MEDA287 Phlebotomy Externship
Department of Health Sciences: Medical Assisting
- I. Course Number and Title
- MEDA287 Phlebotomy Externship
- II. Number of Credits
- 3 credits
- III. Number of Instructional Minutes
- 6750
- IV. Prerequisites
- MEDA120, MEDA204, MEDA205, and BIOL115 (OR BIOL181 and BIOL182) must be completed prior to taking this course. C or better is required in all pre/co-requisite courses. Permission of the School of Health Sciences is required.
- Corequisites
- MEDA120, MEDA204, MEDA205, and BIOL115 (OR BIOL181 and BIOL182) must be completed prior to taking this course. C or better is required in all pre/co-requisite courses. Permission of the School of Health Sciences is required.
- V. Other Pertinent Information
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Students must meet with the Clinical Coordinator, Health Sciences to begin the required application process. Site placement is based on student's GPA and MEDA204, Phlebotomy Procedures, and Techniques instructor's recommendation. Students who receive a grade of less than C in MEDA287 may not re-enroll in the Phlebotomy Certificate program. MEDA287 must be taken within two semesters of completion of MEDA204. A national board exam is offered on campus and can be taken prior to the externship.
Prior to Externship placement, students must submit (at their own expense):
- Requests for federal and state background checks
- Child Abuse History Clearance Form
- Certification of Health Status
- Certification in CPR: Health Care Provider
- A mandatory 10-panel expanded opiates drug screen to be completed no sooner than 30 days before the start of the externship
During externship, the following policies will apply:
- Students are required to attend and participate in an externship meeting arranged by the Clinical Coordinator, Health Sciences.
- Students must complete 120 hours of practice and documented via a log sheet established by the Health Science Department. The log is submitted to the MEDA 287 instructor and verified and evaluated as part of the student's final grade. Students who do not get at least 120 hours of practice will get a grade of F applied for the entire course.
- Students must complete at least 100 successful and unaided venipunctures via a log sheet established by the Health Sciences Department. The log sheet will be signed by the preceptor and submitted to the MEDA 287 instructor and verified and evaluated as part of the student's final grade. Students who do not get at least 100 unaided venipunctures will get a grade of F applied for the entire course.
- Students are evaluated for technical proficiency three times during the externship by the preceptor using a rubric established by the Health Science Department. This will be submitted to the MEDA 287 instructor and verified and evaluated as part of the student's final grade. Students achieving less than 24/30 on their third assessment will have a grade of F applied for the entire course.
- Students will also be evaluated and graded by the MEDA 287 instructor for other course learning objectives
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
- Students participate in an on-the-job experience in an affiliated healthcare facility perfecting venipuncture skills and perform a minimum of 100 successful venipunctures under supervision. Students are evaluated for technical proficiency and professionalism by the supervisor using criteria established by the coordinator in conjunction with the healthcare facility standards of performance.
- VII. Required Course Content and Direction
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Course Learning Goals
Students will:
- Perform successful venipunctures independently and safely in a clinical setting;
- Identify adverse reactions during and after phlebotomy;
- Communicate effectively with patients and members of the health care team both face to face and via telehealth;
- Process health information while maintaining confidentiality and security;
- Analyze professional demeanor and behavior of others in order to emulate appropriate behaviors; and
- Effectively collaborate with healthcare team members to successfully triage multiple priorities.
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Planned Sequence of Topics and/or Learning Activities
- troubleshooting difficult venipunctures
- certification exam prep
- communication skills
- record keeping
- scope of practice for a variety of health care team members
- conflict resolution
- providing/receiving constructive criticism
- HIPAA
- professional organizations
- professional development after graduation
- resume development
- interview skills
- attributes of a successful employee
- teamwork in the workplace
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Assessment Methods for Course Learning Goals
The assessment of course learning goals will be based on externship checklists and evaluations, classroom discussions, written exams, assignments, papers, and/or performance-based tasks and projects. -
Reference, Resource, or Learning Materials to be used by Student:
See course syllabus.
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Review/Approval Date - 11/02; Revised 4/05; Revised 12/2009 Number change 2014; Revised-3/2015; New Core 8/2015; Revised 12/2017;Revised: 11/21;Revised 02/20/25; Revised 4/3/2025