I wonder how better staffed lab’s could be if they did more outreach to high school students and college students. My experience has been that the general public does not know these jobs exist I know I didn’t.
I 100% agree. I ended up with a biology bachelor's thinking I could get into clinicals in my state, only to find out you need ASCP certification. Only to find out, I could've done HALF of my bachelor's and transitioned to a program at a school nearby to finish with a single bachelor's in MLS. I was mislead and I am jaded about it. I don't want a second bachelor's to make my original biology BS (that was not easy) useless.
I am working as a phlebotomist right now while saving money for the MLT program. I am dealing with a lot of the same training issues. We are just so short staffed that I am trying to learn as much as I can as I go. I am glad that you mentioned the need for knowing tubes and tests. That is something I am trying hard to learn and it can be very frustrating.
If you google order of draw guides, there’s some very detailed ones on google and Pinterest that may help! The guides have what tests are commonly ordered and the reason for the additives as well.
I am feeling the burn out and I’m on month 2 of being on shift. I can definitely feel the “training” for each area. I don’t have a certification so I was going in blind. Im just glad there’s one person that’s older than me that I can go to for help most days when I work.
Thank you so much for being honest in your experience it’s giving me a realistic idea of what to expect. I have a semester left of prerequisites for my program and I’ve already been accepted into it. I’ve been having so much anxiety over my choice to go back to school for several reasons. But your videos have been priceless to me and have helped me to envision myself in this role!
I also agree with wishing I had more previous lab experience as a lab assistant. Unfortunately I did not pass my ASCP exam because a lot of the questions were very practical! I believe if I had more lab experience, it might not have been as hardd. I plan to study more and retake it in 3 months!!
That’s true, many of the questions were as if we worked the job 😂 I believe the programs receive a score breakdown for each area. If they share it with you, maybe that will help you figure out what subjects to brush up on when you get ready to study again
@@domilarae Right & Yes lab operations really brought my overall score down. I ended up with a 360 overall which was not enough to pass. I also need to study microbiology a bit more ! The Polansky cards & Harr review will remain handy!!
Hearing your experience with training is also quite disheartening but i’m glad you didn’t quit and you’re still going!! 💪🏾💪🏾 I’m scared to go into the workforce but i will be starting very soon with a provisional license before taking the national exam again!
Good luck in your future job! I shared with the hopes of not discouraging anyone beginning in the field. I think I just began working at a bad time. My training was definitely not standard practice, we did the best we could being critically understaffed. I spoke up for more training in areas when needed though. We are at better staffing now, so everyone after me has received a better training experience - which makes me happy!
@@domilarae Very understandable & it differs from lab to lab! I’ve been watching your videos for a while now and you’ve definitely been very encouraging!!
I can relate so much to this right now. I'm going through the same thing, it is stressful but I'm hanging in there. Hopefully more people join the field! Great video!
💞 aww i want to hug you! You are a very strong intelligent person! I don't know if I could hang on like you did. I'm wanting to leave my current job because of the same bs. I hope when i graduate and get into the lab it will be better.
Thank you!! 💕 other than low staffing, it’s been a great experience so far. Everyone is very encouraging/motivating, so I’m in a positive environment overall. I hope the same for you as well when you enter the field! I think in the future, things will get better in the lab.
Thank you for sharing this information, Dominique. Even though I'm nervous about the career, I'll be more happy knowing that I'd be making a difference. ❤️ I'm actually going to be starting a program at my university where I'll complete a bachelor's in biology and then do another year at a different school for MLS.
Thanks for sharing this! I’m currently doing my internship and have just 5 weeks left. I feel pretty lucky to have already got a job at the hospital I’m interning at. I am currently working on getting my MLT certification. The next step would be to go for the MLS certification. I already have a Master’s degree in Biochemistry, so I’m debating on whether to go back to school and get that bachelors in MLS or just get enough work experience to qualify. Going back to school would be the more straightforward way to go about it, but I really don’t want to get more student loans. On the other hand, I live in a small town, so hospitals close to home don’t have a Microbiology department. So it’s pretty hard to get enough experience in that area. I really wish that I’d know about this degree before I got my science degree. I feel that I have wasted so much time.
Congrats on getting your new job!! Maybe have a conversation with the lab leadership to decide the best route, school vs work experience for your MLS/MT. I definitely agree on learning about the field sooner! Good luck & early congrats on graduating!
Just wanted to say you did a very good job articulating your experience without trying to sway others. Thanks for sharing your experience and getting our field some publicity!!
My state allows for you to do certain laboratory work without a license, so I have some lab experience and I am getting ready to apply for my program now. This video is so helpful! I also have an undergrad in Biology and wished I had considered this career sooner.
I'm currently in my core lab clinical in hematology and definitely see how burn out is very real for my trainers due to this hospital's volume and staffing shortages. I'm a little anxious for how my training and transition post-grad will go too. I'm learning to not be so hard on myself for not knowing/retaining information right away and just absorb all that I can from the really experienced techs. I feel strongly that all lab professionals deserve higher pay! Despite everything I am excited to be on this journey!
Yes! Definitely remember to not be hard on yourself, it’s all a learning experience. Each day, you will get better. Remember this when you begin working too! I agree, lab professionals do not get paid enough lol
This video is spot on. I’m in my clinical rotation now and the burnout is so real… all my preceptors are talking about quitting in between teaching me lol. I’m fine with it as I’m currently a surgical tech now and completely burnt out and physically exhausted, I’ll take a busy day in chemistry any day, lol love your videos keep them coming!
Thank you for sharing! I think the environments of each lab vary greatly. I had a rotation similar to yours, preceptors told me to not even enter the field! On the other hand, my current job is full of many positive people who encourage me daily. Love the lab, but now I wish I had a better work schedule (currently doing nights 5x8s) 😂
Lol I feel you! You must be a strong individual to work in this field, physically, mentally, and emotionally! I’ve only been working as a generalist on the overnight shift for a month now and it stresses me the fuck out😭. I honestly was just thrown into work because they felt like since I did clinicals at the facility that I knew what I was doing which was 30% true but I did not have much experience with the interface system and I’m terrible at computers and not to mention answering questions for doctors and nurses so it’s been lots of asking questions and trail and error. Oh, and getting scolded because I make more than the techs that half ass trained me so they talk shit behind my back if I don’t know something or make a mistake. But with all that being said, I love the work that I am doing and will always advocate for this profession so we can eliminate short staffing😂
Thanks for sharing your experience! And thanks for understanding my point, love the job but these work environments are not for the faint of heart lol. I hate that they did your training like that. Clinicals is not the same as doing the actual job. What dept(s) do you work? And what LIS/middlewares are you using? Some of them have their own online training. I took several modules to learn the interfaces so I could learn on my own lmaooooo. And those techs need to stop being high and mighty, they were new at once too. That “experience” comes from trial and error, and once you make the error, you learn not to do it again 😂. Mistakes can be teaching moments, and they shouldn’t be belittling you about it.
@@domilarae 😂 right! That’s the number one advice I can give to anyone fresh is to have thick skin and if you don’t….we’ll you’re in a lab perform and experiment and synthesize some🤣. At my facility we use Meditech which is horrible and the intermediate LIS used is Central Link which is also horrible lol. I run Corelab and Blood bank. Unfortunately my hospital has phased out Micro which sucks because I actually loved it, but I still get to perform molecular and serology testing with COVID, Flu, and Strep. And I don’t be worried about they miserable asses, it just tickles me even more 🤣
Friend!!They really have you running the lab at a month 😭🫶🏾 you are right about the thick skin, the learning curve is something else. I’m expected to train someone soon and it’s ridiculous, this shortage is too crazy 🤣 I’ve heard of meditech, I think it’s just as ancient as Sunquest that I use smh lol
@@domilarae Like is it not a CLIA violation for using these old ass LIS systems?🤣 And naw sis, you are the 🐐! I at least have one other person working with me overnight. You are working by yourself and training people!😭🙏🏾
Right 🤣 the rest of my hospital uses epic, it’s a real shame. When I began, it was just me and the charge tech! Leadership hired new techs, and we are up to four people now - which is great, I just hate that I barely know what I’m doing in order to teach someone else lmao 😂
Thank you all for your dedication, passion and big hearts! Without you the pandemic would have been a lot worse. I am considering this career path for myself, so hang in there, get all of the support you need at work, and outside! Make sure you put your needs high up on the list, daily, so you don't reach that point of giving up. And if you choose to leave, just know you are true here heroes that kick azz😂🙏🏾❤️! Praying for you all to get what you need! Thank you, for your detailed and honest videos.
I’m currently on my preceptorship and I completely get your points, I’m already burned out before even starting my career 😂 just watching the other techs work and how it’s so many older techs and not a lot of younger techs working at the hospitals, everyone’s becoming a traveler or leaving the profession
Right! I stress myself out all the time thinking about the future. I’m the youngest in my lab and the age gap is avg 10-30 yrs between me and everyone else. I really wonder what is it going to be like when the older techs decide to retire in this decade lol
Thanks for sharing your experience! I'm in the process for applying for NAACLS accredited programs at the moment and will graduate with my BS in the spring. I haven't really gotten much information at all for how the "internship" goes and that is really helpful to know that the hospitals may be understaffed still when I go through so I know what to expect.
Good luck with your applications! It really just depends on the facility. I know my place of work has experienced understaffing, But it might not be the case everywhere you go. Whenever you get to the point of clinical rotations, your program will set the expectations along with the lab’s clinical educator, of how the lab will be teaching you. So you shouldn’t have anything to worry about with the internship part of your program 🙂
I’m finishing my first semester of clinicals and the burnout due to short-staffing is very apparent in my trainers. Their attitude about the field/job isn’t very encouraging which is disheartening. I’m also slightly disillusioned by how wildly different the didactic training at the university was vs. what the actual lab is like with the analyzers.
I hope you have a better experience in the future. I had a similar feeling during rotations, with low morale of the trainers. Now that I’m working, I found a lab that’s overall very positive. Everyone is passionate about lab science and have been very motivating/encouraging to me. It’s an entirely different environment from the clinical sites I was assigned.
I have been thinking of trying to find a part time lab assistant job... Some days in class I feel so lost, like its my first day of school... Ur videos give me hope in knowing that struggling a bit is just part of the process.
I think working as a lab assistant while you continue in your studies will be a great way to bridge the gap with understanding pre-analytical variables (acceptable specimens, tube requirements, labeling, etc). And it's a great way to start gaining work experience in the field! Thank you for watching my videos - its great to know that we aren't alone in experiencing the highs and lows of going into the laboratory field.
Thank you so much for this video great information my goal is to become a MLT I have a long way to go as a older student Now I have an idea where to start and I see that Lab assistant/phlebotomy is a good first step that helps toward my goal as a older student Thank you
Good luck on your journey to the lab! Yes, I highly recommend the lab assistant/specimen accessioner job. It’s a great way to gain experience in the laboratory while in school.
Got a bachelors in health science 10 years ago, certified phlebotomist too. Been working as a phleb. for 7 years. My state (IL) doesn’t require licensure. Does anyone know how i can transition to a mls without going back to school
I’m not familiar with IL, but it wouldn’t hurt to start applying to jobs. I assume hospitals will require or prefer certification. But there’s many opportunities in other labs like reference labs, manufacturing labs or even state labs
Awesome video! I’m currently about a year away from finishing my BS in MLS. I would say for me, I wish I had known about the two year degrees of radiologic technology, respiratory therapy, and med lab technician. They pay roughly the same but less debt😅
Thanks for sharing! That makes sense, I suppose getting degrees really depends on your end goals more so than pay. Career wise - your Bachelors will allow you to advance in roles that an associates wouldn’t.
I really appreciate this video, I’ve been a lab assistant for 2 years now, 5 months in histology and the rest in micro. I really wish I knew about MLT/MLS in high school. I’ll be finishing my BS when I’m 28 🥲 Thankfully my school has a thing where in one year we can become an MLT to start working whilst finishing up the rest of our schooling for MLS. I’m going to take the MT exam from AAB though so that I can work as if I’m an MLS and when I’m done with my bachelors I’ll take the ASCP exam. Working as a lab assistant first made me feel really sure that I wanted to do this. Only 2 months of schooling down, it’s a challenge but I’m loving it so far.
Thanks for sharing! That sounds like a great plan to reach your goals. I’m glad you were able to work as a lab assistant to see if the medical lab field was right for you. I wish you the best this semester as well as in your future studies. You got this! 💕
I'm in a MLT program right now and just started clinicals. My new program directors are amazing. I am lucky that I am starting with MLT degree asc. First then I'm going to do a bridge program. I already have about 3 years of Phlebotomy/Clincal lab assistant experience which has been super helpful! I do wish places were more transparent about pay and what I should expect as a new grad.
Hello Dominique! I thought that you might help me with this, I need to do clinical laboratory tour course project, the professor said that due to Covid, we’re going to just answer questions based on what we learned, my question is how did you gather all the information you needed to prepare this project? There are things we didn’t do like patient population examples and instruments of laboratory departments, also reporting of patient test results. Thank you so much.
I did some projects similar to this, but it was done during clinical rotations when I went to the hospitals. The hospitals let me get patient result examples and analyzer manuals to gather data. I'm not sure how you would do it, maybe google the analyzer manuals and create your own result examples (like a case study)
Man i feel lucky to have schooled in Canada, while we still have debt its definitely not so crippling like it is in the US. Just an example is that i only have to pay the amount back i borrowed. no extras.
What other career paths to venture if you’re already a medical lab scientist besides working in the lab on a clinical setting? Can you tackle this on your next video?
I appreciate these videos. I just got accepted into my MLT program. The director says she prepares us to take the MLS cert, which after watching ur videos, is amazing.
I just accepted an offer for swing shift for an associate MLS position yesterday. I’m about to graduate in December and take my BOC, I’m so excited. I imagine I’ll experience a lot of the same situations that you described as well.
Congratulations!! 🍾🎊 🎉 I think I just had a bad transition into the field. The job is very fun, now that I know what I’m doing 😂 As long as they train you right and help you become independent on the off shift, you will be fine
The medical field is a crazy place right now. I’m Currently taking pre-reqs to get into CLS programs and working as a pharm tech. I feel super burned out and I’m trying to transition into a lab assistant position. But I’m hopeful glad to know there’s other people going through it too lol
Keep pushing! I hope you are able to find a lab assistant job. Good luck as you prepare for lab science programs. I will say that things get better. The job transition was rough for me, but I enjoy it now.
Thank you so much for the video. Im going back to school this fall for my science prereqs before applying to an mls program. I dont have the resources to pay for a certification like phlebotomy / mlt to pay my way through school with getting experience. Will i be able to get some type of lab experience job during my education ? I'm starting to re evaluate if i made the right decision for my self but i love science and hate direct patient care.
I’m thinking about getting my a.s. In biology or chemistry since I already have credits. What’s the starting pay like? I currently make $16 as a pharmacy tech and cna. My hospital only discloses the sign on bonus(10k) they don’t tell u the pay until you apply.
Okay, is this for an MLT job? I would suggest reaching out to the hospitals and see if they will accept an AS in Bio or Chem to work there. Usually the 18 months is for someone who is already eligible for certification from graduating with AS in Med Lab Technology for MLT jobs.
@@domilarae it is a MLT job. They accept a.s. And b.s. for bio, Chem, and a MLT degree. Just seeing if it’s a reasonable pay jump. I’m currently making 16 and looking to see if the starting pay for an average person is $22-24.
For the past few weeks, I have been so hyped up and excited about this career in MLS! However, after watching this video, I'm concerned that I will be 'thrown into the fire' once I get me first MLS job! The reason why I wanted to embark on this new career field is because I love microbiology / lab work and I got tired of dealing with patients at the hospital! I felt burned out at my current medical assistant position! Covid has caused this mass wave of burnout that I knew was coming in healthcare! This video is scaring me right now, in terms of becoming a MLS generalist! Have the staffing shortages improved since you made this video last July? I am also considering other fields in ASCP, such as HLA/Transplant Technologist, and Histotechnologists. How familiar are you with these different ASCP fields? Your feedback is appreciated!
I came to the conclusion that my last lab just wasn’t “new grad friendly”. They didn’t have the resources/staff to train a new grad at the time, but I also chose to stay there. If you accept a job similar to that, you have the option to leave and go somewhere else! I honestly don’t know about staffing shortages in general, but it seems like most of the healthcare professions are experiencing some sort of shift post-covid. HLA is pretty cool, it’s similar to blood bank and is something you can do with MLS certification. Histotech/Cytotech are two separate programs and you’d be looking at going back to school. But, if you have an interest, have you considered PA (PathA) school?
@@domilarae I have considered PathA, but it requires a master's degree and there are only 16 programs in North America that offer it, so it's extremely competitive to get into! I don't think my resume is good enough right to get accepted to any PathA school! Also, even though I enjoyed cadaver lab in undergrad, the thought of having to dissect child cadavers makes me feel sad and apprehensive! Cyto seemed interesting and the salary is surprisingly high for a lab career; however, when I delved deeper into it, it is an 'endangered species'. The number of schools and labs for cyto keep falling not increasing! Right now, I have decided to switch from MLS to HT/HTL. Working with human tissue as opposed to body fluids is more exciting for me! Maybe one day I might revisit PathA, but not at this moment.
@@domilarae After further consideration, I have decided to switch back to MLS! There were some aspects of HT/HTL that I was not aware of yesterday that made me realize that it wasn’t suitable for me!
Yes I work in HLA in Mississippi it’s better for scheduling and work load, except for being on call, but you dominate more MDs and Surgeons because they need you more than you need them. But it’s a different type of learning because they don’t teach HLA in MLS
@@vp926 You still go through MLS school it’s like a learning on the job type but it’s more hands on and less machines more hands on, and more challenging then any regular lab from MIRCO 🤣 to Hematology.. HLA is more to me like Immuhematology
@@brombron Okay. So it's like Blood Banking but you're dealing with organ transplants and other tissues such as bone marrow. If only they had more HLA technologists! There are no jobs for this specialty in my state!
It's so good to hear your experience! I feel so bad for new techs during this period. I've been traveling for 3 years and a tech in total for 5 years and let me tell you, through this pandemic there has been a huge change. I have been on my new night shift for 3 months with 3 days "training". Oh boy it has been a trip. The first month was very tough but I am finally getting the hang of the computer systems or should I say, lack there of. There was a huge sell out of the hospital and all the regular techs left. If I did not have any previous experience in MLS I would not have made it. So I am grateful for that experience. But it would not be fair to a new grad. This hospital is hanging on by a string. This is NOT the norm! And it's very unfortunate the way healthcare has changed.
Oh wow! I’m glad you were able to get the hang of things. Has that type of “training” been the norm during your contracts? Thank you so much for sharing! How has your overall experience been as a travel tech? I’m so interested in the opportunity once I get enough experience. Do you have any advice for future travelers?
Hey guys, Please feel free to comment your experiences! For this video’s topic, what have you learned along the way on your journey to the lab?
I wonder how better staffed lab’s could be if they did more outreach to high school students and college students. My experience has been that the general public does not know these jobs exist I know I didn’t.
I agree, recruiting is a huge challenge! There’s also a limited number of training programs compared to other healthcare professions
I 100% agree. I ended up with a biology bachelor's thinking I could get into clinicals in my state, only to find out you need ASCP certification. Only to find out, I could've done HALF of my bachelor's and transitioned to a program at a school nearby to finish with a single bachelor's in MLS. I was mislead and I am jaded about it. I don't want a second bachelor's to make my original biology BS (that was not easy) useless.
I am working as a phlebotomist right now while saving money for the MLT program. I am dealing with a lot of the same training issues. We are just so short staffed that I am trying to learn as much as I can as I go. I am glad that you mentioned the need for knowing tubes and tests. That is something I am trying hard to learn and it can be very frustrating.
If you google order of draw guides, there’s some very detailed ones on google and Pinterest that may help! The guides have what tests are commonly ordered and the reason for the additives as well.
I am feeling the burn out and I’m on month 2 of being on shift. I can definitely feel the “training” for each area. I don’t have a certification so I was going in blind. Im just glad there’s one person that’s older than me that I can go to for help most days when I work.
Im at 9 months of working now and things have gotten a lot better after getting past the initial learning curve. Hang in there!
Thank you so much for being honest in your experience it’s giving me a realistic idea of what to expect. I have a semester left of prerequisites for my program and I’ve already been accepted into it. I’ve been having so much anxiety over my choice to go back to school for several reasons. But your videos have been priceless to me and have helped me to envision myself in this role!
Thank you! I’m glad that the videos have been helpful. Congrats on getting accepted into your program!😊
I also agree with wishing I had more previous lab experience as a lab assistant. Unfortunately I did not pass my ASCP exam because a lot of the questions were very practical! I believe if I had more lab experience, it might not have been as hardd. I plan to study more and retake it in 3 months!!
That’s true, many of the questions were as if we worked the job 😂 I believe the programs receive a score breakdown for each area. If they share it with you, maybe that will help you figure out what subjects to brush up on when you get ready to study again
@@domilarae Right & Yes lab operations really brought my overall score down. I ended up with a 360 overall which was not enough to pass. I also need to study microbiology a bit more ! The Polansky cards & Harr review will remain handy!!
Hearing your experience with training is also quite disheartening but i’m glad you didn’t quit and you’re still going!! 💪🏾💪🏾
I’m scared to go into the workforce but i will be starting very soon with a provisional license before taking the national exam again!
Good luck in your future job! I shared with the hopes of not discouraging anyone beginning in the field.
I think I just began working at a bad time. My training was definitely not standard practice, we did the best we could being critically understaffed. I spoke up for more training in areas when needed though. We are at better staffing now, so everyone after me has received a better training experience - which makes me happy!
@@domilarae Very understandable & it differs from lab to lab! I’ve been watching your videos for a while now and you’ve definitely been very encouraging!!
I can relate so much to this right now. I'm going through the same thing, it is stressful but I'm hanging in there. Hopefully more people join the field! Great video!
Yes! The lab field, and healthcare in general, definitely needs more people
💞 aww i want to hug you! You are a very strong intelligent person! I don't know if I could hang on like you did. I'm wanting to leave my current job because of the same bs. I hope when i graduate and get into the lab it will be better.
Thank you!! 💕 other than low staffing, it’s been a great experience so far. Everyone is very encouraging/motivating, so I’m in a positive environment overall. I hope the same for you as well when you enter the field! I think in the future, things will get better in the lab.
Thank you for sharing this information, Dominique. Even though I'm nervous about the career, I'll be more happy knowing that I'd be making a difference. ❤️
I'm actually going to be starting a program at my university where I'll complete a bachelor's in biology and then do another year at a different school for MLS.
Thank you for watching! Good luck on your journey to the lab
Thanks for sharing this! I’m currently doing my internship and have just 5 weeks left. I feel pretty lucky to have already got a job at the hospital I’m interning at. I am currently working on getting my MLT certification. The next step would be to go for the MLS certification.
I already have a Master’s degree in Biochemistry, so I’m debating on whether to go back to school and get that bachelors in MLS or just get enough work experience to qualify. Going back to school would be the more straightforward way to go about it, but I really don’t want to get more student loans. On the other hand, I live in a small town, so hospitals close to home don’t have a Microbiology department. So it’s pretty hard to get enough experience in that area.
I really wish that I’d know about this degree before I got my science degree. I feel that I have wasted so much time.
Congrats on getting your new job!! Maybe have a conversation with the lab leadership to decide the best route, school vs work experience for your MLS/MT. I definitely agree on learning about the field sooner! Good luck & early congrats on graduating!
Just wanted to say you did a very good job articulating your experience without trying to sway others. Thanks for sharing your experience and getting our field some publicity!!
Thank you so much! I definitely hope that sharing my experience can help students and those interested in this career path 😄
My state allows for you to do certain laboratory work without a license, so I have some lab experience and I am getting ready to apply for my program now. This video is so helpful! I also have an undergrad in Biology and wished I had considered this career sooner.
I hope you are having a great experience working in the field! Good luck with your program application 😄
I'm currently in my core lab clinical in hematology and definitely see how burn out is very real for my trainers due to this hospital's volume and staffing shortages. I'm a little anxious for how my training and transition post-grad will go too. I'm learning to not be so hard on myself for not knowing/retaining information right away and just absorb all that I can from the really experienced techs. I feel strongly that all lab professionals deserve higher pay! Despite everything I am excited to be on this journey!
Yes! Definitely remember to not be hard on yourself, it’s all a learning experience. Each day, you will get better. Remember this when you begin working too! I agree, lab professionals do not get paid enough lol
This video is spot on. I’m in my clinical rotation now and the burnout is so real… all my preceptors are talking about quitting in between teaching me lol. I’m fine with it as I’m currently a surgical tech now and completely burnt out and physically exhausted, I’ll take a busy day in chemistry any day, lol love your videos keep them coming!
Thank you for sharing! I think the environments of each lab vary greatly. I had a rotation similar to yours, preceptors told me to not even enter the field! On the other hand, my current job is full of many positive people who encourage me daily. Love the lab, but now I wish I had a better work schedule (currently doing nights 5x8s) 😂
Lol I feel you! You must be a strong individual to work in this field, physically, mentally, and emotionally! I’ve only been working as a generalist on the overnight shift for a month now and it stresses me the fuck out😭. I honestly was just thrown into work because they felt like since I did clinicals at the facility that I knew what I was doing which was 30% true but I did not have much experience with the interface system and I’m terrible at computers and not to mention answering questions for doctors and nurses so it’s been lots of asking questions and trail and error. Oh, and getting scolded because I make more than the techs that half ass trained me so they talk shit behind my back if I don’t know something or make a mistake. But with all that being said, I love the work that I am doing and will always advocate for this profession so we can eliminate short staffing😂
Thanks for sharing your experience! And thanks for understanding my point, love the job but these work environments are not for the faint of heart lol. I hate that they did your training like that. Clinicals is not the same as doing the actual job. What dept(s) do you work? And what LIS/middlewares are you using? Some of them have their own online training. I took several modules to learn the interfaces so I could learn on my own lmaooooo. And those techs need to stop being high and mighty, they were new at once too. That “experience” comes from trial and error, and once you make the error, you learn not to do it again 😂. Mistakes can be teaching moments, and they shouldn’t be belittling you about it.
@@domilarae 😂 right! That’s the number one advice I can give to anyone fresh is to have thick skin and if you don’t….we’ll you’re in a lab perform and experiment and synthesize some🤣. At my facility we use Meditech which is horrible and the intermediate LIS used is Central Link which is also horrible lol. I run Corelab and Blood bank. Unfortunately my hospital has phased out Micro which sucks because I actually loved it, but I still get to perform molecular and serology testing with COVID, Flu, and Strep. And I don’t be worried about they miserable asses, it just tickles me even more 🤣
Friend!!They really have you running the lab at a month 😭🫶🏾 you are right about the thick skin, the learning curve is something else. I’m expected to train someone soon and it’s ridiculous, this shortage is too crazy 🤣 I’ve heard of meditech, I think it’s just as ancient as Sunquest that I use smh lol
@@domilarae Like is it not a CLIA violation for using these old ass LIS systems?🤣 And naw sis, you are the 🐐! I at least have one other person working with me overnight. You are working by yourself and training people!😭🙏🏾
Right 🤣 the rest of my hospital uses epic, it’s a real shame. When I began, it was just me and the charge tech! Leadership hired new techs, and we are up to four people now - which is great, I just hate that I barely know what I’m doing in order to teach someone else lmao 😂
Thank you all for your dedication, passion and big hearts! Without you the pandemic would have been a lot worse. I am considering this career path for myself, so hang in there, get all of the support you need at work, and outside! Make sure you put your needs high up on the list, daily, so you don't reach that point of giving up. And if you choose to leave, just know you are true here heroes that kick azz😂🙏🏾❤️! Praying for you all to get what you need! Thank you, for your detailed and honest videos.
Thank you so much for your kind words!
I’m currently on my preceptorship and I completely get your points, I’m already burned out before even starting my career 😂 just watching the other techs work and how it’s so many older techs and not a lot of younger techs working at the hospitals, everyone’s becoming a traveler or leaving the profession
Right! I stress myself out all the time thinking about the future. I’m the youngest in my lab and the age gap is avg 10-30 yrs between me and everyone else. I really wonder what is it going to be like when the older techs decide to retire in this decade lol
Thanks for sharing your experience! I'm in the process for applying for NAACLS accredited programs at the moment and will graduate with my BS in the spring. I haven't really gotten much information at all for how the "internship" goes and that is really helpful to know that the hospitals may be understaffed still when I go through so I know what to expect.
Good luck with your applications! It really just depends on the facility. I know my place of work has experienced understaffing, But it might not be the case everywhere you go. Whenever you get to the point of clinical rotations, your program will set the expectations along with the lab’s clinical educator, of how the lab will be teaching you. So you shouldn’t have anything to worry about with the internship part of your program 🙂
This video was very helpful. Thank you for taking the time to film this.
Thanks for the feedback! Glad it was helpful
I’m finishing my first semester of clinicals and the burnout due to short-staffing is very apparent in my trainers. Their attitude about the field/job isn’t very encouraging which is disheartening. I’m also slightly disillusioned by how wildly different the didactic training at the university was vs. what the actual lab is like with the analyzers.
I hope you have a better experience in the future. I had a similar feeling during rotations, with low morale of the trainers. Now that I’m working, I found a lab that’s overall very positive. Everyone is passionate about lab science and have been very motivating/encouraging to me. It’s an entirely different environment from the clinical sites I was assigned.
I have been thinking of trying to find a part time lab assistant job... Some days in class I feel so lost, like its my first day of school... Ur videos give me hope in knowing that struggling a bit is just part of the process.
I think working as a lab assistant while you continue in your studies will be a great way to bridge the gap with understanding pre-analytical variables (acceptable specimens, tube requirements, labeling, etc). And it's a great way to start gaining work experience in the field! Thank you for watching my videos - its great to know that we aren't alone in experiencing the highs and lows of going into the laboratory field.
Thank you so much for this video great information my goal is to become a MLT I have a long way to go as a older student
Now I have an idea where to start and I see that Lab assistant/phlebotomy is a good first step that helps toward my goal as a older student Thank you
Good luck on your journey to the lab! Yes, I highly recommend the lab assistant/specimen accessioner job. It’s a great way to gain experience in the laboratory while in school.
Hello larae..Hope good ..Hello from Hunza valley
Hello! Thanks for reaching out
Great content and subscribed! Would love to hear what you think of our grad school channel. Thank you.
How much Virology comes up in the day to day? I'm a Junior MLS interested in Virology. Thanks!
A lot of virology testing happens in molecular or immuno/serology areas. It’s mostly analyzer based testing to identify common viruses
Got a bachelors in health science 10 years ago, certified phlebotomist too. Been working as a phleb. for 7 years. My state (IL) doesn’t require licensure. Does anyone know how i can transition to a mls without going back to school
I’m not familiar with IL, but it wouldn’t hurt to start applying to jobs. I assume hospitals will require or prefer certification. But there’s many opportunities in other labs like reference labs, manufacturing labs or even state labs
Awesome video! I’m currently about a year away from finishing my BS in MLS. I would say for me, I wish I had known about the two year degrees of radiologic technology, respiratory therapy, and med lab technician. They pay roughly the same but less debt😅
Thanks for sharing! That makes sense, I suppose getting degrees really depends on your end goals more so than pay. Career wise - your Bachelors will allow you to advance in roles that an associates wouldn’t.
I really appreciate this video, I’ve been a lab assistant for 2 years now, 5 months in histology and the rest in micro. I really wish I knew about MLT/MLS in high school. I’ll be finishing my BS when I’m 28 🥲 Thankfully my school has a thing where in one year we can become an MLT to start working whilst finishing up the rest of our schooling for MLS. I’m going to take the MT exam from AAB though so that I can work as if I’m an MLS and when I’m done with my bachelors I’ll take the ASCP exam. Working as a lab assistant first made me feel really sure that I wanted to do this. Only 2 months of schooling down, it’s a challenge but I’m loving it so far.
Thanks for sharing! That sounds like a great plan to reach your goals. I’m glad you were able to work as a lab assistant to see if the medical lab field was right for you. I wish you the best this semester as well as in your future studies. You got this! 💕
I'm in a MLT program right now and just started clinicals. My new program directors are amazing. I am lucky that I am starting with MLT degree asc. First then I'm going to do a bridge program. I already have about 3 years of Phlebotomy/Clincal lab assistant experience which has been super helpful! I do wish places were more transparent about pay and what I should expect as a new grad.
Thanks for sharing your journey 💕 I hope you have a great clinical experience!
Hello Dominique! I thought that you might help me with this, I need to do clinical laboratory tour course project, the professor said that due to Covid, we’re going to just answer questions based on what we learned, my question is how did you gather all the information you needed to prepare this project? There are things we didn’t do like patient population examples and instruments of laboratory departments, also reporting of patient test results. Thank you so much.
I did some projects similar to this, but it was done during clinical rotations when I went to the hospitals. The hospitals let me get patient result examples and analyzer manuals to gather data. I'm not sure how you would do it, maybe google the analyzer manuals and create your own result examples (like a case study)
Man i feel lucky to have schooled in Canada, while we still have debt its definitely not so crippling like it is in the US. Just an example is that i only have to pay the amount back i borrowed. no extras.
I can see the lack of interest on student loans making school more affordable. Thanks for sharing
What other career paths to venture if you’re already a medical lab scientist besides working in the lab on a clinical setting? Can you tackle this on your next video?
Great idea! Thank you for the suggestion!
Does your current lab job require a lot of chemistry?
Idk if I understand what you’re asking. I worked chemistry, which required analyzer maintenance, quality control, and running patient samples
I appreciate these videos. I just got accepted into my MLT program. The director says she prepares us to take the MLS cert, which after watching ur videos, is amazing.
Congrats on your acceptance! I wish you the best, it sounds like you will have the opportunity to learn a lot in your program!
@@domilarae Thank you. I'm excited. Keep making video's, so I can try to make better choices.😁
If you had the ability to go back in time, would you still choose this career?
Yes, I enjoy the lab work. I would’ve chosen the career sooner haha. Maybe with the intent of going into R&D.
What are you thinking of studying if you go back to school???
Im starting classes next month for a data science/analytics program 😂
I just accepted an offer for swing shift for an associate MLS position yesterday. I’m about to graduate in December and take my BOC, I’m so excited. I imagine I’ll experience a lot of the same situations that you described as well.
Congratulations!! 🍾🎊 🎉 I think I just had a bad transition into the field. The job is very fun, now that I know what I’m doing 😂 As long as they train you right and help you become independent on the off shift, you will be fine
@@domilarae They told me in my interview that the training is 6weeks-4 months.
The medical field is a crazy place right now. I’m Currently taking pre-reqs to get into CLS programs and working as a pharm tech. I feel super burned out and I’m trying to transition into a lab assistant position. But I’m hopeful glad to know there’s other people going through it too lol
Keep pushing! I hope you are able to find a lab assistant job. Good luck as you prepare for lab science programs. I will say that things get better. The job transition was rough for me, but I enjoy it now.
@@domilarae Thank you very much for the encouragement! I wish you all the best as well 🙏🏼
❤
Thank you so much for the video. Im going back to school this fall for my science prereqs before applying to an mls program. I dont have the resources to pay for a certification like phlebotomy / mlt to pay my way through school with getting experience. Will i be able to get some type of lab experience job during my education ? I'm starting to re evaluate if i made the right decision for my self but i love science and hate direct patient care.
You can look into working as a lab assistant. It doesn’t require certifications or anything and can be a great way to get experience while in school
@@domilarae thank you so much i appreciate your time!
Thank you for sharing
Hi larae do u work in canada
No I don’t work in canada
@@domilarae ok so where do u work dear
@user-om7cr6ce8n United states
I’m thinking about getting my a.s. In biology or chemistry since I already have credits. What’s the starting pay like? I currently make $16 as a pharmacy tech and cna. My hospital only discloses the sign on bonus(10k) they don’t tell u the pay until you apply.
Does the hospital require ASCP certification?
@@domilarae it requires you pass within 18 months of hire date
Okay, is this for an MLT job? I would suggest reaching out to the hospitals and see if they will accept an AS in Bio or Chem to work there. Usually the 18 months is for someone who is already eligible for certification from graduating with AS in Med Lab Technology for MLT jobs.
@@domilarae it is a MLT job. They accept a.s. And b.s. for bio, Chem, and a MLT degree. Just seeing if it’s a reasonable pay jump. I’m currently making 16 and looking to see if the starting pay for an average person is $22-24.
Okay that’s great that you’ve looked into it already. Depending on the region, it may be 18-24ish for MLT starting out
For the past few weeks, I have been so hyped up and excited about this career in MLS! However, after watching this video, I'm concerned that I will be 'thrown into the fire' once I get me first MLS job! The reason why I wanted to embark on this new career field is because I love microbiology / lab work and I got tired of dealing with patients at the hospital! I felt burned out at my current medical assistant position! Covid has caused this mass wave of burnout that I knew was coming in healthcare! This video is scaring me right now, in terms of becoming a MLS generalist! Have the staffing shortages improved since you made this video last July? I am also considering other fields in ASCP, such as HLA/Transplant Technologist, and Histotechnologists. How familiar are you with these different ASCP fields? Your feedback is appreciated!
I came to the conclusion that my last lab just wasn’t “new grad friendly”. They didn’t have the resources/staff to train a new grad at the time, but I also chose to stay there. If you accept a job similar to that, you have the option to leave and go somewhere else! I honestly don’t know about staffing shortages in general, but it seems like most of the healthcare professions are experiencing some sort of shift post-covid. HLA is pretty cool, it’s similar to blood bank and is something you can do with MLS certification. Histotech/Cytotech are two separate programs and you’d be looking at going back to school. But, if you have an interest, have you considered PA (PathA) school?
@@domilarae I have considered PathA, but it requires a master's degree and there are only 16 programs in North America that offer it, so it's extremely competitive to get into! I don't think my resume is good enough right to get accepted to any PathA school! Also, even though I enjoyed cadaver lab in undergrad, the thought of having to dissect child cadavers makes me feel sad and apprehensive! Cyto seemed interesting and the salary is surprisingly high for a lab career; however, when I delved deeper into it, it is an 'endangered species'. The number of schools and labs for cyto keep falling not increasing! Right now, I have decided to switch from MLS to HT/HTL. Working with human tissue as opposed to body fluids is more exciting for me! Maybe one day I might revisit PathA, but not at this moment.
I’m glad that you have taken time for exploring careers to find the best one for you! Good luck on your journey to the lab!
@@domilarae Thank you for help, Dominque!
@@domilarae After further consideration, I have decided to switch back to MLS! There were some aspects of HT/HTL that I was not aware of yesterday that made me realize that it wasn’t suitable for me!
Love u energy girl 💕💕
Thank you! ☺️
Love your vids ❤️
Thank you for watching & supporting my channel ☺️
First one here
Thank you! Lol
If I was you I would look towards Transplant and HLA
I was just looking into this the other day!! It seems like a very interesting area to work in.
Yes I work in HLA in Mississippi it’s better for scheduling and work load, except for being on call, but you dominate more MDs and Surgeons because they need you more than you need them. But it’s a different type of learning because they don’t teach HLA in MLS
@@brombron I'm not familiar with HLA. Where do you go for HLA training if it is not taught in MLS schools?
@@vp926 You still go through MLS school it’s like a learning on the job type but it’s more hands on and less machines more hands on, and more challenging then any regular lab from MIRCO 🤣 to Hematology.. HLA is more to me like Immuhematology
@@brombron Okay. So it's like Blood Banking but you're dealing with organ transplants and other tissues such as bone marrow. If only they had more HLA technologists! There are no jobs for this specialty in my state!
It's so good to hear your experience! I feel so bad for new techs during this period. I've been traveling for 3 years and a tech in total for 5 years and let me tell you, through this pandemic there has been a huge change. I have been on my new night shift for 3 months with 3 days "training". Oh boy it has been a trip. The first month was very tough but I am finally getting the hang of the computer systems or should I say, lack there of. There was a huge sell out of the hospital and all the regular techs left. If I did not have any previous experience in MLS I would not have made it. So I am grateful for that experience. But it would not be fair to a new grad. This hospital is hanging on by a string. This is NOT the norm! And it's very unfortunate the way healthcare has changed.
Oh wow! I’m glad you were able to get the hang of things. Has that type of “training” been the norm during your contracts? Thank you so much for sharing! How has your overall experience been as a travel tech? I’m so interested in the opportunity once I get enough experience. Do you have any advice for future travelers?