NATCHITOCHES – A cohort of students from central Louisiana graduated Dec. 18 from the fall phlebotomy technician training course held at Northwestern State University’s Cenla Campus in Alexandria.

 

Graduates were Tiffany Pinckard and Valedictorian Haley Sylvester of Natchitoches, Taylor Jackson, Jasmyne Jakson and Sharesse Hood of Pineville, Salutatorian DjQuala Blue of Alexandria and Rochelle Austin of Marksville.

 

The seven-week course was broken down into two parts.  The first five weeks of classroom instruction included 30 of the required 100 venipuncture sticks.  Two weeks of clinical time allowed students to obtain the remaining 70 venipuncture sticks and could be completed in as little as three or four days.

 

The course is designed to teach entry level phlebotomy skills to students interested in pursuing a career in phlebotomy.  Students are required to complete classroom instruction 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 session will begin March 16 with classes held from 6-9 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays in Room 164 of NSU’s Cenla Campus, 1420 Neal Kearby Boulevard, Alexandria.  Sherry Hinton of Stick It Phlebotomy will be the course instructor. Clinical labs can be completed April 20-May 1.

 

To participate, students must provide proof of high school diploma, GED or official transcript and must pay $150 National Board Certification and material fee to the instructor the first night of class and must purchase. There is a possibility of random drug screenings at the student’s expense at clinical sites.

 

Student may purchase 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 can be purchased through a variety of locations.  The book may also be checked out from the instructor at no cost. However, if it is returned damaged or not returned at all there will be a $60 fee that must be paid before being allowed to sit for the National Board Examination.

 

Students must purchase a set of solid scrubs in any color for clinical days.  These will not be needed until clinical begins.

 

The total cost of the class is $950 plus the $150 paid to the instructor the first night of the class for the National Board Certification and material fee. Students must provide a minimum payment of $475 with registration.  Remaining balance must be paid through https://checkout.nsula.edu/ prior to Monday, April 13. There are additional requirements and costs associated with the Louisiana Licensure (mandatory for employment) that will be discussed by the instructor.  These fees are not associated with NSU or Stick It Phlebotomy.

 

To register for classes, go to https://checkout.nsula.edu/.

 

For more information on our Non-Credit programs, go to www.nsula.edu/ece/non-credit-programs/ or call (800)376-2422 or (318)357-6355.

 

To learn more about our on-line non-credit courses visit https://careertraining.ed2go.com/nsula/  & https://www.ed2go.com/nsu/.