Specimen Collection & Handling (Phlebotomy) Certificate
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Profession - What is a Phlebotomist?
Phlebotomists are healthcare professionals trained to collect blood specimens and other body fluids, such as urine, in a clinical environment. These individuals usually work under the supervision of a Clinical Laboratory Scientist or Physician. One of the most critical factors of clinical laboratory testing and a physician's diagnosis is proper sample collection of testing samples.
Skills - What kind of skills should a Phlebotomist have?
A successful phlebotomist is familiar and comfortable in a medical/clinical environment. The individual should possess compassionate interpersonal skills, perform well under pressure, communicate effectively, be task oriented, attentive to details and complex procedures, and have excellent manual dexterity.
Career Employment - Where do they work?
Phlebotomists typically find employment in hospitals, commercial laboratories, private physician offices, home health agencies, public health clinics, research institutions, biomedical and pharmaceutical firms and insurance companies.
Career Opportunities - Are jobs available? How much will I make?
The median expected salary for a phlebotomist in the Las Vegas area is $28,080 ($13.50/hour) according to http://swz.salary.com well above the national average ($11.50/hour). Employment opportunities are expected to increase 10-20 % over the next decade due to the increased demand for skilled laboratory personnel. A rapidly growing geriatric population will spur demand, as the elderly generally have more medical problems. Part-time jobs are always available as the need for skilled professionals continues to increase.
The CLS Program at UNLV which is approved by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Science (NAACLS) is designed for the student who is already enrolled in a science-based college major but who wants to begin their opportunities for a career in laboratory medicine prior to graduation with their degree. This program is flexibly designed to coordinate the schedules of busy students and the program's clinical affiliation sites.
Prerequisite coursework includes Mathematics 124 (College Algebra or higher), Biology 189 (Fundamentals of Life Sciences) and Biology 196 (Principles of Modern Biology) with a grade of C or better.
Admission Requirements
Please note - this certificate program is designed for the student who is already enrolled in college working on an undergraduate degree in Health Sciences or Basic Sciences. Due to liability and legal requirements for clinical practice, students who wish to enter the Phlebotomy program must meet the following requirements:
- Enrollment in Good Standing at UNLV
- Grade of C or better in MATH 124, BIOL 189 and 196 or equivalent courses
- Overall College GPA of 2.5
- Negative Drug Screen
- Criminal Background Check – approval by clinical site criteria
- Proof of medical insurance during enrollment in CLS courses
- Proper immunizations including Hepatitis B (Hep A recommended) and a TB skin test
- Phlebotomy Certificate Application (PDF)
Certificate of Proficiency in Specimen Collection & Handling
Upon completion of the program requirements, students are eligible to take the phlebotomy certification examination offered by the National Credentialing Agency for Clinical Laboratory Personnel (NCACLP http://nca-info.org/) or the American Society of Clinical Pathologists (ASCP www.ascp.org/certification). After successful completion of the ASCP or NCACLP national certification examination students will be eligible for completion of Licensure process as a Laboratory Aide with State of Nevada
Specimen Collection & Handling (Phlebotomy) Certificate Program Course Requirements
MATH 124 College Algebra
Equations and inequalities; relations and functions; linear, quadratic, polynomial, exponential, and logarithm functions; systems of linear equations and inequalities; matrices; sequences and series; binomial theorem. Prerequisites: Three years of high school mathematics at the level of algebra and above, and a satisfactory score on the Math Placement Test or MATH 096 or equivalent. 3 credits.
BIOL 189 Fundamentals of Life Science
Fundamentals of Life Science is an intensive course intended primarily for biological and health science majors. It covers basic principles in biochemistry, cell structure and function, genetics, physiology, evolution and ecology and helps create the necessary intellectual foundation for upper division courses. The course is comprised of two lectures and one laboratory per week totaling 4 credits. BIO 189 satisfies the General Education Core requirement for a laboratory science course.
BIOL 196 Principles of Modern Biology I: Principles of Modern Biology I is intended primarily for life sciences majors. It covers basic principles in the following areas: cell structure and function, the molecular basis of genetics and cell physiology. A laboratory section reinforces these themes with "hands-on"activities and individual/group learning exercises. The course is comprised of two lectures and one laboratory per week totaling 4 credits.
CLS 402 Principles of Laboratory Specimen Collection & Processing
Specimen collection and processing for medical diagnoses including: hospital and laboratory organizational structures; safety; infection control; patient rights; professionalism; medical terminology; cardiovascular system; POCT, CLIA waived testing: glucose, coag, Hct, slide prep, UA, ESR, Troponin, Preg. & Occ Bld. Emphasis on patient care, interpretation and problem solving. Includes laboratory. Prerequisite: BIOL 196. 2 credits
CLS 403 Specimen Collection Clinical Practicum
Supervised clinical practicum experience to develop competencies in laboratory equipment, specimen collection, processing and direct testing. Including: blood (arterial, venipuncture, capillary), non-blood, timed, chain-of-custody samples; POCT and CLIA waived testing (glucose, Coag, Hct, slide prep, UA, ESR, Troponin, Pregs, Occ Bld). Emphasis on patient management and problem solving. Corequisite CLS 402. 1 credit
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