Histology Program Student Orientation

1
Histology Program Student Orientation

• Welcome! We are pleased that you have decided to
  pursue your Histology Training at Columbus State
  Community College. We hope that this orientation
  presentation will provide the answers to any
  additional questions that you may have about the
  program.

2
Note This presentation is intended to provide
orientation information for those students
intending to register for clinical practicum
courses.

• If you intend to apply for non-traditional
  credit, please see the first orientation
  presentation which does not include clinical
  practicum experience information.

3
Program Mission

• To provide a learning experience, that when
  successfully completed, prepares students to
  demonstrate those skills and behaviors congruent
  with those of the professional Histotechnician.

4
Program Goals

• Provide a base of theory and practice that is
  appropriate to develop the entry-level skills of
  a Histotechnician.
• Provide a program with on-going review so that
  accreditation guidelines are maintained.
• Demonstrate support of the Colleges Mission and
  goals.
• Support the profession of Histotechnology by
  preparing graduates who are competent in
  Histology skills and as members of the health
  care team.
• Prepare graduates to successfully complete a
  national certification exam.

5
Student Advising

• Academic advising questions please contact the
  director of the Histology program, Peggy Mayo.
• Her office is located in Union Hall, room 519.
• Distance students may reach her at 614-287-2608,
  or 800-621-6407 ext. 2608,or via email at
  pmayo_at_cscc.edu
• Histology related course content questions
• please contact the education coordinator at
• 614-287-5377 ext. 7668 (voicemail box) or at
  
• jweave01_at_cscc.edu

6
Student Rights As a CSCC Histology student you
have the right to

• Be treated fairly and equitably without regard to
  race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation,
  nationality, age or disability.
• Expect safe work conditions.
• Know the policies and procedures of the Histology
  program and CSCC.
• Expect that all records will be kept
  confidential.
• Receive course syllabi, containing course
  objectives and evaluation policies

7
General Student Responsibilities

• Treat other students, CSCC and Clinical faculty
  and staff with respect.
• Cooperate with peers, CSCC and clinical faculty
  and staff.
• Demonstrate a responsible attitude toward your
  work and others
• Be knowledgeable about and abide by CSCC and
  Histology program policies and procedures.
• Bring ideas and concerns to the Program Director.
• Meet with the academic director regarding any
  academic concerns.
• Not misrepresent someone elses work as your own.
• Practice safety precautions at all times.

8
Student Health and Safety

• A completed health record will be required to be
  on file at College Health Records office.
• All students are strongly encouraged to carry
  health insurance. All full-time students are
  eligible for low-cost group accident and illness
  insurance.
• You may have access to emergency services while
  at your clinical facilities. If you need
  assistance while on campus, you may call ext.
  2525 from any campus phone.
• For any life-threatening emergencies, dial 911.

9
Liability Insurance

• Professional liability insurance is a clinical
  affiliate and department requirement.
• This insurance is provided to students through
  the clinical contract that Columbus State has
  made with each clinical affiliate.
• The College will provide this insurance as part
  of the students laboratory fees.

10
Program Curriculum

• The CSCC Histology certificate program is a
  NAACLS accredited program.
• The mission and program goals of the Histology
  program are directed at helping you achieve the
  competency and learning objective goals set forth
  by NAACLS as appropriate for the entry-level
  Histotechnician.
• Additionally, the program is designed to help you
  successfully prepare for the HT registry exam
  offered by the American Society for Clinical
  Pathologists (ASCP).
• Content will be presented to you in online
  lecture, and you will apply the learned concepts
  in an authentic clinical histology laboratory.

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Lecture (theory) courses

• Lecture courses will be presented online using
  Blackboard.
• The lecture will supplement the information
  presented in assigned readings.
• You may be required to complete homework, view
  additional web pages, digital images, participate
  in online discussion boards, and other
  activities.
• These assignments and activities are designed to
  enhance your understanding of fundamental
  concepts used in the practice of Histotechnology.

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Student expectations for lecture (theory) courses

• You should obtain the required textbooks prior to
  start of the quarter. A textbook list was
  provided with your admission checklist.
• You need to check Blackboard announcements and
  your CSCC email account frequently, as this is
  the best way for instructors to communicate with
  you in an online forum.
• You are expected to complete assigned readings,
  discussion posts and other assignments by the
  posted due dates.
• Make-up work, and exams are at the discretion of
  the instructor for that course. Details about
  that instructors policy regarding make-up work
  will be found in the course syllabus.
• You must contact the instructor prior to the due
  date for assignments and prior to the exam date
  to make any arrangements for unforeseen
  circumstances that prevent you from completing
  items on time.

13
Content of Clinical Courses

• Each lecture (theory) course has complimentary
  clinical course.
• The clinical course will provide you with the
  opportunity to apply the theoretical concepts
  introduced in lecture in an authentic histology
  laboratory.
• You will immediately begin learning the manual
  skills and develop the expertise required to
  become a knowledgeable and proficient
  Histotechnician.
• You are expected to apply your knowledge and to
  practice the manual skills of the Histotechnician
  with diligence.

14
Student Responsibilities for Clinical Rotations

• Clinical experience is a privilege extended to
  you by the clinical facility.
• You must follow the policies and procedures
  regarding attendance, dress, identification, and
  behavior as described in your Histology Student
  Handbook.
• It is your responsibility to also abide by the
  policies of that facility.
• Please refer to the Histology Practicum Manual
  for more details about student clinical
  expectations.

15
Student Access to Grades

• At the beginning of each quarter you will be able
  to access the course syllabi on Blackboard.
• Each course syllabus will describe the objectives
  of the course and the criteria that will be used
  to evaluate your performance.
• You may check your grades on Blackboard at any
  point in the quarter.
• A competency checklist is utilized for evaluation
  in clinical courses. A minimum passing score for
  clinical performance will be identified in that
  courses syllabus.
• You will be evaluated at your clinical site on
  your proficiency at laboratory procedures and
  also on affective (professional behavior)
  objectives.
• You should contact your instructor for any
  questions regarding your grades or clinical
  evaluations. If you are not satisfied with your
  progress, contact your instructor or the
  education coordinator right away-do not wait
  until the end of the quarter!

16
Program Progress and Evaluation

• In each theory (lecture) course, examinations
  will be administered that measure your
  proficiency in each competency area. A passing
  grade is 75 proficiency.
• In clinical courses, you will be evaluated using
  the competency checklist. Satisfactory completion
  of a clinical course is defined as 80
  competency.
• Passing grades are required to continue in the
  program. Failure of any course will require you
  to withdraw and repeat that course.
• Failing any course twice, or failing more than
  one course, will cause you to be permanently
  removed from the program.
• Re-admittance will not be permitted.

17
Competency checklists for Clinical courses

• Students will be given learning objectives and
  tasks to be completed for each clinical course.
  This information will be posted on Blackboard.
• The student should fill out their clinical course
  assignments completely and return these to the
  instructor as clinical course assignments.
• These checklists will become documentation of
  your clinical experience and performance of
  specific laboratory procedures, and will be used
  to determine satisfactory completion of clinical
  courses.
• Before you turn in your checklist-please make a
  copy for your own records.

18
Evaluation of Students by Clinical Faculty

• The Clinical Faculty will also evaluate your
  performance at your clinical site on specific
  laboratory procedures and also on your
  professional conduct by using the detailed
  criteria provided in the Clinical Practicum
  Manual.
• Your clinical instructor must fill out your
  evaluation completely and sign the form when you
  have completed your clinical practicum.
• Your evaluation forms must be turned into the
  Program Director, Peggy Mayo at the end of each
  quarter.
• Failure to turn in your forms prior to grade
  assignment will delay receiving a grade and
  credit for clinical courses.
• This documentation will become part of your
  permanent student records. Students will be given
  the opportunity to review these evaluations.

19
Clinical Placement

• Those students registering for clinical courses
  will be placed in a clinical facility during each
  of the three quarters of the program.
• This will be in an actual histology lab, and you
  will both interacting with histology staff, and
  working with actual patient specimens. For these
  reasons, this component of your education must be
  treated with extreme care.
• CSCC must conform to the availability of spaces
  with affiliated histology laboratories.
• Students will not be accepted into the program
  unless a clinical position is available.
• Clinical facilities may wish to interview
  students before placement into their facility.
• CSCC must also conform to the days and shifts
  that are available within these facilities to
  accommodate students.
• Because there may be more students than available
  clinical seats, the next slide will outline the
  criteria that will be considered in placing
  students.

20
Placement CriteriaThe following list describes
the criteria which may be applied in deciding
student clinical placement

• Students employed at an affiliated facility will
  have first choice for clinical placement at that
  facility.
• Students (completing all admission requirements),
  with the earliest date of application, will be
  given priority in placement.
• Clinical facilities may reserve the right to
  interview students for placement at their
  facility, and their preference for student
  placements will be considered.
• You may not request a placement change, unless
  you have been told by CSCC faculty that another
  placement is available.
• Please refer to the Student Clinical Experience
  Agreement, found in the Clinical Practicum
  Manual, for more details.

21
General Student Conduct Expectations while at
the Clinical Facility

• No headphones are permitted.
• No cell phone or pager-please stow away or turn
  off.
• We suggest that you bring a small notebook with
  you to record questions/answers.
• If you are new to Histology, realize that your
  clinical experience can be compared to a long job
  interview.
• This is your chance to learn as much as you can,
  while showing potential employers that you are a
  reliable, capable, and motivated person.
• Even if you are doing your clinical at a present
  employer, this is still a great chance to
  demonstrate to your supervisor or manager your
  ability to grow and develop as an employee.

22
Termination/Removal from Clinical Experience

• Please refer to your Clinical Practicum Manual
  for details of circumstances or behaviors that
  may lead to your removal from a clinical
  facility.
• Removal of a student from a clinical course will
  be determined by the Program director and/or the
  Clinical Supervisor or Manager.
• If your clinical experience is terminated, this
  will result in withdrawal from the course, and
  removal from the program.

23
NAACLS Service Work Policy

• Students are not permitted to take the place of
  qualified staff.
• Students are permitted to perform procedures only
  when supervised by qualified staff until
  competency is established.
• Students may be scheduled to perform procedures
  or run instruments after they have completed all
  the objectives in that competency area.
• Students may perform procedures however, when
  competency has been established in order to
  maintain proficiency in that competency area.
• If the student is also an employee, the student
  will not be evaluated as part of the educational
  process, when activities are performed while in
  the employee capacity.

24
How the next three quarters will be organized

• The next few slides will outline what courses you
  will be enrolling in over the next three quarters
  as you complete the Histology program.

25
Histology Program 1st Quarter

• You will be registering for
• MULT 150 and MULT 151-Histologic
  Techniques-online lecture (3 credit hours) and
  clinical (15 clinical hours).
• You will learn the essential steps of the
  histology process. Students master embedding,
  processing and microtomy in an authentic clinical
  setting.
• MULT 152 and MULT 149-Tissue ID-online lecture
• (2 credit hours) and clinical (5 clinical
  hours).
• You will be introduced to tissue structure
  and microscopic identification techniques. Tissue
  structure is correlated with staining reaction.

26
Important dates for fall quarter

• The Histology program begins in fall quarter,
  commencing on September 24th 2008.
• Registration for fall quarter courses begins on
  July 28th.
• Fall quarter ends on December 13, 2008.

27
Histology Program Content 2nd Quarter

• You will be registering for
• MULT 154 Chemistry of Stains I-online
  lecture
• ( 3 credits) and MULT 155-Chemistry of
  Stains I-clinical
• ( 15 clinical hours)
• You will learn the fundamentals of routine
  and special histological staining theory, and
  apply these concepts in an authentic clinical
  setting.

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Important dates for Winter quarter

• Winter quarter begins on January 5th 2008.
• Registration for winter quarter is open beginning
  on October 27th 2008.
• Winter quarter ends on March 21st 2009.

29
Histology Program Content 3rd quarter

• You will be registering for
• MULT 156-Chemistry of Stains II-online
  lecture
• ( 2 credits) and MULT 157-Chemistry of
  Stains II-clinical (15 clinical hours)
• This lecture/clinical is a continuation of
  Chemistry of Stains I, and will cover special
  histology staining, immunohistochemistry, and
  troubleshooting techniques.

30
Important dates for Spring quarter

• Spring quarter begins on March 30th 2009.
• Registration opens for spring quarter on February
  2nd 2009.
• Spring quarter ends on June 13th 2009.

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At the successful completion of this program

• You will fulfill the eligibility requirements to
  take the national certification exam for the
  Histotechnician, offered by the American Society
  for Clinical Pathologists (ASCP).
• However, taking the ASCP exam is not a required
  component of the CSCC program.

32
Eligibility for ASCP certification exam

• Completion of this program will satisfy one
  available route to eligibility for the ASCP (HT)
  certification exam.
• The ASCP registry exam is administered by the
  Board of Registry (BOR).
• The BOR has been the primary certifying body for
  laboratory professions since 1928.
• A step-by-step guide to the BOR application
  process is available on the ASCP website
  http//www.ascp.org
• The application fee for the exam is 175.00.

33
BOR application process for registry exams

• Identify the exam and determine your eligibility.
• Gather your education and experience
  documentation.
• Apply for the exam (application fee
  documentation).
• Schedule your exam ( you will receive a letter
  that admits you for a 3 month exam period).
• We recommend that you take the exam as soon as
  possible.
• The exam is a Computer Adapted Test. You will
  receive preliminary results on the exam
  completion.
• You will receive your official results about 6
  weeks from your exam date.

34
Other information sources

• Please remember that you may consult your
  Histology Student Handbook and Clinical Practicum
  Manual for more information.
• You may contact the Education Coordinator with
  any questions or for clarifications.
• You may contact the Histology Program Director
  with any academic concerns.
• You may contact the course instructor for any
  course-specific questions or concerns.
• All contact information can be found on the
  Histology program website, and/or the course
  syllabus.

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Important CSCC campus phone numbers

• College Health and Records Office (health records
  and health insurance brochures) 614-287-2450
• Admissions (welcome center) 614-287-2669
• Records Registration 614-287-3635
• Financial Aid representative 614-287-2648

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Other questions or concerns?

• If you did not find the answer to your question
  within the content of this presentation, please
  contact the Education coordinator and/or the
  Program director.
• We will do our best to answer any additional
  questions that you may have.
• Best of luck to you in the Histology Certificate
  Program at Columbus State Community College!