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Students can earn phlebotomy certificate by simply drawing blood at CAC
Received article
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
5/27/09 -- PINAL COUNTY, AZ -- Central Arizona College is offering a certificate in drawing blood - and there is no truth to the rumor that Anne Rice or any of her fanged creations will be teaching the class.
Available throughout the Pinal County Community College District, CAC's phlebotomy certificate is a seven-credit, two-course program that trains professionals in the delicate technique of siphoning blood from the veins of patients.
The certificate will be taught in two parts that will feature eight weeks of class instruction followed by eight weeks of clinical work.
The clinical portion of the certificate will be held at regional medical facilities in the area, while the course instruction will take place at varying times on both the Signal Peak and Superstition Mountain campuses.
"Phlebotomists are responsible for a wide array of duties in medical settings and, as a result, are trained in a variety of skills," Janice Vermiglio-Smith, professor of allied health and division chair for the program, explained. "Phlebotomists need to have great attention to detail, good hand-eye coordination, strong interpersonal relationship abilities, and excellent organizational skills."
Phlebotomists must adhere to the same confidentiality restrictions as doctors and nurses, and are entrusted with following the strict safety precautions that guide the profession.
Also known as venipuncture, the pulse of phlebotomy is hastening throughout the country.
"According to the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of clinical laboratory workers, including phlebotomy technicians, is expected to grow as the volume of lab tests increases," Vermiglio-Smith said. "This can be attributed to both population growth and the development of new tests."
Even though drawing blood is a primary function of a phlebotomist, additional duties may include clerical and routine laboratory tasks, computer entry, and the need to take precautionary measures to avoid the transmission of infectious diseases. Handling pressure is a given.
"Phlebotomists must remain calm in front of patients," Vermiglio-Smith said. "They can not act anxious or become nervous when performing the unpleasant task of blood draw. It takes significant training to prepare students for the responsibility of performing what really is a delicate microsurgical procedure."
To earn the certificate, students must complete 100 successful venipunctures, complete 160 hours in an eight-week clinical setting, observe a blood gas with respiratory therapy, and complete 10 finger sticks.
The phlebotomy certificate is just one of many health career programs taught at Central Arizona College. To find out more about the phlebotomy certificate or any of the other health career programs at CAC, please call the Health Careers Office at (480) 677-7787.
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