Phlebotomy

1. Must be 18 years old by the first day of class
2. Must have a valid social security card
3. Academic requirements for State Licensure

• Provide an official transcript showing graduation date from an accredited high school in the U.S; OR
• Pass one of the following tests:
  • General Educational Development (GED)
  • High School Equivalency (HiSET)
  • California High School Proficiency Examination (CHSPE); OR
• Provide official transcripts showing credit for general education courses completed at an accredited college or university.
• All non-U.S. transcripts must be evaluated by “Current Members” of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) or “Endorsed Members” of the Association of International Credential Evaluators, Inc. (AICE). Official transcript from the university is required in addition to the evaluation. The evaluation service will send an evaluation of your educational institution and academic courses directly to LFS.

Apply

Acceptance into the Phlebotomy Program is by an application process.

• Spring applications for the Rocklin Campus: Accepted October 1 through October 31 (or the last business day prior).
• Fall applications for the Rocklin Campus: Accepted May 1 through May 28 (or the last business day prior)

Submit a Phlebotomy Application

Application Deadline

The applications must be mailed to:

Sierra College Nursing and Allied Health Department
5100 Sierra College Blvd.
Bldg. RN-1, Room 100
Rocklin, CA 95677

All applications must be received:

• No later than October 31 (or the last business day prior) for spring applications
• No later than May 28 (or the last business day prior) for fall applications

Nursing Department Office Hours:

• Monday – Thursday, 8am to 4pm
• Friday, 8am to Noon

Orientation

Students must attend orientation at the Rocklin campus. The Phlebotomy class will be randomly selected from the orientation attendees who also applied within the correct time frame.

• Fall Phlebotomy Program Orientation – Held the first week in June
• Spring Phlebotomy Program Orientation – Held the second week in November

Specific orientation dates will be emailed to applicants after applications are received and reviewed.

These are the essential functions required of ALL medical Phlebotomy students:

Motor Capability

1. Move from room to room and maneuver in small spaces.
2. Lift and carry up to 30 pounds.
3. Squat, bend/stoop, reach above shoulder level, kneel, and climb stairs.
4. Use hands repetitively; possess manual dexterity, and the ability to keep a steady hand.
5. Adjust, apply, and clean supplies and equipment.
6. Perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).
7. Travel to and from academic and clinical sites.
8. In the average clinical day, students sit 1-2 hours, stand 6-7 hours and travel 1-2 hours.
9. Ability to wear PPE (Personal Protective Equipment: medical gloves, medical mask/N95, fluid resistant gown, face shield/goggles)
10. Ability to perform duties while wearing PPE.

Sensory Capability

1. Coordinate verbal and manual instructions.
2. Assess a client 10 feet away to observe patient posture and physical well-being.
3. Respond to a timer, alarm, or cries for help.
4. Hearing, visual, and tactile ability sufficient to assess patient status to perform specimen collection and processing. Example: color changes in skin, palpate pulse, palpate veins for venipuncture, collect body fluid samples.

Communication Ability

1. Communicate effectively in English (verbal, understand and written) with patients, families, and other health care providers. Example: explain procedures, understand questions, educate, and document in medical records.
2. Effectively adapt communication for intended audience.
3. Interact, establish rapport with individuals, families, and groups from a variety of social, emotional, cultural, religious, and intellectual backgrounds.
4. Assume the role of a health care team member.
5. Function effectively under supervision

Problem Solving Ability

1. Function effectively under stress.
2. Test-taking ability within predefined time constraints.
3. Respond appropriately to emergencies.
4. Adhere to infection control procedures.
5. Demonstrate problem-solving skills in client care (measure, calculate, reason, prioritize and synthesize data).
6. Use sound judgement and safety precautions.
7. Critically think and address problems or questions to the appropriate person at the appropriate time.
8. Organize and prioritize tasks.
9. Follow the policies and procedures required by clinical and academic settings.

• Provide proof of Basic Life Support CPR from the American Heart Association that is current through the semester
• Submit to a criminal background check. Must have a negative background check to participate.
• Submit to drug testing. Must have a negative drug test to participate.
• Undergo a physical examination
• Provide proof of vaccination and/or immunity to the following:
  • COVID vaccination (up to date with Centers for Disease Control guidelines)
  • measles, mumps and rubella
  • varicella
  • hepatitis B
  • Tdap vaccine
  • influenza (current year vaccination)
• Provide proof of freedom from tuberculosis
• Understand that lecture and lab are mandatory and cannot be missed
• Understand that a 40-hour, one-week externship will be completed during the semester

Skills

To be a Phlebotomist, you should:

• Have great verbal and written communication skills
• Work well both independently and in a team
• Follow directions, multi-task and have high attention to detail
• Be comfortable using a computer
• Have good coordination with hands
• Work effectively under stress

Duties

• Preparing patient for blood draw
• Educating patient on draw procedures
• Anticipating and respond to pre-examination variables and venipuncture complications
• Performing venipuncture, skin puncture and specimen processing
• Propper collection of blood and other specimens
• Propper handling, labeling and transporting of specimens
• Adhering to all HIPAA regulations
• Complying with all infection control procedures