Curriculum

The Mayo School of Health Sciences' (MSHS) Phlebotomy Technician Certificate Program curriculum is designed to provide students with the knowledge and skills necessary for careers working in an outpatient/clinic or inpatient/hospital setting. The program provides high-quality didactic and clinical experiences, which include exposure to a large, diverse patient population to create a well-rounded, fully competent phlebotomy technician. The students learn medical terminology, anatomy and physiology (as applicable to phlebotomy), customer service skills, safety procedures, capillary collections, arterial and venous collections for blood-gas testing, a high-level overview of laboratory processing, computer skills and more.

During the 10-week program, students are required to perform 120 successful phlebotomy collections within the outpatient setting prior to advancing to the inpatient setting. The students then continue with venous collections; however, they will additionally be exposed to arterial-punctures, collecting specimens from arterial lines and assisting nurses with central line collections. Students must complete approximately 160 total clinical training hours.

The students also work with other health care professionals in both the outpatient and inpatient environments to gain knowledge in the role of being involved in a patient's total care experience. Professional and ethical conduct is expected of students at all times.

Grading or Evaluation
Mayo School of Health Sciences uses these evaluative tools:

• Written examinations and worksheets
• Hands-on demonstration of skills
• Self-assessment exercises
• Faculty reviews

Mayo's system of evaluation provides students and faculty with a comprehensive look at individual performance. Because programs are small, faculty members are partners in learning with students and closely monitor their progress. Assistance is provided whenever necessary to keep all students on track with the program's learning goals and outcomes.

Curriculum Enhancements
Mayo School of Health Sciences is committed to developing and maintaining the best education programs. The curriculum and other aspects of this program are assessed constantly and changed, as necessary, to assure the highest-quality training.

Pending the forthcoming approval from the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Science (NAACLS) for this program, students will be eligible to take a national certifying examination for the Phlebotomy Technician immediately upon completion of the program.

Certification Opportunities
Certification is a process by which nongovernmental agencies or associations grant recognition of competence to individuals who have met certain predetermined qualifications. Certification provides professional credentialing for phlebotomists. The course is designed to prepare students for certification from one or more of the following organizations:

• National Credentialing Agency for Laboratory Personnel, Inc. (NCA)
• American Society of Clinical Pathology (ASCP)
• National Healthcareer Association (NHA)
• National Center for Competency Testing — National Certified Phlebotomy Technician

Mayo Clinic does not own or control any of these sites and is not responsible for their content. Inclusion of these sites does not imply endorsement by Mayo Clinic.

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