The Associate in Applied Science in General Technology Nursing Preparation and Clinical Studies program prepares students to enter the Associate in Applied Science in Nursing or the Licensed Practical Nursing diploma program. Students will complete general education classes while earning certifications to help increase opportunities to enter the workforce. The curriculum provides classroom, clinical and laboratory experience for students preparing to apply to competitive entry programs here at Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College. This degree is not designed for transfer to a four-year institution.
The primary specialty for this degree is Patient Care Technician, which includes the following certifications: Certified Nursing Assistant, Phlebotomy Technician, and Electrocardiography or Dialysis Technician. Students will gain a secondary specialty in Biology, providing an opportunity to set a strong foundation in anatomy, physiology and microbiology. Students in this program also have the opportunity to complete electives in allied health, natural sciences, social sciences and humanities.
Primary Technical Specialty: Patient Care Technician
Secondary Technical Specialty: Biology
The Associate in Science pathway in Health Science and Nursing Careers University Transfer Preparatory program prepares students to enter an Associate in Applied Science degree in Nursing, Radiologic Technology, Physical Therapist Assistant programs, or diploma programs in Licensed Practical Nursing or Medical Assisting. This program is designed for students who plan to transfer to a four-year institution following licensure. Students may also earn a Certified Nursing Assistant professional healthcare certification through careful selection of electives.
Primary Technical Specialty: Patient Care Technician
Secondary Technical Specialty: Allied Health
The Medical Assisting (MA) program prepares students for career opportunities, which require knowledge of basic office, patient care and laboratory skills in medical offices, clinics, and hospitals.
Medical assistants are multi-skilled allied health professionals specifically educated to work in ambulatory settings performing administrative and clinical duties. The practice of medical assisting directly influences the public’s health and well-being and requires mastery of a complex body of knowledge and specialized skills requiring both formal education and practical experience that serve as standards for entry into the profession.
Well-balanced instruction in business skills and medical procedures enables the graduate to assist the physician in routine practice. The responsibilities of medical assistants vary, depending on whether they work in a clinic, hospital, large group practice, or small private office.
Externships in area medical practices provide clinical experience in obtaining patient histories, assisting in examinations and certain diagnostic testing, acquiring patient specimens, performing laboratory tests, processing and coding insurance, scheduling appointments for the physician, collecting payments, and patient education. Externships are available only during day hours. The student may be required to travel out of town for selected clinical experience. Assignment of clinical externship is based on availability of affiliated clinical facilities.
The MA program enjoys a very supportive relationship with local physician’s offices, clinics, and hospitals. As a result of these relationships, these facilities provide externship opportunities for the Medical Assisting students and a large number of the graduates are subsequently employed by these sites.
The MA curriculum provides the student with a general health care background, which can be used as a stepping-stone to other health care or administrative fields. MA graduates can pursue nursing, medical laboratory technology, radiologic technology, respiratory care technology, word processing, medical transcription, or office systems technology careers.
The Medical Assisting program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs upon the recommendation of the Medical Assisting Education Review Board (MAERB). CAAHEP, 1361 Park Street, Clearwater, FL 33756; telephone: (727) 210-2350; www.caahep.org. Graduates of the program are eligible to take the certification exam for medical assistants given by the American Association of Medical Assistants, 20 North Wacker Drive, Suite 1575, Chicago, IL, 60606; telephone: (312) 899-1500; www.aama-ntl.org.
A student may enroll in a CAAHEP accredited Medical Assisting program, but upon graduation may not be eligible to take the certification exam and become a Certified Medical Assistant without a waiver as established by the Certifying Board. Note: Individuals who have been found guilty of a felony or pleaded guilty to a felony are not eligible to take the CMA Exam; however, the Certifying Board may grant a waiver based upon mitigating circumstances. Students who may be affected by this should contact the American Association of Medical Assistants at 20 North Wacker Drive, Suite 1575, Chicago, IL 60606-2903 to clarify eligibility status to sit for the AAMA exam.
Admission to the MA program is based on successful completion of required placement tests and proof of high school diploma or G.E.D. Admission requirements may be obtained by attending a Health Information Programs (HIP) session. All applicants are required to attend a seminar as part of the admissions process. A listing of scheduled sessions can be obtained from the Admissions Office or online at www.octech.edu on the Health Sciences page.
An admissions physical examination validating health status is required. Proof of CPR (infant, child, adult and AED-BLS for healthcare providers) is required before the MA goes to clinicals. As part of the admissions process, students will be required to have a Criminal Background Check and Drug Screen through facilities specified by the College.
The Commission on Allied Health Education Programs certified the Diploma Medical Assisting Program and judged it to be in compliance with the nationally established standards on September 20, 2013. This Continuing Accreditation is in effect until the next scheduled on-site review to occur Fall of 2020.
Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT) are certified healthcare providers who are trained to respond, treat, and transport individuals in emergency situations. With the assistance of dispatchers, Advanced EMTs, and Paramedics, EMTs are an integral component of the Emergency Medical Team.
The Emergency Medical Technician certificate prepares students to work with the Emergency Medical System (EMS), and become state and nationally certified as an EMT-Basic. After receiving this training, students may choose to pursue additional training in the Emergency Medical System, to include Advanced EMT and Paramedic.
Beginning each fall semester, the EMT curriculum consists of classroom lecture, hands-on skills practice, as well as field training with actual transport agencies. Students will gain the knowledge and skill-base necessary to gain employment. Students learn the skills to care for critically-ill and injured patients, including airway management, patient assessment and trauma care. Upon completion of the program, students will be prepared to earn a state and national certification for a Basic Emergency Medical Technician.
Nursing assistants, under the supervision of nursing and medical staffs, provide personal care and emotional support to elderly and/or acutely ill patients confined to hospitals, short-term intermediate facilities, and long-term care institutions. They take temperatures, pulse, respiration, and blood pressure as well as observe patients’ physical, mental and emotional conditions, and report any changes to the nursing or medical staff. Assistants also answer patients’ call bells, deliver messages, serve meals, make beds, and help patients eat.
Nursing assistants employed in health care facilities are often the principal caregivers, having more contact with patients than other members of the staff. They should be healthy, tactful, patient, understanding, dependable, and have a desire to help people. They should also be able to work as part of a team, have good communication skills, and be willing to perform repetitive, routine tasks. Nursing assistants may become employed in hospitals, in private duty, in assisted-living facilities, hospices, home health areas, or nursing homes.
The nursing assistant curriculum covers body mechanics, nutrition, anatomy and physiology, infection control, communication skills, and personal care skills. Graduates of this program are eligible to take the Competency Exam for state certification as a Certified Nursing Assistant. An 80% (“B”) competency is required in all core courses.
CRIMINAL RECORD CHECK
All direct caregivers must obtain a criminal record check as designated by clinical agencies. Persons convicted of or pled no contest to, including, but not limited to, child or adult abuse, sexual assault, assault with a deadly weapon, neglect, or mistreatment or misappropriation of property, are not permitted to work as direct caregivers. More stringent requirements are often enforced by individual clinical agencies. Students who have convictions as described above will not be allowed to attend clinical agencies. Clinical agencies reserve the right to deny privileges for convictions other than stated. Based on this information, students should be aware of the consequences of a positive criminal record check, which may include dismissal from the program. Students who are impacted by this constraint should consider career counseling.
A copy of the student’s Social Security number verification is required to be on file.
DISCLAIMER: This information is subject to change as new directives are received.
Latex Allergies
Health care providers with Latex sensitivity must be aware that latex sensitivity increases with each additional exposure and there will be exposure to latex in various forms in the lab and hospital environment. If you have latex allergies, it is recommended that you consult your Health care provider regarding this medical condition for assistance with your decision about whether pursuing a career in nursing is the appropriate choice for you considering this allergy.
The Associate in Science in Nursing USC Upstate Transfer program is designed for ADN students to transfer to the University of South Carolina Upstate to pursue a Bachelors of Science in Nursing.
Options are also available for students who plan to transfer to other four-year institutions. Please consult your advisor.
Advanced Emergency Medical Technicians provide emergency care in various pre-hospital settings. This certificate prepares students to become nationally registered as an Advanced Emergency Medical Technician. After completing the first semester of this curriculum, students can attempt EMT-Basic credentialing. This certificate is also a great starting point for students who ultimately want to be a paramedic.
Primary Specialty: Advanced EMT
Secondary Specialty: Forensics