise noted):
- Tuition ($75 per credit hour)
- Registration fee ($39)
- Student activity fees ($30)
- Accident insurance fee ($6)
- Instructional and technology supply fee ($55)
- Program supply fee (Varies - see course descriptions for exact amounts)
- Burgundy scrubs (Approximately $30 per set)
- Criminal background check (Approximately $50 per required check)
- Drug screen (Approximately $50 per required screen)
- Immunizations
- Hepatitis B series (Approximately $400)
- Tuberculosis test (Approximately $100)
- Malpractice insurance ($11 per year)
- National Center for Competency Testing Examination ($100)
- Physical examination (Approximately $300)
- Textbooks (Approximately $700 for entire program)
These expenses are based on costs in effect at the time this catalog was published. Prices are subject to change.
|
Gainful Employment
Information on graduation rates, job placement rates, median loan debt incurred by students and other gainful employment information is available on the college website.
|
Admission Requirements
To ensure equal opportunity for all students seeking enrollment into the Phlebotomy Technician program, the college utilizes a waiting list procedure. Students who are interested in completing the program will need to complete an Intent form (blank forms are available in the Admissions Office and online at www.athenstech.edu/oldcatalog/programsofstudy.cfm - Select Selective Admissions Forms).
Students will be allowed to register for PHLT 1030-Introduction to Venipuncture based on the completion of the Intent form and the completion of a prerequisite courses. Applicants who are on academic probation or are academically dismissed from the college as of the enrollment deadline are ineligible to enroll in PHLT 1030.
Applicants not selected for enrollment into PHLT 1030 will be considered the following term based upon the completion of all program requirements. Applicants must submit the required documentation to the Admissions Office by June 1 to be consider for PHLT 1030 during Fall Semester and by December 1 to be considered for PHLT 1030 during Spring Semester.
Applicants must submit the following information to the Admissions Office by the application deadline for the semester they are seeking admission to the program:
- Completed and signed application for admission and a $20 nonrefundable application fee
- Official birth certificates, passports, driver's licenses, or state-issued photo identification cards to document that they are at least 18 years of age
- Official high school or GED transcripts and/or official college transcripts from all colleges attended in the past (see General Admission Requirements)
- Valid COMPASS, ASSET, SAT, or ACT test scores (see COMPASS and ASSET Placement Tests)
- Completed and signed Intent form (blank forms are available in the Admissions Office and online at www.athenstech.edu/oldcatalog/programsofstudy.cfm - Select Selective Admissions Forms)
- HOBET V test scores of no less than the 50th percentile that are less than five years old at the anticipated date of enrollment in the program (see Selective Admission Examinations)
Prior to the beginning of PHLT 1050-Clinical Practice, applicants must have the following current official documents on file with program faculty:
- A signed document acknowledging that they may be required to complete drug testing and/or background checks at their own expense prior to participating in internships, practicums, or clinical activities at certain host sites for these activities (see Drug Testing/Background Checks) (blank documents are available from the Admissions Office and online at www.athenstech.edu/oldcatalog/programsofstudy.cfm - Select Selective Admissions Forms)
- Documentation of a recent medical examination
- Completed immunization form
- Completed background check
- Completed academic honesty form
|
Readmission Policy
If students withdraw from the program for any reason, they must follow the steps detailed under Life Sciences Programs Readmission. In addition, students seeking readmission will abide by all policies and procedures in place at the time of their request for readmission.
|
Residency Policy
Only in the event that the program slots cannot be filled with Georgia residents who meet the minimum admissions criteria can out-of-state students be admitted to the Phlebotomy Technician program.
|
|