CLUSTER
Health Science Education
COURSE
ECG/Phlebotomy
WVEIS CODE
0720
COURSE DESCRIPTION
Upon successful completion of this course, students will master competencies consistent in the areas of ECG
Technician and Phlebotomist. *This course is recommended as an elective for any Health Science Education
concentration.
SKILL SETS
Health Care Delivery System
Laboratory and ECG Departments in a Health Care System
Legal Responsibilities
Infection Control and Safety
Communication
Quality Assurance in Laboratory Testing
Specimen Transport and Processing
Collection Equipment and Precautions
Specimen Collection Procedures
Circulatory System
Basic Electrophysiology
Electrocardiography
Electrocardiograph Machine and Paper
Leads
Electrocardiograph Technique
Quality Assurance in the Performance of an ECG
ECG/Phlebotomy
Skill Set
Knowledge Objectives
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Performance Objectives
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Skill Set
Knowledge Objectives
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Performance Objectives
WVEIS 0720
Health Care Delivery System
Students will demonstrate knowledge of
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Students will
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examine departments found within hospitals and healthcare facilities including
the function of each.
 determine healthcare providers working within hospitals, clinics and
physician’s offices.
 characterize the organizational structure of a hospital.
 examine the role of the clinical laboratory and the electrocardiography
departments.
 relate the phlebotomist’s role in clinical laboratory medicine.
 differentiate the roles and qualifications of clinical laboratory personnel.
 recognize the ECG technician’s qualifications and role in the clinical facility.
 examine professionalism as it relates to the phlebotomist and ECG technician.
Laboratory and EKG Departments in a Health Care System
Students will demonstrate knowledge of
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common procedures performed by the laboratory and ECG departments.
how procedures performed in the laboratory and ECG departments are used to
assess body function and disease.
Students will
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Skill Set
Knowledge Objectives
health care delivery system.
roles and qualifications of phlebotomist and ECG technicians.
examine the types of laboratory procedures performed in the Clinical
Laboratory and ECG Departments.
determine how laboratory testing and cardiography is used to assess bodily
functions and disease.
interpret medical terms and abbreviations commonly used in the laboratory
and cardiography departments.
Legal Responsibilities
Students will demonstrate knowledge of
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legal responsibilities, limitations and implications of health care provider
actions within the health care delivery system.
performance of duties according to regulations, policies, laws and legislated
rights of clients.
Performance Objectives
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Skill Set
Knowledge Objectives
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Performance Objectives
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Skill Set
Knowledge Objectives
Students will
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determine the meaning of negligence, malpractice, assault, battery, liability
and Respondent Superior.
 examine legal responsibilities and actions given sample scenarios.
 interpret the scope of practice of the phlebotomist and ECG technician.
 recognize common ethical standards within the healthcare profession.
 interpret patient confidentiality, recognizing common threats to confidentiality.
 examine the Patients’ Bill of Rights as it applies to clinical laboratory
personnel and the ECG technician.
Infection Control and Safety
Students will demonstrate knowledge of
 infection control principles.
 safety policies and procedures within the laboratory and ECG Departments.
Students will
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determine policies and procedures for maintaining safety in the laboratory and
during ECG procedures.
 examine the modes of transmission of microorganisms.
 compare methods for controlling the growth and spread of microorganisms.
 apply infection control and safety procedures based on the Occupational Safety
and Health Administration (OSHA) and the Centers for Disease Control
(CDC) (i.e. Standard Precautions).
 apply proper use of personal protective equipment (PPE).
 examine nosocomial infections.
 determine the electrical, radiation, biological hazards and fire safety
procedures used in the hospital including the clinical laboratory.
 illustrate the hazard symbols for radiation, biohazard, toxic or poison,
carcinogen, corrosive, flammable and NFPA chemical hazard.
 recognize and label biohazard specimens.
 determine the safety measures followed by a phlebotomist when collecting or
transporting a specimen.
 differentiate the following conditions listing first aid for each: petechiae,
hematoma, infection, syncope, emesis, osteomyelitis and sepsis.
Communication
Students will demonstrate knowledge of
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 professional communication in relation to standards of practice.
Performance Objectives Students will
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demonstrate the proper method for greeting and interacting with a patient.
distinguish important components of an interview of a patient or a patient’s
representative in preparation for obtaining specimens.
examine instructions to be given to patients in preparation for routine blood
collection, glucose testing, bleeding times and other procedures normally
performed by the phlebotomist.
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Skill Set
Knowledge Objectives
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Performance Objectives
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examine instructions to be given to patients in preparation for
electrocardiography procedures.
 relate techniques for dealing with family and visitors during the collection of
specimens and electrocardiography procedures.
 assess the importance of appearance and grooming for phlebotomists and ECG
technicians.
 articulate telephone use within the context of extra-laboratory communication.
 relate rules of telephone etiquette appropriate for the clinical setting.
 recognize the role of the computer within the laboratory and ECG department.
Quality Assurance in Laboratory Testing
Students will demonstrate knowledge of
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policies and procedures used in monitoring quality assurance in the clinical
laboratory.
Students will
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determine policies and procedures used in the clinical laboratory to assure
quality in obtaining of blood specimens.
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 examine the system for monitoring quality assurance in the collection and
transportation of laboratory specimens.
Skill Set
Specimen Transport and Processing
Knowledge Objectives Students will demonstrate knowledge of
Performance Objectives
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Skill Set
Knowledge Objectives
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criteria and responsibilities required in the transportation and processing of
specimens.
Students will
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determine the laboratory criteria for identifying an appropriate request for
specimen collection.
 relate legal responsibilities of the laboratory and phlebotomist for the need of
the physicians’ request for all specimen collecting and testing.
 implement methods for transporting and processing blood specimens for
routine and special testing.
 distinguish methods for processing and transporting specimens for testing at
reference laboratories.
 recognize the potential clerical and technical errors that may occur during
specimen processing.
 relate the general effects of time on test quality and patient care in regard to
processing and transporting of specimens.
 determine the conditions that must be met if blood specimens and laboratory
tests are to be used as legal evidence.
Collection Equipment and Precautions
Students will demonstrate knowledge of
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equipment needed in the collection of specimens.
precautions used during collection procedures.
Performance Objectives
Students will
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Skill Set
Knowledge Objectives
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Performance Objectives
determine the additives used in blood collection and rationale for their use.
differentiate the evacuated tube color codes associated with the additives.
demonstrate the types of equipment needed to collect blood by venipuncture,
capillary and arterial punctures.
choose supplies carried on a phlebotomist’s tray.
relate special precautions necessary during blood collections.
distinguish substances that can interfere in clinical analysis of blood
constituents.
differentiate the mode of action for each anticoagulant.
examine the meaning of the following terms, listing possible causes of each:
Demolished Sample, Short Draw, Clotting in Whole Blood Tubes, Lipemic,
and Icteric.
determine the effects of the tourniquet, hand squeezing and heating pads on
capillary and venipuncture.
recognize a winged infusion set.
relate situations appropriate for the use of a winged infusion needle.
recognize a syringe, explaining when this technique would be used.
Specimen Collection Procedures
Students will demonstrate knowledge of
 specimen collection.
Students will
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examine “chain of custody” as it relates to blood specimens collected to rule
out illegal drug use.
determine the meaning of the following terms: TDM, Peak Levels, Trough
Levels, Random Sampling, Toxic Levels, Intramuscular and Intravascular.
determine steps used in specimen collection techniques for glucose testing:
two hour, random, fasting and glucose tolerance testing.
correctly time and label specimen.
determine steps in the procedure for blood alcohol specimen collection.
relate the phlebotomist’s role in the collection of urine specimens for routine
urinalysis, culture and sensitivity and timed specimens.
perform a multi-draw venipuncture.
demonstrate the approach steps in a skin puncture procedure.
demonstrate identification of the patient.
perform the steps in a skin puncture procedure.
perform the steps in a venipuncture.
demonstrate the collecting, labeling, and transporting specimens for the
following analyses: cold agglutinins, type, antibody screen, cross match and
blood cultures.
Skill Set
Knowledge Objectives
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Performance Objectives
Circulatory System
Students will demonstrate knowledge of
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Students will
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Skill Set
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Knowledge Objectives
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Performance Objectives
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Skill Set
Performance Objectives
basic electrophysiology of the heartbeat.
common dysrhythmias and associated pathophysiology.
Students will
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examine the structures of the heart.
distinguish the four chambers of the heart.
distinguish the name, location and function of the heart valves.
illustrate the flow of blood through the heart, labeling each structure.
relate the pumping action of the heart known as the Cardiac Cycle.
distinguish four properties of the cardiac cells.
distinguish between systemic and pulmonary circulation.
relate the sequence of the electrical impulse of the conduction system.
examine structures of the conduction system including labeling each on a
drawing.
examine blood and blood components.
label major blood vessels on a drawing.
Basic Electrophysiology
Students will demonstrate knowledge of
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Knowledge Objectives..
anatomy and physiology of the circulatory system.
relate the electrical conduction pathway of the heart.
examine the correlation between structures in the conduction pathway and the
cardiac cycle.
differentiate the waveforms and segments of the heartbeat as demonstrated on
the ECG.
recognize causes of dysrhythmias.
relate the meaning of isoelectric line.
Electrocardiography
Students will demonstrate knowledge of
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basic concepts used in electrocardiography.
Students will
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articulate the difference between electrocardiogram and electrocardiograph.
determine the reasons for performing an ECG.
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examine the universal marking codes for a manual 12 lead ECG and the auto
12 lead.
diagram the limb, augmented and chest leads of an ECG.
recognize and correct problems associated in the performance of an ECG
tracing.
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Skill Set
Knowledge Objectives
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Performance Objectives
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Electrocardiography Machine and Paper
Students will demonstrate knowledge of
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Skill Set
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Performance Objectives
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Skill Set
Knowledge Objectives
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operation and maintenance of electrocardiography equipment.
characteristics and interpretation of electrocardiography paper.
Students will
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Knowledge Objectives
determine the placement of ECG electrodes on the body.
articulate the difference between electrocardiogram and electrocardiograph.
determine the reasons for performing an ECG.
examine the universal marking codes for a manual 12 lead ECG and the auto
12 lead.
diagram the limb, augmented and chest leads of an ECG.
recognize and correct problems associated in the performance of an ECG
tracing.
determine the placement of ECG electrodes on the body.
Leads
Students will demonstrate knowledge of
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correct placement of leads on a 12 lead ECG.
Students will
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articulate the 12 leads in a tracing.
relate the difference between unipolar and biopolar.
determine the color of the limb and chest leads for a standard 12 lead ECG.
examine the principle of Einthoven’s triangle and diagram the three leads used.
articulate the augmented limb leads and diagram them on a chart.
relate the precordial or chest leads in order, explaining what they measure.
articulate the frontal and horizontal leads of an ECG.
Electrocardiograph Technique
Students will demonstrate knowledge of
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ECG performance standards.
Performance Objectives
Students will
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articulate the universal standard of ECG measurement.
identify the patient using proper procedure.
identify yourself and explain procedure to the patient.
document patient’s medication history and vital signs.
determine relaxation methods to make the patient comfortable.
place the patient into the proper recording position.
prepare the patient’s skin before placement of leads.
place sensors in proper positions on the patient.
connect the cable wires to sensors in proper sequence.
acquire ECG tracing using universal standards.
recognize and correct artifacts on the ECG tracing.
correct standardization of voltage.
determine how to identify the tracing after completion.
document any variation from a normal tracing or any information useful to the
interpreting physician.
document any physical or extrinsic situation that could alter ECG vector or
standard lead placement.
verify information on ECG tracing.
Skill Set
Knowledge Objectives
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Performance Objectives
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Quality Assurance in the Performance of an ECG
Students will demonstrated knowledge of
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interpretation of an ECG.
Students will
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relate criteria for a normal ECG.
determine lethal arrhythmias.
report lethal arrhythmias immediately to a nurse or physician.
characterize the guide used in interpreting an ECG strip.
calculate the rate of the patient’s heartbeat on an ECG tracing.
demonstrate utilization of the components of rhythm strip analysis.
interpret terms associated with the interpretation of an ECG (i.e. normal sinus
rhythm, sinus arrhythmia, sinus arrest, bradycardia and tachycardia).