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Rutgers SHP Requirements for Graduation and Course Descriptions

Department of CLS&MIS

Diagnostic Cytopathology - Entry Level

DCYT5239 - Clinical Practicum I

Course Description

This course provides clinical practice in cytopreparation and gynecologic/anal cytology screening. For cytopreparation, students will have hands on experiences accessioning, processing, staining and troubleshooting cytologic samples obtained via various methods for subsequent microscopic interpretation. For the gynecologic/anal cytology screening portion of the clinical experience, students will be involved in the microscopic examination and evaluation of conventional and liquid based gynecologic and anal cytology cases along with exposure to computer assisted screening where applicable. Students are assigned to various clinical affiliates by the Program’s Education Coordinator and/or the Program Director.

Credits/Modes of Instruction

Credits: 4

4 credits/ Clinical Practice.
This course provides clinical practice in cytopreparation and gynecologic cytology screening over the 12-week course of a semester for a total of 360 hours of clinical practice. Students participate in clinical practice four days per week. Students are assigned to clinical sites by the Program’s Education Coordinator and/or the Program Director. At the Program’s discretion, students may be assigned to one clinical site for both cytopreparation and gynecologic clinical practice, or two different clinical sites. Students are required to arrange their own transportation during the clinical rotations.

Prerequisites

DCYT 5129 Cytopreparatory Laboratory Techniques
DCYT 5139 Diagnostic Cytology I

Course Goals and Outcomes:

Goals

The goal of the course is to provide students with clinical practice in cytopreparation and the diagnostic interpretation of gynecologic and anal cytologic material in the cytology laboratory setting.

Outcomes

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:
Cytopreparation Clinical Practice:
1. Demonstrate various laboratory safety procedures as well as universal precautions practices used in the cytology laboratory.
2. Demonstrate proficiency in concepts of accessing including patient data entry and other clerical processes.
3. Demonstrate proficiency in the evaluation, preparation and processing of conventional and liquid based gynecologic, non-gynecologic, fine needle aspiration cytology and other types of samples
4. Demonstrate proficiency in various staining techniques (Papanicolaou, Hematoxylin and Eosin, Diff-Quik® and other Romanowsky stains), and other staining techniques used in Pathology for microscopic interpretation
5. Describe and demonstrate various trouble shooting techniques associated with cytopreparation.
6. Discuss and demonstrate ethical and professional practices associated with cytopreparation
Gynecologic and Anal Cytology Clinical Practice:
1. Analyze and correlate patient data with visualized cytologic findings along with recognizing the need for additional clinical data.
2. Demonstrate proper use and care of microscopic equipment as well as slide scanning techniques.
3. Differentiate between unsatisfactory and satisfactory conventional and liquid based gynecologic and anal samples.
4. Evaluate cytologic samples as to the degree of cellular abnormality utilizing all visualized cytologic material.
5. Correlate interpretation results with previous cytologic material, ancillary techniques, and histologic findings when applicable.
6. Demonstrate high statistical sensitivity and specificity while examining a minimum of 30 slides per day
7. Write an accurate report utilizing current Bethesda System reporting terminology.