CLINICAL LABORATORY SCIENCE COMPETENCIES

Entry level competencies for Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi Clinical Laboratory Science students address the areas of professionalism, skills, knowledge and synthesis.

Professionalism

The graduating Clinical Laboratory Scientist is expected to:

1. maintain professional standards in all matters related to the ethics, medical information and job responsibilities.
2. promote public relations for the clinical labortory by maintaining professional image and conduct.
3. utilize appropriate communication skills for exchanging ideas and information and transmitting laboratory results.
4. recognize the need for continuing education for the application of current scientific/technical knowledge in the clinical laboratory and for participation in professional organizations.
5. demonstrate an awareness of the knowledge/responsibility level of the clinical laboratory scientist and of other laboratory personnel.

Skills

The graduating clinical laboratory scientist is expected to:

1. obtain blood from a patient insuring the comfort and safety of the patient before, during and following blood collection.
2. obtain and process specimens, utilizing appropriate techniques and maintaining integrity of the specimen in relation to the test to be performed.
3. determine the priority of laboratory requests and arrange the workload to provide for optimal patient care and workload efficiency.
4. calibrate and operate instruments and equipment using the appropriate materials and following established protocols.
5. perform preventative maintenance operations on laboratory instruments following established protocols.
6. perform tests according to established methods, utilizing efficient organization and work flow and producing accurate test results.
7. accurately calculate, record, and report test results and associated information, conforming to established procedures and standards.
8. prepare and periodically update procedure manuals.
9. instruct students and/or personnel in the operation and maintenance of instruments and equipment, the performance of methods and procedures and standards.
10. recognize, record and evaluate instrument or equipment malfunctions and discrepancies in test results.
11. prepare and label chemical and biological reagents and materials according to prescribed directions, using proper laboratory techniques and observing safety precautions.
12. monitor acquisition, processing and storage of laboratory supplies.

Knowledge

The graduating clinical laboratory scientist is expected to:

1. recognize correct specimen collection procedures based on test request, analytical system requirements and patient status.
2. identify or state principals of basic laboratory methods.
3. recognize internal and external policies and regulations including medio-legal custodial responsibilities for the acquisition, identification, transport, storage and disposal of specimens.
4. recognize hazardous specimens and materials and process them according to established safety measures.
5. associate basic human physiology and pathophysiology with test results.
6. evaluate the validity of test results by relating them to reference intervals, quality control data, analytical system performance, correlation with other test data and patient status.
7. recognize situations in which additional or confirmation procedures are indicated.
8. demonstrate an awareness of necessity for periodic evaluation of safety manuals, procedure manuals, and instrument maintenance protocols.
9. demonstrate an awareness of the use of basic management principles in the clinical laboratory setting Including:
   1. critical pathways and clinical decision making
   2. performance improvement
   3. dynamics of healthcare delivery systems as they affect laboratory service
   4. human resource management to include position description, performance evaluation, utilization of personnel, and analysis of workflow and staffing patterns
   5. financial management: profit and loss, cost/benefit, reimbursement requirments, materials/inventory management
10. critically evaluate and review published research.

Synthesis

The graduating clinical laboratory scientist is expected to:

1. establish a patient identification system.
2. select, evaluate and implement laboratory test methods including the selection of reagents.
3. develop and monitor quality assurance systems/quality improvement including an instrument maintenance program
4. establish criteria for evaluating and evaluate the suitability of specimens for the analysis requested.
5. establish a system for providing patients with blood and blood products in accordance with internal and external policies and regulations or standards.
6. establish reference intervals appropriate for the systems utilized and the population served.

For more information about Clinical Laboratory Science, visit the Biomedical Sciences Program website:
http://lsci.tamucc.edu/bims

… or contact the Director of Clinical Laboratory Science, Dr. Christina Thompson