OUR GOAL
The Phoenix College Histologic Technology Program Faculty and Students thank you in advance for the vital support you are providing for students participating in the Histologic Technology Program.
The technical nature of histotechnology requires specific competency skills that can only be practiced and developed in a working laboratory setting. The intent of this program is to combine the best aspects of traditional 'on-the-job' training with formal academics in order to maximize both students and laboratory time investment in order to achieve the final goal of adequately trained histotechnicians.
The course of instruction is designed to step through all aspects of histotechnology in a step-wise pattern, essentially following a specimen through all aspects of preparation in the anatomic lab.
YOUR LAB INVOLVEMENT
The first module begins in late March that includes an introductory course with information presented as overview in nature, covering all general aspects of lab function; regulatory agencies, staff diversity, safety, lab management, etc. Students have also concurrently started some technical aspects; basic solution preparation/lab math, and surgical pathology processes. This semester will also cover fixation and basic tissue processing, concluding in mid-May.
The program requires that the student collect, process, cut, and ultimately stain tissue specimens separate from the work they are employed to do. This requires your assistance in helping them obtain the necassary materials, to oversee of this work on your operations, and to give on-site guidance and advice during these activities.
There is unavoidable impact on time for participation in this program. We expect that the time investment you put in will pay off by incremental improvements in the skill levels of your students that will improve their work and efficiencies.
The student will be performing embedding and microtomy procedures from June onward to perform class assignments. They will also be doing some H&E staining prior to formally covering that in class in order to evaluate their embedding and microtomy work. The student requires access to a microscope in order to evaluate the work assignment results.
It will be extremely advantageous for those students who are currently not routinely performing embedding/microtomy/H&E staining in your lab to begin practicing as soon as you can handle it so that they can transition into the classroom work. This may possibly be the most disruptive aspect of participation in this program for your lab operations, but once started has the potential to provide you with staff having valuable cross-training. Working on autopsy materials and control slides provides a fairly safe arena to orient staff to embedding/microtomy.
SYNOPSIS OF THE MENTOR PROGRAM:
Each listed practicum has accompanying competency and professional behavior evaluations that must be completed and returned in order for the student to get credit for their in-lab work.
More than one mentor can be involved with the student. Each mentor should be an experienced, registered histotechnician and/or histotechnologist. The choice of mentor should be made by lab management, not the student, as this aspect of participation can affect your lab operations.
First Semester (March 27-May 15)
| Topic |
Your input |
| Lab Instrumentation |
The student inventories basic equipment/reviews your procedure manuals-you confirm the activity |
| Surgical Pathology |
The student observes gross examination activities and keeps a log documenting observations-your confirm the activity |
| General Fixation |
The student will be asked to collect tissue pieces and perform a variety of fixation activities and then process into blocks for future microtomy-you facilitate tissue collection and confirm activity |
| Tissue Processing |
The student will be asked to collect tissue pieces and perform different processing schedules available in your laboratory-you facilitate tissue collection and confirm activity |
Second Semester (June 5-July 31)
| Topic |
Your Input |
| Embedding |
The student will be asked to collect tissue pieces and perform embedding activities-you facilitate tissue collection and confirm activity |
| Microtomy |
The student will be asked to cut and produce slides-H&E slides will be prepared in order to review the work |
| Cytology and bone marrow prep |
The student will be asked to observe preparation activities and keep a log documenting observations |
Practicums are limited in second semester because the focus is on embedding/microtomy.
Note: There is a break for the 4th of July holiday-no class that weekend
There is a break from August 1-August 20
Third Semester (August 21-October16)
| H&E Stain |
The student will continue to produce slides-collecting tissues-you facilitate collection and confirm activity |
| Special Stains Carbohydrate Stains |
The student will perform special stain procedures-you confirm activity |
|
Special Stains
Connective Tissue Stains
|
The student will perform special stain procedures-you confirm activity |
Special Stains
Lipids |
The student will perform special stain procedures-you confirm activity |
Special Stains
Pigments and Minerals |
The student will perform special stain procedures-you confirm activity |
Special Stains
Cytoplasmic Granules |
The student will perform special stain procedures-you confirm activity |
Note: There is a break for Labor Day holiday-no class that weekend
Fourth Semester (October 23-December 18)
Special Stains
Microorganism Stains |
The student will perform special stain procedures-you confirm activity |
Special Stains
Neurological Stains |
The student will perform special stain procedure-you confirm activity |
Specialty Stains
Histochemistry
Immunohistochemisty |
The student will conduct observation activities and log observations-you will confirm activity (this portion may flex to different locations outside the student's lab if necessary) |
| Electron Microscopy |
Site visit to Banner Good Samaritan Hospital |
| Morgue |
The student will conduct observation activities and log observations-you will confirm activity (this portion may flex to different locations outside the student's land if necessary) |
| Lab Operations |
The student will be required to document home lab activities, write a procedure and create CQI activity-you will confirm activity |
The assignments given to students will cover all the general concepts of Histotechnolgy and will prepare the students for an entry level role in the profession as well as provide basic concepts assessed on the national certification exam. Those of you who have participated in on-the-job training are probably familiar with the disruption that working on these practicums for exam cause. Having the student perform this in a controlled manner eliminates this problem.
The student is accountable to share each assignment with their mentor and insure they finish each module on time. The student is required to prioritize school work as directed by their lab Supervisor.
Clinical Mentor Overview information on the HT web site: www.phoenixcollege.edu/he/ht
Additional information on teaching and learning can be found on the Center of Teaching and Learning Technology web site: www.phoenixcollege.edu/ctlt
|
