Practicum - Phlebotomy/Phlebotomist Syllabus for 2023-2024
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Instructor Information

Course Information

COVID-19 Protocols

Recording Policy

Disability Statement

If you have a disability (learning, mental, physical) that affects your ability to participate effectively and have access to any program or service at Amarillo College please contact Disability Services at (806) 345-5639 . Our offices are located in the Enrollment Center, Suite 700. More information may be found at www.actx.edu/disability.
Disability Services facilitates access to all programs and services according to the ADA, Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, as well as other federal and state laws.

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If you find you are unable to access material in an accessible format please contact the Disability Services Office at (806) 345-5639 . This office will work in conjunction with other campus resources to address and accommodate your issue in a timely manner.

Statement for Mental Health and Advocacy & Resource Center:

As a student you may experience a range of issues that can cause barriers to learning, such as strained relationships, increased anxiety, alcohol/drug problems, feeling down, difficulty concentrating and/or lack of motivation. These mental health concerns or stressful events may lead to diminished academic performance or reduce a student's ability to participate in daily activities. Amarillo College offers services to assist you with addressing these and other concerns you may be experiencing. If you or someone you know are suffering from any of the aforementioned conditions, you can learn more about the broad range of confidential mental health services available on campus by calling the AC Counseling Center at 806-371-5900. The AC Counseling Center website is https://www.actx.edu/counseling/ . Also, if you are in need of social services (affordable housing, utilities, transportation, food, clothing, childcare, medical/dental/vision, legal), please call the AC Advocacy & Resource Center at 806-371-5439. The AC Advocacy & Resource Center website is https://www.actx.edu/arc

Amarillo College Tutoring for Success Policy:

Tutoring for Success applies to any student whose overall performance in the course falls below 75%. The instructor will create the task in the Student Engagement Portal (Watermark) to direct the student to the appropriate tutoring service, which may be faculty- or SI-led, discipline-specific, and/or general. The tutoring service assigned, the due date for when the tutoring must be completed, and the amount of tutoring required are at the discretion of the instructor. Additionally, the task will alert the student’s success team. Students who do not fulfill the assigned tutoring task may be subject to program- and course-specific penalties that could result in a grade reduction and/or in not being allowed to progress in the course until the tutoring requirement has been satisfied.

Administrative Drop Policy

Students who do not attend class on or prior to the census date will be administratively dropped. Effective Fall, 2016

Student Withdrawal Procedures

Students who wish to withdraw from a course must complete all steps indicated on the Academic Withdrawal Request form by the course withdrawal deadline.

NOTE: Students who are attending Texas institutions of higher education, for the first time fall 2007 and later, may not withdraw from more than six courses during their academic career. This withdrawal limitation does not include dual credit or developmental classes (Senate Bill 1231 Rule 4.10.) For more information on Drop and Withdrawal Policies, please visit the Registrar's Office Web site.

Privacy Statement

The Amarillo College Privacy Policy is found at https://www.actx.edu/-amarillo-college-privacy-notice , and applies to all Amarillo College students.  If you have questions about this privacy statement or you believe that your personal information has been released without your consent, send email to humanresources@actx.edu .

Course

PLAB-1164-001 Practicum - Phlebotomy/Phlebotomist

Prerequisites

Corequisites: PLAB 1223

Course Description

Practical, general workplace training supported by an individualized learning plan developed by the employer, college and student.

Student ResourcesStudent Resources Website

Department Expectations

Occupational License Disclaimer

Notice to Students enrolled in an educational program for preparation of issuance of certain occupational licenses:

Students enrolled in an educational program in preparation for obtaining certain occupational licenses are potentially ineligible for such license if the student has been convicted of an offense. For further information, please contact:

Melodie Graves
Justice Involved Advocate
Student Service Center 117
mgraves24@actx.edu
806-371-5995
Make appointment at https://melodiegraves.youcanbook.me

You can also contact the Legal Clinic, or the faculty member in charge of the educational program that you seek to enroll in. The further information you will receive will include notification to you of your right to request a criminal history evaluation letter from the licensing authority in order to clarify your particular situation.

Hours

(1 sem hr; 7 practicum)

Class Type

Clinical

Syllabus Information

Textbooks

Phlebotomy Essentials by McCall 7e Bundle: Textbook, Workbook and Exam Review,  copyright 2020, 
ISBN# 9781284206364

Supplies

Supplies include the following:

• Textbook, Author's Workbook and lab manual
• Computer
• Internet access
• Sharpies
• Pens/pencils/paper

Student Performance

COURSE OUTCOMES

Demonstrate infection control and safety practices; describe quality assurance as it relates to specimen collection; explain the role of specimen collection in the overall patient care system; identify collection equipment, various types of additives used, special precautions necessary, and substances that can interfere in clinical analysis of blood constituents; demonstrate venipuncture and capillary puncture techniques on adults, children, and infants; and explain requisitioning, transport and processing.

Specific learning objectives for each section and each laboratory exercise are distributed as part of the lecture/lab handouts.

Students Rights and Responsibilities

Student Rights and Responsibilities

Log in using the AC Connect Portal

In order to receive your AC Connect Email, you must log in through AC Connect at https://acconnect.actx.edu .

If you are an active staff or faculty member according to Human Resources, use "Exchange". All other students, use "AC Connect (Google) Email".

Expected Student Behavior

ACADEMIC DISHONESTY
Academic dishonesty shall constitute a violation of the college rules and regulations and is punishable as prescribed by Amarillo College Board policies. Academic dishonesty shall include, but is not limited to, cheating on a test/quiz/assignment, plagiarism, and collusion. Cheating shall include:

• Copying from another student's test/assignment paper.
• Using test materials not authorized by the person administering the test/assignment (ex: notes, books, etc).
• Collaborating with or seeking aid from another student during a test/assignment without permission from the test/assignment administrator/instructor.
• Knowingly using, buying, selling, stealing, or soliciting, in whole or in part, the contents of an administered/unadministered test/assignment.
• The unauthorized transporting or removal, in whole or in part, of the contents of the administered/unadministered test/assignment.
• Substituting for another student, or permitting another student to substitute for one's self, to take a test/assignment.
• Bribing another person to obtain an administered/unadministered test/assignment or information about an administered/unadministered test/assignment.

Plagiarismshall be defined as the appropriating, buying, receiving as a gift, or obtaining by any means another's work and the unacknowledged submission or incorporation of it in one's own written work.

CELLULAR TELEPHONES
Cellular telephones are disruptive during lecture and lab sessions. Cell phones should be turned-off during clinicals.  If the student anticipates an emergency during class time, they should leave the number for the Student Services Office with their contact. The number is 371-5300.

 Text/Instant Messaging is NOT permitted when lectures and clinicals are in session.  It is disruptive and disrespectful to fellow workers, students, and the course instructor. Students who are caught engaging in either of these will be subject to disciplinary action including, but not limited to:

1. Being asked to leave class for the remainder of the day
2. Mandatory conference with the Assistant Dean of Career and Technical Programs
3. Conference with the Dean of Students and a permanent entry in the student's official program record
   
   The ONLY exception that will be made is if the student has discussed the situation with their instructor beforehand, and ONLY for emergency purposes.

GRIEVANCE PROCEDURE
If a student is having a problem with the course policies or the instructor, he or she should first try and resolve any such problems through the instructor. If the problem is not resolved, the student may proceed to the Program Director, the Dean of Health Sciences, Vice President of of Academic Affairs, and the College President, IN THAT ORDER.

Grading Criteria

A = 90.0% - 100.0% of the total points possible for this course

B = 80.0% - 89.9% of the total points possible for this course

C = 75.0% - 79.9% of the total points possible for this course

F = 74.9% or less of the total points possible for this course  NOTE: A grade of 'D' is not possible.

Students must maintain a 75% average in all the course components in order to be able to continue to the clinical portion of this course.  If a student makes lower than a 75% on a quiz or exam they will be required to participate in tutoring.

The course grade will consist of three parts:

25% Clinical Journal - within 24 hours of completion of a clinical rotation, the student is required to sign on to Blackboard and complete a clinical journal entry to include the date and location of the clinical, hours logged, total number of sticks completed, and how things went during the clinical.

25% Clinical Rotations- Included in this category is the average of student evaluations that are graded by the clinical instructors at the clinical sites.  These forms are found on Blackboard and each student is required to leave on form each time they attend a phlebotomy clinical rotation.  The second part of this grade is the completion of 100 clinical hours and 100 successful venipunctures.

50% Exams- There will be weekly exams that cover the chapters that were covered in the Part 1 of this course.  The student will be required to take exams each week and repeat them until they reach a minimum grade of 85% on each exam to successfully master the content.

Attendance

Regular attendance is necessary for satisfactory achievement. Therefore, it is the responsibility of the student to attend class. 90% attendance is required to successfully complete this course.  Attendance also includes arriving late and leaving early. 90% means you can only miss 1 clinical day. 

Attendance Policy ‑ The attendance policy must be strictly followed by each student to satisfactorily complete the course.

1. The student will schedule clinical time during class with the instructor and is expected to be at the clinical setting on time and have a professional appearance. If a student inevitably has to miss a clinical rotation they must contact both the instructor and the clinical site in which they are scheduled.  Failure to do so is considered a no call; no show and the student will receive an unsatisfactory grade for the course.
2. The student cannot miss more than one clinical rotation they are scheduled for to complete the course and receive a certificate.

Calendar

Additional Information

Student Dress Code during Clinical Rotation

Any student who does not adhere to the dress code will be sent home from the facility and it will be considered a missed clinical.

1. Students are required to wear scrubs to their clinical rotations. Any color or pattern can be worn as long as they have a professional appearance. There are to be no scrubs that have a business logo imprinted on them of any kind.
2. The AC phlebotomy T-shirt may be worn with appropriate colored scrub pants to clinical rotations.
3. Each student is responsible for acquiring a picture ID name badge from the business office. The name badge must be worn at all times during clinical rotations.
4. Shoes must be closed toe, low‑heeled, and soft soled such as nursing shoes or athletic shoes. Shoes should either be white or solid black and must be tastefully matched to their scrubs.
5. Student's hair must be clean, secured back off of the face and of a style that is professional in appearance. Hats cannot be worn at any time while at the clinical site.
6. Students should not wear any perfume, cologne or after-shave while in the clinical setting.  The student must arrive at clinicals with clean scrubs and professional appearance.
7. Jewelry should be kept to a minimum. Earrings and bracelets must not be loose or dangling.
8. Make‑up should be conservative and applied in such a manner as to maintain a      professional appearance. Nails should be clean and maintained at a length that will not interfere with performance of phlebotomy duties. Artificial nails or nail polish may not be worn.
9. Facial piercing jewelry is not allowed during clinical rotations.  Earrings are the only allowed jewelry on the face.  Tattoos must be covered.

Student Conduct at the Clinical Sites

1. The student will at all times during their clinical rotation conduct themselves in a professional manner.
2. The student should be at the clinical sites during their scheduled time only.   If the student is in a clinical shift that ends at midnight and the hospital phlebotomy staff allows the student to stay past their scheduled time, the instructor must be notified by email the following day.
3. During clinical rotations the student will follow the direction of the phlebotomists and supervisors of the participating facility. Any misconduct will result in the student being dismissed from the particular clinical rotation and it will be counted as a missed clinical.  If a student is asked to leave a clinical site and not return they will be dismissed from the course and will not be able to successfully complete the course.
4. The student should at no time fraternize with the instructors at the clinical sites during the course of this class.
5. While at the clinical setting the student should not participate in gossip, or use fowl language. Arguing with the any personnel in the facility is unacceptable, and the student will be dismissed from the course.  The student is not allowed to read magazines or newspapers during their clinical rotation.  Many times the workload allows the student to study, so it is encouraged that the student takes all phlebotomy textbooks and study questions to the rotations.
6. A No Smoking Policy is in effect for BSA, and NWTH, (including JO Wyatt and WCC).  The student is not allowed to arrive at the clinical setting with the smell of tobacco smoke on them.  The student is not allowed to smoke at any time during the rotation or anywhere on the facility grounds.
7. Cell phones are absolutely NOT ALLOWED at the clinical sites.  You will be asked to leave the facility if you carry a cell phone with you during the rotation.
8. REMEMBER that at all times, we are guests in the clinical facilities and we can be asked to leave at any time for any reason.