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Phlebotomy

Our Phlebotomy course has 72 hours of classroom training, and 120 hours of clinical. The classroom and lab portion of the class will be held at the Iowa Western Community College Campus in Council Bluffs. Clinical assignments will be made during the sixth week of the class. Students will be given an opportunity to participate in selecting clinical sites; however, the Program Instructor and Continuing Health Coordinator reserve the right to make the final decision for student assignments to clinical sites. 

For more information, please email phlebotomy@iwcc.edu

Prerequisites
Dress Code
Flyer and Registration Form

Description of the Profession

Phlebotomists are proficient in:

• collecting, transporting, handling and processing blood specimens for analysis;
• recognizing the importance of specimen collection in the overall patient care system;
• relating the anatomy and physiology of body systems and anatomic terminology to the major areas of the clinical laboratory, and to general pathologic conditions associated with body systems;
• identifying and selecting equipment, supplies and additives used in blood collection;
• recognizing factors that affect specimen collection procedures and test results, and taking appropriate actions within predetermined limits, when applicable;
• recognizing and adhering to infection control and safety policies and procedures;
• monitoring quality control within predetermined limits;
• recognizing the various components of the health care delivery system;
• recognizing the responsibilities of other laboratory and health care personnel and interacting with them with respect for their jobs and patient care;
• demonstrating professional conduct, stress management, interpersonal and communication skills with patients, peers and other health care personnel and with the public;
• demonstrating an understanding of requisitioning and the legal implications of their work environment;
• applying basic principles in learning new techniques and procedures;
• recognizing and acting upon individual needs for continuing education as a function of growth and maintenance of professional competence.

Phlebotomist duties may include:

• Drawing blood from patients or donors in hospitals, blood banks, clinics, doctor’s offices, laboratories or similar facility for medical purposes
• Assembling equipment such as needles, blood transfer devices, gauze, and tourniquets
• Accurate verification of the patient
• Communicating with the patient to minimize anxiety associated with a blood draw
• Practicing Infection Control and Safety Principles
• Labeling and storing blood for processing
• Screening potential donors and testing blood samples at a blood bank

Goals of the Phlebotomy Course

This course was designed to provide an overall review of the most current phlebotomy practices and procedures with an emphasis on the most important competencies in this field.  We will provide a variety of lecture, discussion, lab exercises and exams to give our students adequate preparation for the national certification exam.  We will provide adequate lab time and 120 hours of clinical time to provide the student with the opportunity to become skilled and gain confidence to work as a phlebotomist. 

Phlebotomy Course Objectives

Upon completion of this course, the student will:

1. Demonstrate knowledge of the health care delivery and medical terminology
2. Demonstrate knowledge of infection control and safety
3. Demonstrate basic understanding of the anatomy and physiology of the body, systems and anatomic terminology in order to relate major areas of clinical laboratory to general pathologic conditions associated with body systems
4. Demonstrate understanding of the importance of specimen collection and specimen integrity in the delivery of patient care
5. Demonstrate knowledge of collection equipment, various types of additives used, special precautions necessary and substances that can interfere in clinical analysis of blood constituents
6. Follow standard operating procedures to collect specimens
7. Demonstrate understanding of requisitioning, specimen transport and specimen processing
8. Demonstrate understanding of quality assurance and quality control in phlebotomy
9. Communicate (verbally and nonverbally) effectively and appropriately in the workplace, being mindful and in compliance with HIPAA

Course Hours

This Phlebotomy Course is a total of 192 hours.  You will attend 64 hours of classroom, 120 hours of clinical at a hospital laboratory and then 8 hours of classroom to wrap up and review for the National Exam. 

Fees & Costs

Fee:  $895 (no personal checks)  Book may be purchased separately at IWCC’s bookstore

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Primary Textbook

The Complete Textbook of Phlebotomy, 4th Edition by Lynn Hoeltke.
ISBN-13: 9780840022998
ISBN: 0840022999
Pub. Date: January 2012
Publisher: Cengage Learning

Costs

Students are responsible for all charges and expenses related to injury/needlestick obtained in class, lab or in the clinical setting. 

Refund Policy

1. There will be a fee of $300 for all withdrawals
2. No refunds for withdrawals after July 19, 2013