Phlebotomy Technician
Program Description
Phlebotomy technicians are critical team members in hospitals, diagnostic laboratories, and blood donor centers. As new types of tests are developed and laboratory tech positions grow, it’s an especially exciting time to begin a career in this thriving field. Some tasks phlebotomy technicians may perform include:
- Drawing blood from patients and blood donors
- Evaluating patients’ ability to withstand the procedure and helping them feel comfortable
- Explaining the blood-drawing procedure to patients and answering questions
- Performing basic point-of-care testing, such as reading blood glucose levels Preparing blood,
urine, and other specimens for testing - Maintaining medical equipment such as needles, test tubes, and blood vials
The Phlebotomy program provides individuals with the knowledge of venipuncture and other phlebotomy-related terminology. Participants will learn, practice and develop performance skills in a variety of blood collection methods using proper techniques and universal precautions. Topics for learning include:
- vacuum collection devices
- syringes
- capillary skin puncture
- butterfly needles
- blood culture
- specimen collection on adults, children and infants.
There is a program emphasis on infection prevention, proper patient identification, labeling of specimen and quality assurance, specimen
handling, processing, and accessioning. Professionalism, ethics, and medical terminology complete the course curriculum.
Course Content
This course is designed to explore the history of phlebotomy, professionalism and ethical behavior and provides a review the anatomy and physiology, which is important for phlebotomists to be successful in giving patient care.
Covers the equipment and procedures for completing a blood draw, safety, and infection control.
The practical application of methods and safety learned in previous courses. The individual student will practice performing blood draws and will be required to acquire the draws (30 successful venipunctures, 10 capillary finger sticks) needed for certification.
Technical Standards
- The ability to stand for long periods of time, sometimes up to 4 hours.
- The ability to see details at close range.
- The ability to move between patients quickly, with a combination of bending, walking and sitting
throughout the day.
- The ability to move quickly to grasp and manipulate objects
- Appropriate psychomotor skills, manual dexterity and motor ability to perform fine and gross motor skills to effectively use phlebotomy instruments.
- The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
- The ability to read and understand information presented in writing.
- The ability to clearly communicate information and ideas by speaking so others will understand.
Upon completion of the Phlebotomy program, students are required to sit for and successfully complete (pass) the National Healthcareer Association (NHA) examination in order to become a Certified Phlebotomy Technician.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook
Phlebotomists
Summary¹
https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/phlebotomists.htm
https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/phlebotomists.htm#tab-6
¹Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Tuition-free learning*
- Books and supplies**
- Program certifications**
- NYS examination fees**
- Finger printing**
