Kaelie Evans recently completed the Phlebotomy Technician Bootcamp at Cleveland State Community College and earned the National Healthcareer Association Phlebotomy Technician Certification (CPT), an industry-recognized credential for healthcare professionals.
Phlebotomy is the practice of removing blood from the veins or body for medical testing, donation or other uses. During the 48-hour program, students learn to safely perform venipunctures through classroom lecture and practice on training arms and human arms.
Evans is a Registered Dental Assistant at a local dental practice. When she started working at the practice three years ago, she did not have formal training in dental care. Over the years, the dentist has trained her in clinical procedures which led to her current position as dental assistant.
Evans enrolled in the phlebotomy bootcamp to enhance her abilities at the dental practice. She said, “This certification will help me to extract blood from patients so the dentist can use the cells for bone grafting to help teeth extraction sites heal better.”
Vicky Sullivan, phlebotomy instructor, said, “Phlebotomy is a vital healthcare profession essential for diagnosing illness, monitoring overall health and collecting blood for treatment. Kaelie is a conscientious, hardworking student whose perseverance is truly admirable. Even after long work shifts, she arrived at class prepared and fully engaged. The skills she gained through this program will continue to support her as she grows in her profession.”
The bootcamp was funded by the Rural Healthcare Grant that Cleveland State received from the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development. The grant is a partnership between the Adult Education, Workforce Development, Healthcare departments at the college and local healthcare employers. It expands healthcare programs in the college’s five county service area of Bradley, McMinn, Meigs, Monroe and Polk counties.
“My goal is to use these skills as a phlebotomist at my work now,” said Evans. “I enjoy doing this, and the program gave me another certification in the healthcare field. This is a great opportunity for people. It was a lot of fun learning, and the hands-on training was really helpful for me.”
For more information about phlebotomy and other healthcare bootcamps, contact Chelsea Falana, Workforce Specialist, at chelsea.falana@cscctn.edu or (423) 614-8742.