Phlebotomy—More About the Program

A phlebotomist is an integral member of the medical laboratory team. Laboratory scientists, technologists and technicians require blood specimens that have been obtained promptly, efficiently and safely by qualified phlebotomists.

Phlebotomists must be well trained in all aspects of specimen collection and handling, and must also be able to maintain high standards of professionalism with clients or patients.

To insure quality training is available to persons interested in this field, Moraine Valley Community College offers a Phlebotomy Training Program. This program is approved by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS)*. This nine-credit program presents the basics of phlebotomy in a three-course sequence.

PHB-110 Principles and Practice of Phlebotomy (6 Credit Hours)
PHB-110 is a six-credit hour course which consists of lecture and laboratory components. Lecture topics addressed in this course include medical terminology, anatomy and physiology appropriate to the practice of phlebotomy, professionalism, safety, infection control, including isolation techniques, blood collection equipment and blood collection procedures, including venipuncture, skin puncture, arterial puncture, special collection procedures, specimen processing and point of care testing. Communication techniques are also explored.

The laboratory component includes instruction, demonstration and practice of blood collection procedures. This course trains students to be effective participants on a medical laboratory team. The first half of the course is most academically challenging. The last half of the course concentrates on preparing the student for the clinical experience and obtaining blood samples by venipuncture. To successfully complete PHB-110, students must complete at least 55 successful venipunctures: 30 taken from artificial arm and 25 from fellow students. PHB-110, “Principles and Practice of Phlebotomy” is offered every semester, including morning, afternoon and evening sections. For up-to-the-minute scheduling information. Successful completion of PHB-110 is a prerequisite for PHB-111 and PHB-112.

PHB-111 Phlebotomy Clinical Practice Seminar (1 Credit Hour)
PHB-111 is a one-credit hour course and is designed as a capstone experience for students assigned to a phlebotomy clinical rotation. Discussion topics include student reaction to supervised clinical experiences, professional issues related to the student’s clinical rotation and/or the field of phlebotomy, communication skills appropriate for a diverse patient population, and application of customer service skills; preparation for the job market through assignments of the skills checklist, application, resume, cover letter and interview questions; and, readiness for a national certification exam via the Study Plan assignment review and the Mock Certification Exam. PHB-111 is a co-requisite to PHB-112, “Phlebotomy Clinical Practice”.

PHB-112—Phlebotomy Clinical Practice (2 Credit Hours)
PHB-112 is a two-credit hour course consisting of 120 contact hours of supervised clinical practice of phlebotomy at one of the Moraine Valley Community College Phlebotomy Program’s clinical affiliate sites. This course provides the student with additional phlebotomy practice in a clinical setting and is designed to develop student blood collection skills to a level consistent with entry into the profession.

Only one student is scheduled at a clinical facility at a time. Therefore, student clinical rotations are staggered throughout the semester. Present sites include the following:

• Adventist LaGrange Memorial Hospital

• Advocate Christ Hospital

• Advocate South Suburban Hospital

• Alverno Clinical Laboratories/Patient Service Center Division

• Alverno Clinical Laboratories/St. James Hospital, Chicago Heights

• Alverno Clinical Laboratories/St. James Hospital at Olympia Fields

• Edward Hospital

• Ingalls Memorial Hospital

• Little Company of Mary Hospital

• Northern Illinois Clinical Laboratories

• Palos Community Hospital

• Pronger Smith Medical Care

• Quest Diagnostics/Naperville

• Silver Cross Hospital

Certification Exams
After successful completion of PHB-110, PHB-111 and PHB-112, and graduation from the program, students are eligible to take a national certification exam of their choice. Certifying agencies include the American Society of Clinical Pathologists (ASCP), International Academy of Phlebotomy Sciences Inc., National Certification Agency (NCA), and the National Phlebotomy Association (NPA).

This program is intended to lead to employment. If you are considering transferring to a four-year college or university to obtain a bachelor’s degree using the courses from this program, make an appointment with an academic advisor to review your options.

*National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS)
5600 N. River Road, Suite 720
Rosemont, IL 60018-5119
Phone: (773)714-8880
Web Site: http://www.naacls.org