Phlebotomy is the operation through which you draw blood from veins using a needle for the purpose of examination in the laboratory. Before, it used to be that someone could become a phlebotomist by simply watching another phlebotomist working for a certain several hours. Today, you will need to take phlebotomy classes in Port St Lucie FL. These are commonly found in community colleges, medical institutions or even big medical schools.
Phlebotomy classes are usually structured in two parts. The first is the coursework which covers a number of subject matters and the other is the practical bit where you get to practice how you can get ready for the procedure, how you can actually accomplish it and how to store the blood.
Here are some things you can expect to learn in your phlebotomy classes in Port St Lucie FL
1. Anatomy and physiology
This aspect of your traning course covers the major organs of the body and how they combine to create the circulatory system, the respiratory system, the muscular and the skeletal system and the urinary system. You will learn how these systems interact to maintain optimum balance in the body and what happens when they are not in balance. When you learn about the circulatory system you will find out about all the major blood vessels and which ones you can draw blood from.
2. Blood and cell composition
As a phlebotomist, you don't just draw blood. You also have to examine it under a microscope and look out for infection and disease. This means that this section of your phlebotomy classes in Port St Lucie FL is extremely important. Not only do you learn the structure of a blood cell and other cells around the body, you also learn how a cell responds when it is under attack.
3. Microorganisms
This aspect of your course will cover bacteria and viruses and how they affect cells.
4. Safety
As a phlebotomist, you will be handling blood and a bunch of diseases that are transmitted through the blood. You have to learn the best ways to be safe when you are drawing the blood and also when you are handling it in the laboratory.
5. Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)
Technically, anyone who is employed in a medical setting should have CPR skills. Although some courses don't include CPR lessons, it is very important when you are selecting a phlebotomy training school to check whether the school includes CPR training. Wherever you will be working, there will be sick people and you have to be prepared for anything that could possible go wrong.
6. Mathematics
This part of your phlebotomy classes in Port St Lucie FL teaches you exactly how to convert basic quantities for example, millimetres to drops and vice versa.
7. Ethics and legal issues
There are several important issues that are covered in this particular aspect of your phlebotomy training class. You will learn what is legal and what is not legal. For example, it is illegal to discuss a patients blood work results with anyone who isn't a doctor. Ethical issues are very important for making day to day decisions.
Depending on how long the phlebotomy training class lasts, some phlebotomy schools will offer more of these subjects but it is essential to all phlebotomy classes.