Introduction to Pathology Assistance an online professional development course designed to give graduates the knowledge and skills required to prepare for work within a pathology and specimen collection environment.
In this online pathology course, you will discover how to collect blood from a defined client group and learn how to identify and respond to clinical risks and client reactions associated with pathology specimen collection. Introduction to Pathology Assistance will also explore how to log samples, check sample documentation, schedule and prepare samples for testing in accordance with enterprise procedures.
Course Structure
Unit 1 - Operate efficiently within a pathology and specimen collection environment
- Services within a health care setting
- Services of a typical pathology service
- Key personnel
- Facilities and devices to perform role
- Equipment in pathological laboratories
- Standard operating procedures (SOP)
- Client observation
- Client concerns and issues
- Key stakeholders and representatives
- Complaints policy and procedure
- Effective health care teams
- Organisation philosophies
- Ethical and organisational policies
- Basic service essentials
- Confidentiality
- Training in manual lifting
- Vaccination for workers
- Personal values and attitudes
Unit 2 - Perform venous blood collections
- Greet client and apply pre-test criteria
- Correctly identify client
- Obtain personal information
- Policies and procedures
- Privacy
- Record relevant details
- Sample tubes are labelled
- Obtain consent to collect from patient
- Prepare for blood collection
- Appropriate method for collection
- Follow correct procedures
- Venipuncture
- Additional precautions
- Vaccination for staff
- Protective clothing
- Supplies to keep the workplace sterile
- Select correct equipment
- Blood collection tubes
- Storage and transport for specimens
- Perform routine blood collection
- Follow infection control guidelines
- Precautions for infected patients
- Handwashing
- Personal protective equipment (PPE)
- Position client correctly
- Seek assistance if required
- Select collection site
- Correct procedure and equipment
- Infant blood collection
- Observe client during procedure
- Risks
- Transfer correct amount of blood
- Post-blood collection procedures
- Dispose of contaminated waste
- Infection control protocols
- Waste minimisation practices
- Label blood collection tubes
- Complete documentation
- Prepare collections for transit
Unit 3 - Comply with infection prevention and control policies and procedures
- Infection control guidelines
- Prevent spread of infection
- Policy and procedures
- Standard precautions (safe handling)
- Additional precautions (transmission-base)
- Identify hazards
- Minimise risk of infection
- Safe work practices
- Infection risks
- Risk management monitoring
- Document risk tasks
- Monitor performance
- Record-keeping
- Infection control reports
- Infection risk situations
- Preventative procedures and practices
- Procedure information sessions
- Risk control and risk containment
- Sporadic outbreaks
- Reporting infection risks
- Protocols for exposure to blood
- Appropriate signage
- Spill management
- Spill clean kits
- Personal hygiene
- Hand washing procedures
- Cover cuts and abrasions
- Personal protective equipment (PPE)
- Gowns and gloves
- Wear the right PPE for the right job
- Limit contamination
- Maintain clean and contaminated zones
- Clinical waste
- Radioactive waste
- Infectious waste
- Segregation of waste
- Standard operating procedures
- Records, materials and medicaments
- Contaminated instruments
- Infection in health care setting
- Disposal of clinical waste
- Wearing protective clothing
- Types of PPE
- Face and eye protection
- Foot protection
- Waste segregation
- Sharps
- Human tissues
- Cytotoxic waste
- Radioactive waste
- Chemical and amalgam waste
- Waste storage
- Accident prevention
- Waste disposal methods
- Legislation agreements
- Containers, storage and transport
- Hazardous waste identification
- Waste exclusions
- Toxic listed wastes
- Labelling waste materials
- Disposal of clinical waste
- Pharmaceutical waste
- Clean work surfaces
- Decontaminate equipment
- Sterilisation protocols
- Autoclaving
- Drying of work surfaces
- Maintain and store equipment
- Classification of instruments
- Disposing of cleaning equipment
Unit 4 - Interpret and apply medical terminology appropriately
- Receive and interpret medical terminology
- Pronunciation
- Medical words
- Eponyms
- Major human body systems
- Illness, injuries and medical conditions
- Investigations and procedures
- Medical equipment and instruments
- Medications
- Specialist medical practitioners
- Hospital departments
- Checklists
- Abbreviations
- Dr’s abbreviations
- Policies and procedures
- Medical dictionary
- Routine tasks
- Ordering and receiving goods
- Surgery types/terminology
- Drug names
- Surgical procedure references
- Produce draft for verification
Unit 5 - Identify and respond to clinical risks in pathology collection
- Clinical and personal information
- Risks of performing collection
- Assess client against pre-test criteria
- Clinical risks
- Conduct collection procedure
- Select collection site
- Alternative collection methods
- Phlebotomy tips
- Position client appropriately
- Responding to client complications
- Client reactions after procedure
- Monitor client for allergic reactions
- Phlebitis
- Deep vein thrombosis (DVT)
- Emergency procedures for severe reactions
- Hematoma
- Petechia
- First aid training
Unit 6 - Operate effectively within a pathology testing environment
- Pathology industry
- Maintenance and accreditation
- Modes of practice
- Pathology assistants
- Preparing for testing
- Laboratory operation
- Pathology laboratory legislation
- Pathology lab sections
- Roles and responsibilities
- Specimen processing
- Safety precautions
- Urgent samples
- Non-replaceable samples
- Compliant labelling
- Storing and transporting samples
- Specimen preparation or separation
- Client information
- Accepted protocols
- Using appropriate terminology
- Client confidentiality
- Policies and procedures
- Administrative practices
- Induction processes
Unit 7 - Receive and prepare samples for testing
- Log samples
- Record date and time of arrival of sample
- Check and match samples with request forms
- Enter samples into LIMS
- Required document tracking mechanisms
- Process ‘urgent’ test requests
- Security and traceability of all information
- Training of new staff
- Record keeping systems
- Address customer service issues
- Report to referring client when samples and request do not comply
- Instruction on where to ‘return to source’ is inappropriate
- Rejected samples
- Confidentiality
- Ensure all information is accurate
- Deal with customers politely and efficiently
- Prepare samples for testing
- Perform physical separation of sample
- Prepare required number of sub-samples
- Perform chemical separation
- Transport of samples
- Monitor and control sample conditions
- Distribute samples
- Group samples
- Distribute request forms
- Maintain a safe work area
- Safe work practices
- Personal protective equipment (PPE)
- Radioactive materials
- Accidents and spillages
- Minimise the generation of waste
- Biohazard waste
- Waste disposal regimes
- Safe disposal of hazardous materials
Assessment
When you study with Australian Online Courses you will be assessed using a competency-based training method. Competency-based training focuses on a learner’s ability to receive, respond to and process information to achieve a competency result. As such, skills-based and knowledge assessments are geared towards attainment to meet industry-defined standards.
Assessment will be comprised of written assignments and exercises, including short answer questions, reports, essays, research projects and reflective tasks. There are no examinations or due dates for assessment. As a result, you can complete training in your own time and at your own pace with the assistance of unlimited tutor support.
Course FAQs
Why Choose Australian Online Courses?
- Professional development that is widely recognised and respected;
- Improve your employment opportunities;
- Study online, anywhere via our elearning system;
- High-quality professional development programs written by industry experts;
- No entry requirements;
- All course materials provided online – no textbooks to buy;
- Unlimited tutor support;
- Easy to understand course content;
- Twelve (12) months’ access, with extensions available upon application (fees apply);
- Certificate of Attainment/Completion issued for your CV (hard copy provided); and
- Course may be tax deductible; see your tax advisor.
How long will it take to complete this course?
The approximate study hours for this course is 100 hours. Twelve (12) months’ access, with extensions available upon application (fees apply).
Can I purchase optional printed materials?
Yes! The cost for printed materials for this course is $50 per unit. Total cost for optional printed materials is: $350.00. Printed materials are optional and not required to complete the course. Everything you need to complete the course is provided online via our e-learning system.
When can I start this course?
You can start within 60 minutes during business hours when you enrol and pay in full with a credit card!
Credit card: Within 60 mins during business hours.
BPAY: Within 1-2 working days.
Internet Banking: Within 1-2 working days.
Cheque/Money Order: Upon receipt of mailed cheque.
Will I receive a certificate upon completion of this course?
Yes! You will receive a Certificate of Attainment upon successful completion of your assessment.
Do I need to attend classes or undertake any work placements?
No. All courses are delivered online via our e-learning system and there are no work placement requirements in this course.
What support can I expect from Australian Online Courses?
Unlimited tutor support is available throughout your studies via email during business hours Monday to Friday. Our Administrative team are available Monday to Friday via email, live chat and telephone.
I am an international student. Can I enrol into this course?
Yes! We accept enrolments from individuals both within Australia and internationally; location is no barrier to entry into our programs.
Career Pathways
Future growth
Strong
Unemployment
Low
- Pathology Services Assistant
- Pathology Specimen Collector
- Pathology Collector
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