Restrictions

Essential Functions and Technical Standards

Health Sciences programs establish technical standards and essential functions to insure that students have the abilities required to participate and potentially be successful in all aspects of the respective programs. Successful students are those who are highly disciplined, self-motivated, self-reliant and capable of working independently.

Essential functions, as distinguished from academic standards, refer to those physical, cognitive and behavioral abilities required for satisfactory completion of all aspects of the curriculum, as well as the development of professional attributes required by the program officials and clinical faculty of all students upon completion of the program.

The essential functions consist of minimal physical, cognitive, affective and emotional requirements to provide reasonable assurance that students can complete the entire course of study and participate fully in all aspects of clinical training. Phlebotomy students must have abilities and skills as follows:

1. Observation: The applicant/student should be able to characterize color, odor, clarity and viscosity of biological, reagents or chemical reaction products. Therefore, the student must possess functional use of the senses of smell, vision and somatic sensation.
2. Communication: The applicant/student must be able to communicate effectively and sensitively orally and in writing with all members of the healthcare team. The student must have the ability to read and comprehend written material in order to correctly and independently perform laboratory test procedures.
3. Psychomotor Skills: The applicant/student must possess gross and fine manual dexterity sufficient to handle specimens or reagents and phlebotomy equipment and perform analytical procedures requiring the use of small, delicate tools, equipment and instruments. The applicant/student must possess vision and dexterity which allows him/her to focus and view specimens using a binocular microscope.
4. Intellectual/Conceptual and Cognitive Abilities: The applicant/student must be able to measure, calculate, reason, analyze and synthesize, integrate and apply information. The applicant/student should be able to use sufficient judgment to recognize and correct performance and problem solve unexpected observations or outcomes of laboratory procedures.
5. Behavioral and Social Attributes: The applicant/student must possess the emotional health required for full utilization of his or her intellectual abilities, the exercise of good judgment, and the prompt completion of all responsibilities attendant to the performance of laboratory testing. Candidates must also be able to tolerate taxing workloads, function effectively under stress, adapt to a changing environment, display flexibility and function independently in the face of uncertainties or problems that might arise.
6. Ethical Standards: The applicant/student must demonstrate professional demeanor or behavior and must perform in an ethical manner in dealing with peers, faculty, staff and patients.
7. Academic Performance: The applicant/student must be able to obtain relevant information from lectures, seminars, laboratory sessions or exercises, clinical laboratory practicum and independent study assignments. Reasonable accommodations for persons with documented disabilities will be considered on an individual basis, but a candidate must be able to perform in an independent manner. There will be no discrimination in the selection of program participants based on race, creed, color, gender, age, marital status, national origin, or physical or mental disability, providing mandatory standards can be met.

Students with Disabilities Qualified applicants with disabilities are encouraged to apply to the program. It is the responsibility of the student to contact the Office of Students Student Affairs/Counseling Center if they feel they cannot meet one or more of the technical standards listed. Reasonable accommodations for persons with documented disabilities will be considered on an individual basis, but a candidate must be able to perform in an independent manner. There will be no discrimination in the selection of program participants based on race, creed, color, gender, age, marital status, national origin, or physical or mental disability, providing mandatory standards can be met. Completion of the above requirements does not in any way guarantee a candidate a place in the Phlebotomy Program.

Please understand that the Phlebotomy Program is a very competitive program. If you have any questions in regards to the application packet and requirements, please feel free to contact my office at (318) 670-9350. I would like to pause at this time and congratulate you for concerning Southern University at Shreveport’s Phlebotomy Program. I only wish upon you much success and happiness as you pursue your Phlebotomy career.