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Phlebotomy Certificate of Technical Studies

Phlebotomists are healthcare professionals skilled in the procurement of blood and in facilitating the specimen collection process. The main function involves obtaining patient’s blood specimens by venipuncture and micro-sampling techniques. Other duties involve facilitating the collection and transportation of other clinical specimens and processing specimens for the laboratory analysis.

The program prepares students for employment in clinical laboratory facilities, generally under the supervision of the appropriate technologist. The curriculum includes courses concerned with instruction in general education and phlebotomy. Technical skills are acquired through a clinical practicum; which is a competency-based system designed to prepare students for the workforce. Upon successful completion of the coursework, Southern University at Shreveport will grant a certificate in phlebotomy education. The student is then eligible to sit for the National Phlebotomy Registry.

Admission into the clinical practicum is competitive and based upon the number of clinical spaces available at local affiliated hospitals and other types of clinical facilities. Students are selected based on set criteria which include approval from the program’s admission committee.

The Phlebotomy Program is approved by the

National Accrediting Agency of Clinical Laboratory Sciences

5600 N. River Road, Suite 720

Rosemont, IL 60018

Phone: 773-714-8880

Fax: 773-714-8886

Program application is available in the Program Director’s Office (Metro Campus, Suite #307) and on the University website, in March for the fall semester clinical and September for the spring semester clinical. Deadline for completion of application packet – July 15th for the fall semester acceptance and November 30th for the spring semester acceptance.

Program Entrance Requirements

Admission into the program is competitive and based on selected entrance criteria:

  • High school diploma or equivalent
  • Program application are available:
  • Program Director’s Office - Metro Campus Suite #307
  • Website: www.susla.edu/phlebotomy
  • Due: July 15th for Fall and November 30th for Spring
  • College transcript(s) if applicable
  • Brief narrative of intent
  • Three (3) letters of reference
  • GPA of 2.0 or better
  • Interview with Phlebotomy Interview Committee
  • Applicants must be at least 18 years of age and be in sufficient mental and physical health to meet the minimum clinical performance standards.

The standards are:

Technical Standards or Essential Functions

Phlebotomy students must have abilities and skills as follows:

  • Observation – The applicant/student should be able to characterize color, odor, clarity and viscosity of biological, reagents or chemical reaction products. Therefore, the student must possess functional use of the senses of smell, vision and somatic sensation.
  • Communication The applicant/student must be able to communicate effectively and possess sensitivity orally and in writing with all members of the healthcare team. The student must have the ability to read and comprehend written material in order to correctly and independently perform laboratory test procedures.
  • Psychomotor Skills The applicant/student must possess gross and fine manual dexterity sufficient to handle specimens or reagents and phlebotomy equipment and perform analytical procedures requiring the use of small, delicate tools, equipment and instruments. The applicant/student must possess vision and dexterity which allows him/her to focus and view specimens using a binocular microscope.
  • Intellectual/Conceptual and Cognitive Abilities – The applicant/students must be able to measure, calculate, reason, analyze and synthesize, integrate and apply information. The applicant/student should be able to use sufficient judgment to recognize and correct performance and problem solve unexpected observations or outcomes of laboratory procedures.
  • Behavior and Social Attributes The applicant/student must possess the emotional health required for full utilization of his or her intellectual abilities, the exercise of good judgment, and the prompt completion of all responsibilities attendant to the performance of laboratory testing. Candidates must also be able to tolerate taxing workloads, function effectively under stress, adapt to a changing environment, display flexibility and function independently in the face of uncertainties or problems that might arise.
  • Ethical Standards – The applicant/student must demonstrate professional demeanor or behavior and must perform in an ethical manner in dealing with peers, faculty, staff and patients.
  • Academic Performance The applicant/student must be able to obtain relevant information from lectures, seminars, laboratory sessions or exercises, clinical laboratory practicums and independent study assignments.

Reasonable accommodations for persons with documented disabilities will be considered on an individual basis, but a candidate must be able to perform in an independent manner. There will be no discrimination in the selection of program participants based on race, creed, color, gender, age, marital status, national origin, or physical or mental disability, providing mandatory standards can be met.

Upon Admissions

  • Must be able to pass a Physician’s Physical Examination, CPR certification, present evidence of current immunization, Hepatitis vaccination, and TB screening prior to clinical setting.
  • Students are required to purchase uniforms and supplies.
  • As mandated by the Program’s Clinical Affiliate, all students are subject to criminal background check and drug screening.
  • A mandatory $150.00 entrance fee is required upon admission into the Phlebotomy Program.
  • An $90-$150 National Phlebotomy fee is required. Fee is subject to change.

Program Length

The Southern University at Shreveport Phlebotomy Technician Program is one (1) semester in length.

Program Progression

In order to successfully progress through the program, the student must:

  1. Achieve a grade of “C” 70% or higher in Phlebotomy 101S to be eligible for the clinical practicum Phlebotomy Practicum PHLE-210S.
  2. Pass the Comprehensive Written Final and Practicum Final with a “C” 70% or higher for PHLE-101S.
  3. Achieve a course overall average grade of “C” or higher in PHLE-101S, PHLE-210S, MLTC-105S, and ALLH-210S.
  4. Student has to pass the PHLE-210S Comprehensive Final (EXIT EXAM) with a 70% or higher. Student will be given two (2) attempts to pass the Exit Exam. The first test score will be averaged in the overall course grade. The retake test grade will not be averaged in the overall course grade but the student must pass the retake with a 70% or higher. If the student does not pass the EXIT EXAM with a 70% or higher after two (2) attempts they WILL NOT be eligible for graduation or be eligible to take the National Exam. Student will receive a grade of “D” for the PHLE-210S.
  5. Satisfactorily meet course objectives.
  6. Successful students will be awarded an institutional certificate of completion of the requirements for the Phlebotomy Technician Program.

Transfer of College Credit/Previous Students

Credit will be given for Phlebotomy courses from other institutions. Students that have taken and pass the Introduction to Phlebotomy with a “C” or higher will have to participate in regular class lectures, labs, exams, and do all assignments for a refresher. The student will take the Comprehensive Final exam for PHLE-101S (Introduction to Phlebotomy) and will need to score a 70% or higher “C” in order to continue on to the Clinical Phase (PHLE-210S: Clinical Practicum). The student will have two (2) attempts to pass the exam. If the student does not pass the exam, they will not be able to continue in the Program. The student will be required to withdrawal from the PHLE-210S (Clinical Practicum) course by the deadline for dropping courses with a “W”. NO EXCEPTIONS! If the student does not drop the PHLE-210S they will receive a grade of “F”.

Grading and Academic Requirements

This is a competency-based program. Each student is expected to successfully demonstrate competency in classroom work and in laboratory clinical skills. The syllabus for each course is presented to the student physically or electronically on or before the first day of class and contains unit or course objectives and the specific criteria for grade calculations. The criteria outlined in each specific course syllabus are used in determining grades. Unless otherwise stated in the syllabi, Phlebotomy courses require a minimum of 70% to pass each course.

The Phlebotomy courses use the following scale for determination of final grades:

A = 90-100%

B = 80-89%

C = 70-79%

D = 60-69%

F = 59% and below

Upon successful completion of the program and initial employment, the Phlebotomy technician should be able to demonstrate entry-level competencies in the areas of professional practice listed below:

  1. Demonstrate knowledge of the health care delivery system and medical terminology.
  2. Demonstrate knowledge of infection control and safety monitoring quality control within predetermined limits;
  3. Demonstrate 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.
  4. Demonstrate understanding of the importance of specimen collection and specimen integrity in the delivery of patient care.
  5. Demonstrate knowledge of collection equipment, various types of additives used, special precautions necessary and substances that can interfere in clinical analysis of blood constituents.
  6. Follow standard operating procedures to collect specimens.
  7. Demonstrate understanding of requisitioning, specimen transport and specimen processing.
  8. Demonstrate understanding of quality assurance and quality control in Phlebotomy.
  9. Communicate (verbally and nonverbally) effectively and appropriately in the workplace.

Career Pathway

At career entry, the Phlebotomy Technician will be able to perform routine blood collection procedures making specimen-oriented decisions on predetermined criteria, including pre-analytical errors that can significantly alter results. Communications skills will extend to frequent interactions with members of the healthcare team, external relations, customer service and patient education. Phlebotomists may perform waived and point of care testing and must be familiar with the processes and procedures to provide quality results. A Phlebotomist is prepared to work in a:

  • Hospital Laboratory
  • Clinic
  • Physician Office Laboratory
  • Reference Laboratory
  • Blood Donor Laboratory
  • Home health
  • Insurance Health Fair

Certification Eligibility

Upon completion of the Program the graduate is eligible for the national examinations for Phlebotomy offered by ASPT or ASCP. Passing of a national certification exam is not contingent for awarding the certificate of completion in Phlebotomy.

Fall or Spring Semester

ALLH-210S

3
MLTC-105SIntro to Medical Lab Tech

1
PHLE-101SIntro to Phlebotomy

3
PHLE-210S

9
Total Credit Hours:16

Total Credit Hours: 16

Advisors: Patricia Brown; Stephanie Bell