NATCHITOCHES – A graduation for students who completed phlebotomy training took place recently at Northwestern State University for students who completed the 7-week course.

 

Graduates were Julia Steinke of Many, valedictorian; Natalie Howard of St. Maurice, salutatorian;  Jessica Solton of Coushatta, Mi’Asia Johnson of Franklin, Kali Hall of Natchitoches, Jamaria Hogan of Mansfield, Faith Wallace of Brookeland, Texas, Khaila Tucker of Shreveport, Nikkia Lewis of Bastrop, Janae Richardson of Keithville, Richard Bishop of Winnfield, Nicole Oakes of Cloutierville and Victoria Mathes of Natchitoches.

 

The Phlebotomy Technician Course was broken into two parts that included five weeks of instruction and two weeks of clinical practice. The course is designed to teach entry-level phlebotomy skills to students interested in pursuing a career in phlebotomy. Students are required to complete 100 clinical hours and 100 venipunctures before they are allowed to take the board exam. Upon satisfactory completion of the course, students are eligible to take the National Board Certification Exam on site through the American Certification Agency for Healthcare Professionals. This course also includes Basic Life Support (BLS) Certification through the American Heart Association.

 

The next phlebotomy course will be 6-9 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays Feb. 3-March 6 with no class during Mardi Gras, Feb. 24.  Students will complete clinical lab studies March 9-20 working Monday-Friday.  Students will have up to two weeks to complete clinical labs as hours vary.

 

Participants must provide proof of high school diploma, GED or official transcript and have a set of solid scrubs for clinical days.  Random drug screenings may take place at the students’ expense at clinical sites.

 

The class is $850 plus $150 paid directly to the instructor first night of class for National Board Certification & material fee.  A minimum payment of $425 must be included with registration and does not include material fee or board fee.  The remaining balance must be paid through checkout. nsula.edu prior to Monday, March 2.

 

Classes will take place in South Hall Room 100 with Sherry Hinton of CPI/Stick It Phlebotomy, LLC, as instructor.

 

Students may purchase the required textbook, “Phlebotomy Essentials, 6th edition” (Wolters Kluwer) and will need it prior to the first night of class. This book is not available through the NSU bookstore but may be purchased through a variety of locations. The book may also be checked out from the instructor at no cost. However, it must be understood that if it is returned damaged or not returned, there will be a $60 fee that must be paid before being allowed to sit for the National Board Examination.

 

For more information on Non-Credit programs, go to www.nsula.edu/ece/non-credit-programs/ or call (800) 376-2422 or (318) 357-6355.  To register for classes, go to checkout.nsula.edu.  To learn more about NSU’s on-line non-credit courses visit http://www.gatlineducation.com/nsula  & http://www.ed2go.com/nsu/.