MEDA204 Phlebotomy Procedures and Techniques
Department of Health Sciences: Medical Assisting
- I. Course Number and Title
- MEDA204 Phlebotomy Procedures and Techniques
- II. Number of Credits
- 4 credits
- III. Number of Instructional Minutes
- 3000
- IV. Prerequisites
- MEDA120, and BIOL115 OR BIOL181 and BIOL182
- Corequisites
- MEDA120, and BIOL115 OR BIOL181 and BIOL182
- V. Other Pertinent Information
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Lab fees apply. Hospital scrubs are required
Please note: This course is to be taken right before externship- with no more than two semesters delay. For placement into externship (MEDA287), students must achieve a passing grade of C or better in all courses of the #3166 Phlebotomy Program, as well as permission of the Department of Health Sciences Clinical Coordinator.
Lecture-laboratory format to include in-class, hybrid, and/or online presentation of content and laboratory material.
FUNCTIONAL ABILITIES The Functional abilities or technical standards listed below are a group of minimal physical and cognitive abilities as well as sufficient mental and emotional stability to be employable as a competent Phlebotomy Professional..
Essential Cognitive Functions:
- Communicate effectively in written and spoken English
- Ability to read, understand and follow directions printed in English
- Possess the psychological health required for full utilization of abilities: reasoning, sound judgment, analytic ability
- Computer literacy is essential in blended courses
Essential Affective Functions:
- Follow written and verbal directions
- Work effectively under time constraints and under pressure
- Work independently
- Prioritize workload, according to laboratory department needs, when multitasking
- Maintain alertness and concentration in a loud and hectic environment
- Apply knowledge, skills, and values learned from course work and life experiences to new situations
- Work safely with potential chemical and biologic hazards using universal precautions
- Show respect for self and others
- Projects an image of professionalism including appearance, dress, and confidence
Essential Psychomotor Functions:
- Move freely from one location to another in physical locations such as the clinical laboratory, patient care areas, corridors, and elevators
- Possess sufficient eye motor coordination to allow delicate manipulations of specimens, instruments, and tools
- Grasp and release small objects (test tubes, pipettes, microscope slides)
- Manipulate other laboratory materials (reagents, manual and automated pipettes, etc.)
- Pick up, lift, push, pull, and carry up to 10 lbs
- Assist with a fainting or fainted patient having an adverse reaction to draw procedure
- Possess a sense of touch and temperature discrimination
- Use hands for repetitive activity
- Ability to use hand(s) or prosthetic devices with coordination
- Hearing: ability to adapt with assistive devices (i.e., phone receivers, hearing aid, etc.)
- Vision: ability to distinguish red, yellow and blue colors; distinguish clear from cloudy
- VI. Catalog Course Description
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This course provides skill development in the performance of blood collection using proper techniques and standard precautions. Topics include phlebotomy equipment and procedures for collecting venipuncture and capillary specimens. Emphasis is on patient identification, safety, preanalytic variables, infection control and specimen handling.
- VII. Required Course Content and Direction
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Course Learning Goals
Students will:
- Identify the role of a phlebotomist in the clinical laboratory environment;
- perform venipunctures and capillary punctures using safe and effective procedures;
- define preanalytical variables and complications associated with blood collection; and
- Correlate common lab tests with human organ systems.
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Planned Sequence of Topics and/or Learning Activities
- phlebotomy and the health care setting
- quality assurance and legal issues
- infection control and safety
- blood collection equipment, additives, and order of draw
- the circulatory system
- venipuncture procedures
- preanalytical considerations
- capillary puncture equipment and procedures
- special collections and point-of-care testing
- specimen handling and processing
- nonblood specimens and tests
- arterial puncture procedures
- competencies
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Assessment Methods for Course Learning Goals
The assessment of course learning goals is based on exams, quizzes, assignments, class or online participation, case studies and clinical competencies. A minimum of six (6) exams are administrated. -
Reference, Resource, or Learning Materials to be used by Student:
See course syllabus.
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Review/Approval Date - 10/04; Revised 4/05; Revised 12/2009; Revised 3/2015; New Core 8/2015; Revised 01/03/2019; Revised 04/05/24; Revised 02/25/25