Phlebotomy Rules and Regulations

1. An 80% or higher-grade average must be maintained in all categories of the program (lecture exams, lab skill competencies, and the clinical rotation evaluation) to complete the certificate requirements successfully.
2. Grade averages lower than 80 will require being dropped from the program and repeating the whole course.

1. Lectures, lab, and clinical schedules are based on the needs of the college and clinical facilities. Lectures and lab sessions (on campus) are under the control of the college so that the schedule remains consistent.
2. The clinical rotation schedules vary site to site due to the unique nature of their patient workflow and staffing available to train students. Be flexible when it comes to the clinical rotation time, and the college will do what it can to keep it standardized as much as possible.

1. Attendance is expected and recorded for every class meeting as well as the mandatory information sessions, CPR training, and orientation.
2. Tardiness is considered as arriving late or leaving early, before the session is completed. Three tardies are considered equivalent to 1 hour of absence and are counted towards the 8% absence limit. Do not attempt to enter the classroom after instruction has begun. Class entrance will be available again during a routine break.
3. All students are expected to be present at 92% of the class meetings and only miss 8% of the sessions.
4. Due to the nature of the hands-on skills learning, sequentially building on each day’s practice, a student will be expected to be present to keep up with the progression of the learning, or they will fall too far behind to proceed to the next level. Venipuncture practice on classmates cannot be made up hour for hour, so you need to be there when it is scheduled.
5. Plan your vacations and personal appointments around the class schedules. To successfully complete the program, all missed planned instructional hours must be made up to earn the certificate, but making up missed hours is not allowed after exceeding the 8% absence limit.
6. Any student exceeding the 8% attendance requirement will be dropped from the program. This means students can miss 12-14 hours of 180 total -only 1 lecture/lab session (day class 5 hours, evening class 4 hours) and 1 clinical rotation day (8 hours) in the 26-day course.

1. Onboarding is the term for all the tasks and documentation that must be provided to a medical facility before a student is allowed to enter their clinical locations for training. The college has legal affiliation agreements with the clinical training facilities, which define what must be submitted for review during student onboarding (background checks, drug screens, CPR training, vaccinations, and a physical exam).
2. The college does NOT decide these requirements, so students must provide what the facility requires to gain approval to attend clinical training experiences and work with their employees and patients.
3. Most facilities require a minimum of 30 days before submission of all requirements to review and approve a student for training. The college uses specific vendors and websites to securely share this required information.
4. Students are expected to meet these requirements and stay on schedule to complete the program.
5. The college and its students are given privileges at our local laboratories as a professional courtesy to help the community provide properly trained medical professionals. 
   The facilities are not legally mandated to take students, and as such, they have the right to decline student training at any time.
6. They may decline a student before rotation based on background checks and drug screening. At that point, a student would be removed from the program. It is in a student's best interest to make sure their records are acceptable for requesting clinical rotations.
7. They may decide to revoke a student's privileges based on poor performance, lack of expected skill progression, or unacceptable attitude and behaviors.
8. If a clinical site revokes student privileges (for any reason) then the student must be dropped from the program because they cannot complete the clinical rotation piece of the certificate training requirements.

A required component of the Continuing Education division is the student’s participation in the clinical placement at area hospitals, clinics, and offices. Successful completion of clinical rotations is necessary to meet program graduation requirements. Health Occupations students will not be conferred a certificate unless they can successfully complete the clinical placement and all other aspects of the program. Clinical affiliates hold patient care at a high level of responsibility. They must ensure there is no risk to their patients before allowing an individual to participate in providing healthcare. Accordingly, clinical affiliates have their own standards in determining who may participate in a clinical program at their location. The College does not play any role in determining whether a student satisfies the standards set by the clinical affiliate.

Admission into the Health Occupations PBT program is a two-phase process. A student is not admitted into the PBT program until each phase is completed.

1. The prospective student must be admitted conditionally to the program. All required high school diplomas or HSE, government ID, and medical documents (physical examination, vaccinations, CPR card) must be submitted and approved for eligibility.
2. The prospective student must be accepted into the clinical placement. Individual clinical placements have their own acceptance requirements separate from the college (e.g., drug testing, criminal background, etc.) If a prospective student is denied acceptance for clinical training privileges at any healthcare institution, for any reason, that student is ineligible to proceed with the course of study in the Continuing Education Health Occupations division.
   1. Once a student is conditionally admitted, a background check and drug screening will be conducted by a third-party entity chosen by the College. Prospective students shall deal directly with the third-party entity and will be responsible for all financial costs.
   2. The third-party entity will report all results directly to the clinical affiliate. Prospective student may also obtain a copy of the report for their personal review. The healthcare institution will then inform the College whether the prospective student’s clinical privileges are approved or denied. If denied, the student will not be admitted or allowed to continue in the program.

At any time after acceptance into the PBT Health Occupations program, if clinical privileges are revoked for any reason, the student must withdraw from the PBT program.

• Students must realize that a clinical experience rotation is a privilege and not a right. A-B Tech faculty and students are invited guests and can be dismissed at any time if an issue arises.
• Clinical affiliates regard patient care as a high level of responsibility, so they screen students and potential employees with this in mind. They will ensure that there is no risk to their patients before allowing anyone to participate in their healthcare process.
• Each student is responsible for reading and reviewing the clinical placement policy details in their entirety. Each student starts the program with a conditional admission. Full admission to a Health Occupations PBT program requires clinical site approval on both a background check and a urine drug screen.
• If you are an incoming student and you know you have something in your background check history, you cannot guarantee approval to a clinical facility. It is up to the individual clinical affiliate to determine what is approved or not. If you are denied clinical placement for any reason, you must withdraw from the program.
• Students are required to have a background check done before clinical site approval, so it is in your best interest to obtain your own copy and review it. Sometimes students assume that an incident in the past has been erased or expunged from the record, and it has not.
• Be advised that you could lose time and money if you proceed with the admission process and are denied placement for any reason.
• Please notify the Health Occupations office if you feel the need to withdraw from the program admission process at any time. This will ensure timely responses and possibly allow someone from the waiting list to fill the seat.

Asheville Buncombe Technical Community College expects students to present a professional image in the classroom and clinical setting, exhibiting the skills and experience they have in their field. Dress and proper grooming also convey this message of professionalism in much the same way as the actual services the students perform. Since patients and visitors often form an opinion of clinical students and the facility by appearance, a favorable professional appearance is essential. Phlebotomy students represent Asheville Buncombe Technical Community College, and the image they project should always be professional and in good taste.

• Students are required to always wear the Phlebotomy uniform while they are in lecture, lab, or clinic. Your clinic facility may provide you with their specific disposable lab coat or a student apron.
• Burgundy scrubs are the A-B Tech Phlebotomy uniform color. This is to distinguish students from employees in the clinic setting. Uniforms and/or dress clothes are to fit properly according to body frame, weight, and height, and are to be neat, clean, wrinkle-free, and in good condition. An appropriate pant length does not touch the floor. Faded, torn, and/or frayed clothing is not considered professional in appearance. Make sure there is no pet hair or cigarette smoke on your uniform.
• Student identification name tags must always be worn in the clinic with the picture facing out. Adherence is essential for identification and safety reasons.
• Shoes must be safe for working conditions. White or black (shoes), all-leather, closed-toe, and closed-heel shoes must be worn in the clinic. Polish shoes if they appear dirty. Footwear must be of a single color, free of all decoration, ornamentation, and must be maintained clean.
• Hair must be clean, well-groomed, and neat. If the length of hair exceeds past shoulder length, then the student must fasten it back so as not to interfere with patient care or infection control. Extreme trends such as shaved designs, Mohawks, and long spiked hair etc., are not acceptable. Hair must be natural and cannot be of “rainbow” or “neon” colors (examples: blue, pink, green, purple, etc.). Excessive ornaments are not allowed. Males are to be clean-shaven or with neatly trimmed beards or mustaches. Facial hair that interferes with the wearing of a protective mask is not permitted.
• Practice good personal hygiene. Bathe daily with soap and use deodorant.
• Practice good oral hygiene. Brush your teeth just before going to the clinic and use mouthwash. Consider keeping some breath mints available to freshen your breath throughout the day.
• Absolutely NO perfume, cologne, scented lotions, or body sprays are to be worn in the presence of patients, classmates, and coworkers due to possible life-threatening allergic reactions.
• Nails must be clean, kept short, and well-manicured. One-quarter of an inch beyond the fingertip is the acceptable length for clinical personnel. Artificial nails/nail enhancements are prohibited.
• Jewelry should not be of a nature that will hinder infection control or the ability to work safely. A wedding band and watch are the only allowed arm jewelry. Body piercing is limited to one single piercing – in the ears only (studs and no dangling styles). All other visible piercings are prohibited.
• Tattoos, brands, symbols, or markings visible on the face or neck must be covered. Moreover, visible tattoos that are considered by management to be inappropriate, indecent, offensive, or unprofessional must be covered, irrespective of the location on the body. Tattoos must be covered while in the clinic.

Clinic Uniforms can be ordered from any uniform store, such as:

Read’s Uniforms

• Address:
  • 4 Sweeten Creek Crossing
    Asheville, NC 28803
• Phone: (828) 277-6380
• Website: Read’s Uniforms
• Hours: Mon - Fri 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. / Saturday 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Country Casuals

• Address:
  • 1255 Brevard Road
    Asheville, NC 28806
• Phone: (828) 667-9776
• Website: Country Casuals

* Order Deadline- takes 3-4 weeks if you don’t buy off the rack- Must Be Ready For First Day Of Class - allow time for sewing and alterations *

Be sure to let the Read’s Uniform staff know that you are ordering A-B Tech, Phlebotomy Clinical Uniforms for the student discount. You will need the following items:

1. Cherokee Brand Scrubs (Burgundy- WINE color)
   1. Average around $49-$55 per set, depending on style
   2. It is required to get a minimum of 2 sets ($98-$110).
      1. Choose a conservative, professional fit- not tight, no gaps.
      2. Hem pants leg 1 inch from the floor
   3. Read’s prices quoted 5-14-24
2. Undershirt or matching scrub jacket for cooler temperatures (optional, not required) - Black or White only
3. Name Tag
   1. You will use your A-B Tech student picture ID badge in the clinic. Go to the A-B Tech ID Badge office to have it made, stating “Phlebotomy Student” and Not just “Student”.
   2. You can purchase a clear plastic horizontal ID badge holder of your choosing at any store (recommend a short retractable string instead of a lanyard for better safety, infection control).
4. Shoes
   1. $50.00 - $120.00, depending on style
   2. White or Black leather uniform shoes
   3. No canvas/mesh/air holes, No open toe, No open heel (No clogs), or Mary Jane styles with the foot exposed on top with a buckle
   4. * The entire foot must be covered. This is for needle and blood splatter safety.
   5. *Be sure to get comfortable shoes with excellent support.
   6. You may purchase these wherever you prefer.

• In case of illness or personal emergency, you must notify the clinic by phone Before your scheduled time by speaking directly to clinic staff. Also call the Phlebotomy Instructor and leave a message. If you cannot speak directly to your clinical instructor, leave a detailed message with other clinic personnel (No Voicemails), including: your name, the reason for the absence or tardiness, and when you will return to the clinic. Then document for yourself who you gave this message to in case there are questions later on. Follow up by contacting your clinical preceptor to ensure they received the message.
• It is NOT acceptable for a student who needs to be absent to send a message concerning the absence of another student. It is Not permissible to leave a voicemail.
• Lack of notification of an absence to the clinical facility will warrant disciplinary action. First incidence- written warning. Second incident- the student will lose clinical practice privileges and will not be allowed to return to the clinical site. Withdrawal from the program will be advised.
• Tardiness is not acceptable, nor tolerated. Leaving early is considered tardy. Leaving early and/or not documenting the correct hours performed in the clinic is grounds for losing clinical practice privileges, resulting in immediate removal from the clinic and a U in PBT-3022. Three tardies constitute one absence and will be reflected on the final performance evaluation, and these absences also count toward the allowed total.
• All absences in clinical experience will be made up to meet the contact hour requirement. Students are expected to attend every day of the semester, which is 100 hours; grades are impacted by absences not made up. The makeup schedule will be arranged between the PBT Instructor, Clinic Instructor, and yourself. You must have permission to do a makeup clinic time. Makeup time should not be excessive, and it should be an exception and not the rule. Clinic experience is extremely important; this time is not flexible. Adhere to schedules at all times. All clinic hours must be completed by the end of the course. Performance
• You are expected to show up on time, at all times, with a respectful, professional attitude.
• You are only permitted in areas of the facility that are associated with your assigned clinical rotation.
• You are not allowed to be financially compensated for the tasks you perform during your training. Any service outside the regular schedule is totally voluntary.
• Cell phones are not permitted in the clinic. You may provide your family with the main number to the facility where you are located, and they may contact you for emergencies only. No personal phone calls at any time during clinical training.
• You are entitled to one fifteen-minute break if you are in the clinic for a 4.5-hour day, or one thirty-minute break if you are in the clinic for a day that is longer than 8 hours. Breaks may be taken only when your clinical instructor gives permission. Always ask permission before taking your break or leaving the area. Keep in mind that almost all healthcare facilities are smoke-free institutions, so smoking is not allowed.

Conditions of failure and/or immediate dismissal:

• Compromising the health or safety of a patient, personnel, or peer- Immediate Dismissal
• Non-compliance with the clinic site’s policies and procedures
• Breach of patient confidentiality- Immediate Dismissal
• Unethical behavior- cheating, dishonesty, purposefully falsifying information
• Unsatisfactory performance or grades- clinic failure
• If you fail or are removed from a clinical rotation, you risk non-placement at an alternative site.
• If an alternative site is provided to you, you may be asked to sign a contract stating that this is the last clinic site that will be provided to you. Tips For A Successful Clinical Experience
• Get adequate sleep the night before clinic days. You must be mentally and physically alert to perform at your best in a clinic.
• Set 2 alarm clocks. It is a good idea to have one battery or a wind-up clock in case of power outages. The snooze button is not your friend.
• Allow plenty of travel time in the mornings.
• Arrive 5-10 minutes early to your work area. If you are scheduled to begin clinic at 6:00 a.m., that does not mean pulling into the parking lot at 6:00 a.m. It does mean that you are at your workstation ready to begin at 6:00 a.m.
• Practice good personal hygiene. A clean, neat appearance says a lot about a person.
• Purchase a pocket-sized notepad to keep in your lab coat. Take notes as you are being trained. Clinic instructors operate under the theory of- explain once, show once, assist once. They will not and should not be expected to explain the same instructions repeatedly, day after day.
• At night, review in your notes what you went over that day and be prepared to answer questions about it the next day.
• Approach clinical as if it is your job.
• Keep in mind that you are an invited guest at this facility. It is an expense for these sites to train students. Contribute in any way that you can, especially as you progress in your training.
• Stay busy. Take full advantage of the knowledge and experiences around you. There is always something to observe or that needs to be done. Make yourself an asset to the department.
• Be positive and be flexible.
• Be professional and learn!

1. Students should be trained effectively.
2. Students should be allowed to perform venipunctures on patients.
3. Students should be evaluated fairly and constructively. The clinic site will contact the phlebotomy instructor, Monique Worley, with any concerns or problems as soon as they arise so that instruction and feedback may be provided to the student. This will provide an opportunity for correction and improvement.
4. Students should be held to professional standards.
5. Students should be provided with the proper equipment and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) in their size.
6. Students should be exposed to as many different experiences as you can provide, even if it is through observation only. Examples: blood cultures, blood bank specimens, butterfly use, finger sticks, pediatric draws, geriatric draws, glucose tolerance testing, CLIA waived testing, therapeutic phlebotomy, etc.
7. Students should be informed of clinical facility expectations.
8. Student hours should include reasonable breaks. If you attend the clinic for 4.5 hours, take a 15-minute break. If you attend the clinic for 8 hours, take a 30-minute break.

1. Students should follow college and clinical facility rules, including dress code.
2. Students should successfully complete >100 Unassisted venipunctures using an evacuated tube system, a syringe, or a butterfly. Finger sticks and heel sticks are encouraged for the benefit of experience and should be tallied, but do not count toward the 100-venipuncture count. Students should strive to earn as many sticks as possible for the experience and not stop at 100.
3. Students should fill out a tally sheet for each day of clinic, keeping track of the number of sticks in each category, including unsuccessful sticks. Unsuccessful sticks do not influence the student’s grade but are useful in determining the student’s progress and where improvement needs to occur. Tally sheets should be signed Each Day by the trainer who has worked directly with the student.
4. Students should listen to instructions and feedback from the clinical trainers and demonstrate an effort to improve and cooperate.
5. Students should be in the clinic at the scheduled times and should not leave early or arrive late except in extenuating circumstances and/or emergencies. Please make a note of dates/times students leave early/arrive late/ or are absent from clinic and relay this information to the phlebotomy instructor (Monique Worley).
6. Students must make up all clinic hours missed, minute for minute, if they fall short of the hours required for the Phlebotomy certificate. Absences not made up do impact the student’s grade. This includes closures due to inclement weather. The total number of hours in the clinic is 100, and students are expected to attend all days of the course schedule.
7. Students should not attend the clinic when the AB Tech campus is closed. The only exception to this is if the student has already arrived at the clinic site prior to AB Tech closing. In this situation, the student may choose what is in their best interest: to stay in a clinic or to go home.
8. Students should demonstrate a willingness to learn and find ways to assist the clinical trainer and contribute to the department when there are no patients to stick. If there are no tasks for the student to perform, the student may ask permission from the trainer to study or work on clinic questions.
9. Students may not be substituted for regular staff during their scheduled clinic time. Any service outside of the scheduled clinical time is voluntary.

The following are guidelines, not requirements. Each clinic should determine the level of comfort they have with individual students according to the clinic’s procedures and culture.

1. The Phlebotomy instructor, Monique Worley, will make routine visits to check on the student’s progress. When possible, we will observe the students’ technique. We will attempt to be as unobtrusive as possible on these visits, but we will need to ask the clinical trainers questions and will also speak with the students briefly.
2. All student disciplinary issues will be handled by the college faculty.
3. You will receive one final evaluation for each student near the end of the course. If possible, please have two or three trainers who have worked with the students to complete an evaluation. These evaluations will be averaged. Evaluations should be placed in an envelope, sealed, and signed by the evaluator- then mailed or handed directly to the A-B Tech instructors during a visit.
4. Comments and suggestions made to the A-B Tech instructors and/or to the students will be followed up on during coaching sessions. You are encouraged to mention things a student needs to focus on with extra practice.
5. Any changes in student assignments or schedule will be discussed with your clinical contact person in advance.

• Your clinic experience will be a crucial part of the phlebotomy program.
• You will be assigned trainer(s) each day of your clinic.
• You will learn the procedures by observing the trainer, assisting the trainer, and, when ready, by performing the procedures while your trainer observes you.
• These procedures will be documented on a “Tally Sheet”. This tally sheet will be completed each day at the clinic, signed by your trainer, and most importantly, Returned to the Instructor on the last Clinic Day
• All Tally Sheets must be completed with blue or black ink to include the following information: The clinic site name, the Student’s Complete name, Correct date. The hours you completed that date. The venipunctures you completed that date, Trainer initials/signature
• Your hours in the clinic and the record of your performance in the clinic are counted and recorded each class day. Any tally sheets not returned will not be counted. This means that you must repeat clinic hours if a tally sheet is not turned in. Do Not Lose Your Tally Sheet!!!!
• If you are absent from the clinic on any scheduled clinic day, you must get permission to make up the time on another day from the clinical supervisor and the Phlebotomy instructor. This must be done BEFORE the end of the course. You have multiple resources and support systems available at your clinic site, in the classroom, and through your instructors. There is no experience that cannot be valuable to your learning. Your clinic is what you make of it- Good or Bad