Essential Functions

The purpose of the essential functions list is to allow prospective students who are considering a career to be informed of the physical, emotional, and psychological demands related to training and employment in a field of study. These lists are provided to allow prospective students to make informed career choices by providing them with a summary of the physical abilities and personality traits that are generally required for the successful completion of a curriculum and result in employment in a field of study after graduation. For students to be successful in the Phlebotomy Technology Specialist program, they must be able to perform the following essential functions.

Essential Function: Observation

The ability to discriminate between color differences and variations.

Examples

• See color, changes in color, shapes, and texture differences.
• Read color chemical reactions, identify organisms, and differentiate blood cells.
• Read small print on collection tubes and physician orders.

Essential Function: Communication

The ability to communicate effectively in English using verbal, non-verbal, and written formats with faculty, other students, patients, families, and other members of the healthcare team.

Examples

• Read medication labels, clinical documentation, physician orders, legal forms, and e-mail.
• Produce written communication with the healthcare team (may be done via charts, pre-hospital care forms, and/or narratives).
• Communicate verbally with healthcare team members, including physicians, supervisors, and patients.

Essential Function: Motor

Sufficient motor ability and dexterity to execute the movement and skills required for safe and effective care.

Examples

• Manipulate glass slides, tourniquets, needles, small tubes, and collection devices.
• Handle and manipulate safely and properly small phlebotomy devices.
• Stand, walk, and bend repeatedly throughout an eight-hour period.
• Travel quickly throughout an institution.
• Collect specimens at the bedside, chairside, and difficult-to-reach situations.

Essential Function: Intellectual

The ability to collect, interpret, and integrate information and make decisions.

Examples

• Recognize and adapt to changing patient conditions.
• Analyze procedural tasks.
• Solve problems and think critically in order to address patient needs.

Essential Function: Behavioral and Social Attributes

Possess the emotional health and stability required for full utilization of the student's intellectual abilities, the exercise of good judgment, the prompt completion of all academic and patient care responsibilities, and the development of mature, sensitive, and effective relationships with clients and other members of the healthcare team; possess the ability to tolerate taxing workloads, function effectively under stress, adapt to changing environments, display flexibility, and learn to function in the face of uncertainties inherent in clinical settings with patients; possess compassion, integrity, concern for others, and motivation; possess the ability to demonstrate professional behaviors and a strong work ethic.

Examples

• Maintain patient confidentiality and exercise ethical integrity, honesty, dependability, and accountability in the performance of laboratory responsibilities.
• Adapt to the changing environment and technology.
• Maintain composure and continue phlebotomy procedures when subjected to high stress levels).