MLT 102 Phlebotomy

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course students will be able to:

1. Collect blood samples from patients of all ages using a variety of equipment while following safety regulations.
2. Describe the additives and types of tests performed on the most commonly used collection tubes
3. Summarize basic anatomy and physiology of the human body.
4. Explain the phlebotomist’s role and demonstrate professionalism in interacting with patients and other healthcare workers. 
5. Describe and perform basic lab procedures including routine urinalysis, point of care testing and the blood donation process.

The Ten Commandments of Phlebotomy

  1. Thou shalt protect thyself from injury.
  2. Thou shalt identify thy patients.
  3. Thou shalt puncture the skin at a 15-degree angle.
  4. Thou shalt glorify the medial vein.
  5. Thou shalt invert tubes with additives immediately after collection.
  6. Thou shalt collect specimens only from an acceptable site.
  7. Thou shalt label specimens at the bedside.
  8. Thou shalt stretch the skin at the puncture site.
  9. Thou shalt know when to quit.
  10. Thou shalt treat all patients as if they were family.

Professional Standards

Moral & Ethical Conduct

A student enrolled in the Community College of Philadelphia’s Phlebotomy Program assumes an obligation to conduct himself/herself in a manner compatible with the College’s function as an educational institution. This includes, but is not limited to, compliance with State and Federal laws. Any violation will result in a student’s immediate dismissal from the Program. Misconduct for which students are subject to discipline and possible dismissal from the Program includes:

  • Dishonesty, such as cheating, plagiarism, or knowingly furnishing false information to the College.
  • Forgery, alteration or misuse of College or clinical documents, records or identification.
  • Theft of, or damage to, property of the College or clinical affiliates, or of a member of the College community or clinical affiliate personnel, or campus visitor or patient.
  • Unauthorized entry to, or use of, College or clinical affiliate facilities.
  • Unauthorized exposure to radiation of any person without a physician requisition is a breach of ethics and Federal Law and results in immediate dismissal from the Program
  • Charge of, arrest for, and/or conviction of possession, use or distribution of any narcotic drug, central nervous system stimulant, hallucinogenic drug or barbiturate.
  • Disorderly conduct or lewd, indecent or obscene conduct or expression on college-owned or controlled property or within the clinical affiliate facilities.
  • The violation of a patient’s personal privacy, morally or ethically by a student during the period of clinical education.

The Program Director reserves the right to remove any student from the Program at any time if such action appears to be in the best interest of the Program and the clinical affiliate

Professional Conduct

Professionalism is the key to success as a Phlebotomy student and later as an active participant in the Phlebotomy profession. Students must understand the importance of such intangibles as effective communication, concern for others, ethical conduct, honesty, initiative, empathy, enthusiasm, loyalty, tact, dedication, cooperation, efficiency and professional sophistication. Students are representatives of not only the Program, but also the Community College of Philadelphia and affiliate hospitals and clinics. The Program sincerely hopes that student conduct will bring only compliments. Students are to adhere to the College’s Student Code of Conduct contained in the Appendix A. and the Student Handbook, which is available through the Student Life Center located in Room S1-19, the Regional Centers or online at www.ccp.edu. Students must always conduct themselves in a professional manner and maintain the common laws of courtesy.

The common laws of decency include, but are not limited to:

  • Unnecessary talking in class is distracting to faculty and to fellow students. When faculty is responding to the question(s) of student, all students in the class can profit by refraining from unnecessary talking while the question(s) is/are being answered.
  • Whether in the classroom or in the clinical facility, if a student is dissatisfied with ANY situation, they may request a conference with the respective faculty and/or Program Director.
  • Loud or boisterous conversation or activity in the classroom, College corridors, or in the clinical facilities is to be avoided.
  •  Smoking is prohibited in all College buildings and clinical facilities.
  •  Eating is NOT permitted in the College classroom/laboratory and in the laboratory of the clinical facilities.
  • Gum chewing during lab simulations and at the clinical facilities is not professional and will not be tolerated.
  • College faculty and clinical staff are appropriately referred to as Doctor, Mister, Miss or Mrs. and surname. 

E-mail Etiquette

Faculty will communicate with students via the provided MyCCP and home e-mail account. Students are required to have a working CCP e-mail address for communication purposes and are required to check it on a regular basis. If a student needs assistance and e-mails a faculty member, the e-mail request may be forwarded to an appropriate department or person who can assist. Students should be reminded that e-mail is not the same as text messaging, abbreviations are not appropriate, and messages should be addressed in a professional manner.

Social Networking

Students should be cognizant of statements, pictures and/or conversations posted on social networking sites. Use of social networking during scheduled classroom or clinical hours is strictly prohibited. Conversing on these sites regarding classes or clinical education will result in disciplinary action and possible dismissal from the Program.

Electronic Devices

Use of electronic devices of any kind is strictly prohibited in the clinical education setting. All devices should be turned off and left in the student locker during clinical hours. Students are welcome to bring laptop computers or tablets to class for academic purposes, however students found misusing devices during class (e.g. searching the web or posting on social networking sites) will be asked to remove the device and be subject to disciplinary action. Cell phones must be turned off or be set on silent mode during scheduled classroom, laboratory, and clinical assignments. If students have a family concern and would like to leave their cell phone on vibrate, they must notify faculty before class begins and let them know that they may have to step out to take an emergency call. Under no circumstances should these devices be used as calculators.

Phlebotomy Program Entry Requirements:

Admission is selective and requires that potential students fulfill all College admission requirements:
  1. High school diploma or general education diploma (GED).
  2. Being 18 years of age.
  3. English 101 and FNMT 017 placement (do not have to be taken before enrolling in the course).
  4. Verification of medical insurance.
  5. The student must present the following paperwork before admission to the program:

Required clearances: 

A. Criminal Background Check

  • Any felony conviction within the past 10 years results in denial of admission to the MLT program.
  • Any felony conviction more than 10 years old will be evaluated based on the nature of the offense, length of time since the offense and any explanatory letters/materials submitted by the applicant or student.
  • Any misdemeanor will be evaluated based on the nature of the offense, length of time since the offense, and explanatory letter/materials submitted by the applicant or students. (Any punishment over one year indicates a felony according to federal sentencing guidelines.)

B. Child Abuse Clearance

  • Any record results in denial of admission into the MLT program.

C.  Negative drug screen

  • The MLT program requires participation in clinical education. Some clinical affiliates of the MLT program require evidence of a negative drug screening test for a student to participate in the clinical part of the clinical laboratory program at their facility. Therefore, any student with a positive drug screening test cannot be admitted into the MLT program.

D. Health form*

  • Health clearance form completed by a health provider proving a copy of proof (printout of test results) of immunity to Measles, Mumps, Rubella, Varicella, Polio, Hepatitis B, 14 Diphtheria/Tetanus; proof of Influenza vaccine (only in the Fall/Spring), Absence of TB by QuantiFERON TB test. Revaccinations must be documented.

*Health form and clearances should be no older than 6 months before the classes start.

Application process: online registration is not available 

Applications along with the instructions for the obtaining clearances will be given at the Allied health office W1-1 starting: First week of April -for Fall semester, First week of October - for Spring semester, Second week of February - for Summer semester. The announcement about the applications release date will be posted on myccp website.

Admission will be granted to the students who will submit all the mandatory paperwork before the due date on the application (on the first come -first registered basis). The seats are limited to 24 students for the fall and spring semesters and 12 for summer I. The students will be notified via e-mail about acceptance into the program.

Schedule:

Fall and Spring: One two-hour lecture online with one-hour synchronous meeting and one 3 hour lab per week, plus one eight-hour day at the clinical site for the practice of phlebotomy.

Summer I: May – June. Two 2 hour lectures with one-hour synchronous meeting and two three-hour labs per week, plus two eight-hour days at the clinical site for the practice of phlebotomy.  

Disciplinary Action

Involvement in any incident which resulted in disciplinary action against a student at the Community College of Philadelphia or any post-secondary institution is considered in the admissions process. The Phlebotomy Program reserves the right to deny admission to any applicant who has a documented history of violating College rules and/or regulations or who has been previously suspended or expelled from the College or any other post-secondary educational institution. 

Reconsideration

An applicant who believes that an error of fact has been made in terms of the information provided to the decision-making committee can request reconsideration by the committee. This request must be made in writing within 10 days from the date of the letter notifying the applicant of the decision. The reconsideration should address what the applicant considers to be errors of fact. Following reconsideration by the decision-making committee, the applicant can appeal the committee's decision to the vice president for Academic Affairs whose decision is final.

Any official change or the initiation of any governmental proceeding affecting the information revealed by the required criminal or child abuse background check must be reported immediately to the Program Director.

Tuition, Fees and Program Expenses 

Continuation in the Phlebotomy Program requires all College financial obligations to be met. Tuition for the Phlebotomy Program varies based on student residency. Tuition and fees for College courses can be found by visiting www.ccp.edu. Additional Program expenses include textbooks, uniforms, and certification examination application fee.

Phlebotomy certificate 

All students successfully completing the program will receive a certificate of completion. All students will receive the certificate of completion and it is not contingent upon taking or passing the certification exam.