HAZLETON, Pa. — Penn State Hazleton is hosting an information session for its health care programs at 5 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 3, in the Slusser/Bayzick Building. A second session will be held at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 2.
The campus offers programs in clinical medical assisting, with classes beginning Jan. 7; nurse aide, with classes beginning Jan. 21 and registration due by Jan. 7; phlebotomy technician, with classes beginning Feb. 26; EKG technician, with classes beginning March 11; and practical nursing, with classes beginning in August.
The clinical medical assisting program helps prepare students to assist physicians by performing functions related to the clinical aspects of a medical office, including assisting with patient-related care; preparing patients for examination and treatment, routine procedures and diagnostic testing; patient confidentiality; recording and taking of vital signs, blood pressures and other patient care items; review and administration of medications, allergies and other pharmacology-related items; laboratory procedures, phlebotomy and techniques to collect specimens for laboratory analysis; and cardiology and the proper placement of leads when taking a 12-lead EKG.
The nurse aide program teaches basic nursing and personal care skills, restorative care, behavioral health and social service needs, and how to care for cognitively impaired clients. After completing the course, students are prepared to take the Pennsylvania Nurse Aide Competency Evaluation Test.
The phlebotomy technician program is a 90-hour program that prepares students to collect blood specimens from patients through venipuncture and capillary sampling for the purpose of laboratory analysis. The course teaches all aspects related to blood collection and how to perform venipunctures completely and safely.
The electrocardiograph (EKG) technician certification program helps prepare students to complete and analyze electrocardiographs (EKG). Students who complete this course will be eligible to take the American Society of Phlebotomy Technicians Electrocardiograph Technician exam and/or other national certification exams.
The practical nursing program is an 18-month part-time program that provides a high-quality noncredit certificate in practical nursing. It helps provide with the knowledge, skills, values and attitudes essential for practical nursing practice and the knowledge necessary to pass the NCLEX-PN. All classes are held on evenings and weekends. Entrance exams for the practical nursing program are ongoing now. Student financial aid for the practical nursing program is available for those who qualify.
The Dec. 3 and Jan. 2 information sessions will provide information about all the healthcare programs available at Penn State Hazleton. Contact Penn State Hazleton’s Department of Continuing Education at 570-450-3110 or [email protected] for more information or to register.
Details about classes, scheduling, entrance requirements, the registration process, cost and payment options can be found at hazleton.psu.edu/ce.