HLTH 1404 Phlebotomy Techniques Syllabus 010 Fall 2026

Specific Course Outcomes

Upon completion the student will be able to:

Describe the duties and responsibilities of the phlebotomist in the health care delivery system.

1. Describe factors that influence effective patient communication.
2. Describe proper techniques for intra and extra-laboratory communications.
3. Describe the protocol for instructing, gathering information from, and preparing patients for laboratory testing.
4. Describe the importance of respecting and valuing a patient’s gender, racial, religious and ethnic backgrounds.
5. Describe ethical and professional behavior.
6. Identify expected standards of performance.
7. Describe the various departments and health care providers within the healthcare setting.
8. Identify the phlebotomist’s role as a member of this health care team.
9. Describe the organizational structure of the clinical laboratory department and the major departments.
10. List qualifications and roles of the clinical laboratory personnel
11. Identify the meaning of word roots, prefixes, suffixes, and abbreviations common to phlebotomy and the clinical laboratory.
12. Identify the major diagnostic tests performed in the various departments of the clinical laboratory.
13. Define terminology related to infection control and safety
14. Use appropriate safety equipment in the collection of patient specimens.
15. Identify components of the chain of infection.
16. Identify procedures used to break the chain of infection.
17. List examples of blood borne pathogens
18. Describe procedures to be followed after an exposure incident.
19. Describe proper techniques for hand washing.
20. Describe proper procedures for gowning, gloving, masking, and double-bagging when entering and exiting the various isolation settings.
21. Identify diseases for which isolation precautions would be needed.
22. Describe the different isolation procedures for the various conditions.
23. List physical hazards encountered in the laboratory.
24. Identify safety rules to follow when physical hazards are encountered in the healthcare facility – fire, electrical, and radiation
25. List biological hazards encountered in the laboratory.
26. Identify safety rules to follow when biological hazards are encountered in the healthcare facility.
27. Identify symptoms and treatment of shock.
28. Describe treatment for external hemorrhage.
29. Use the OSHA Standard Precautions.
30. Identify the purpose of Safety Data Sheets.
31. Describe the ways patient safety is ensured in various phlebotomy settings.
32. Describe the system for monitoring quality assessment in the collection of blood specimens.
33. Identify the quality control procedures that need to be monitored.
34. Describe the major points of the American Hospital Associations’ Patient Care Partnership
35. Describe coping skills to deal with stressful working environments.
36. Describe the role of computer information systems in the clinical laboratory.

Demonstrate basic understanding of the anatomy and physiology of body systems and medical terminology as it relates to the major areas of the clinical laboratory.

1. Identify directional terms in relationship to the body in anatomic position.
2. Identify body planes in relationship to the body in anatomic position.
3. Identify body cavities in relationship to the body in anatomic position.
4. Explain the general hemostatic and coagulation process.
5. Describe the process of metabolism.
6. Identify the structural organization of the body.
7. Describe the function of the main body systems: skeletal, muscular, reproductive, digestive, endocrine, nervous, urinary tract, integumentary, and respiratory systems.
8. Identify the structures of the main body systems: skeletal, muscular, reproductive, digestive, endocrine, nervous, urinary tract, integumentary, and respiratory systems.
9. Identify disorders and diagnostic tests commonly associated with each of the major systems of the body.
10. Identify the major structures of the circulatory system.
11. Describe the primary functions of the circulatory system.
12. Describe the function of the major constituents of blood.
13. List the properties of arterial, venous, and capillary blood.
14. Differentiate serum and plasma.
15. Describe the relationship between the cardiac cycle and blood pressure readings
16. Describe the relationship between the cardiac cycle and pulse rates.
17. Identify how an ECG tracing relates to the cardiac cycle and the health of the heart.
18. Identify the veins on which phlebotomy can be performed and describe the suitability of each (emphasis on hands, arms, legs and feet)Identify the equipment and supplies utilized in blood and non-blood specimen collection and the methods of processing and handling.

List the types of equipment needed to collect blood by venipunctures – evacuated tube system, butterfly, and syringe.

1. List the types of equipment needed to collect blood by dermal puncture.
2. Identify the types of equipment needed to collect blood by arterial puncture.
3. Select the types of equipment needed to collect blood by the appropriate methods.
4. Compare and contrast antiseptics and disinfectants.
5. Describe the purpose of using a tourniquet for performing a venipuncture.
6. Identify the effect of using a tourniquet when performing a venipuncture.
7. Identify the types and use of additives and/or anticoagulants used in blood collection.
8. Identify the use of additives and/or anticoagulants used in blood collection.
9. Identify the mode of action of anticoagulants used in blood collection.
10. List the color coding associated with each type of additive and/or anticoagulants used in blood collection.
11. Identify the different types of specimens that are collected for the various departments of the clinical laboratory.
12. Describe the criteria used for determining the suitability of a specimen for analysis.
13. List reasons for specimen rejection or recollection.
14. Describe substances that can interfere with the analysis of blood constituents
15. Identify ways to avoid the substances that can interfere with the analysis of specimens.
16. Describe the proper methods of labeling specimens for laboratory analyses.
17. Describe the protocols for handling and processing specimens.
18. Demonstrate the proper use of a centrifuge.
19. Describe the protocols for transport and storage of specimens - both internal and external to the laboratory.
20. Identify the types of non-blood specimens.
21. Describe the use of non-blood specimens.
22. Describe methods of patient instruction for the collection of non-blood specimens.
23. Identify proper methods of labeling and handling non-blood specimens.
24. Identify potential pre-analytical errors that may occur during specimen collection, labeling, transporting, and processing – to include clerical and technical errors.
25. Describe the criterion that is used for the collection of laboratory samples that require chain of custody.

Apply proper technique in collection of blood by venipunctures and dermal puncture
procedures.

1. Describe the importance of proper patient/sample identification.
2. Identify how to handle discrepancies with patient/sample identification.
3. Identify potential sites for venipunctures.
4. Identify potential sites for arterial punctures,
5. Identify potential sites for dermal punctures.
6. List factors to consider when selecting potential sites.
7. Identify special precautions necessary during blood collections.
8. Identify complications associated with blood collection.
9. Describe how complications may affect the patient and/or the integrity of the specimen.
10. Describe and/or demonstrate each step, in order, for venipuncture procedures – evacuated tube system, butterfly, and syringe.
11. Describe and/or demonstrate each step, in order, for dermal puncture procedures.
12. Identify each step in the procedure used to collect blood by arterial puncture.
13. Describe unique requirements associated with drawing from special populations including pediatric and geriatric patients.
14. Identify alternate collection sites for arterial, dermal puncture, and venipunctures.
15. Identify limitations when collecting blood by arterial, dermal puncture, and venipunctures.
16. Describe the protocol for collection of a blood sample from a sterile site.
17. Describe the situations that may lead to failure to obtain blood.
18. List the acceptable reasons for inability to collect a specimen.
19. Describe point-of-care testing and its purpose.
20. Describe how quality control results are documented.
21. Explain the steps to be taken if quality control results do not meet expected levels.
22. Perform a minimum of 14 observed venipunctures, 10 using the evacuated tube system, 2 syringe, and 2 butterfly collection system as assigned by the instructor.