MLT? Anyout here?

Liann · Jan 19, 2005

And another thing

I work a lot of weekends and had an OR nurse tell me to "take your time with that blood...I am on double, triple overtime today"

Yeah, right. I replied that "we only have ONE speed inthe Blood Bank and that is STAT" :chuckle

oregonrene · Jan 19, 2005

NurseFirst · Jan 20, 2005

I graduated w/ a B.S. in Microbiology/Med Tech option.

6 weeks in the lab? 12 weeks in the lab??? d**n. I wouldda been an MT if that had been the case. In California, for at least 30 yrs, you get the B.S., then you apply to hospitals which have internship programs (I think they were called something else)--which are a year. When I graduated (28.5 yrs ago), very few of them paid a stipend. Great. Work full time, have to study...don't have time to work. Well, I couldn't support myself for a year without income, so off I went into a different direction.

Before getting into the RN program (my preference, btw -- esp after I discovered that MTs were seeing less and less of pts.), I talked with someone in a local U. that has re-started an MT program. Amazingly enough, she said the Dept of Health Services prob would give me a temp permit (needed for the internship) based on my nearly 30 yo degree. She did recommend update classes in Immuno, Med BacT--maybe something else, I've forgotten.

California recently passed laws to recognize MLT as mid-level practitioner in the lab--cuz they haven't been training enough CLSs (MTs) and...wonder of wonder, they are running out of them..so they need MLTs to fill in the gaps.

I did love the science. Loved the chemistry. Would have considered a chem major but needed to have Physical Chemistry...not a problem except it required having differential equations. Ooops. Not impressed with the math dept at school--not gonna take 5Qs of math (1 yr calc,1 Q linear algrebra and then DiffyQ) just to grad in chem. Sigh. Always thought I would like medical school -- not to be a doctor, but to learn all that science!!! (I've always dreamed about how neat it would be to take Gross Anatomy.)

So, in a year or so, God willing, I'll be an RN. Great union; great pay; great flexibility; lots of demand; lots of pt contact. I am SOOOOO happy!!!!

NurseFirst

oregonrene · Jan 20, 2005

Liann · Jan 20, 2005

As I said before, I love the job, just hate the conditions we work in. When I was younger and idealistic, I chose the path I did because I loved bio and chem and all the hands on lab work. I did NOT enjoy so much patient contact...or patient's family member interaction either, for that matter.

However...after 20+ years in this field, the lack of pay increases and the low respect have taken their toll. One of my co workers calls us "plankton" because we are so vital to the food chain, yet are the lowest organism in the chain! Too true. Lab work is mostly automated now, which has stripped the field of a lot of its appeal to us science geeks. Volume testing is the only way for labs to make any money, it seems.

If you read any of the laboratory science journals, you will get the same picture. No organized effort to raise the status of lab personnel. We have been under the umbrella of the ASCP, the pathologist run organization, which until recently had us as associate members! Other groups have tried to represent only MT and MLT, but are too weak to make much of a dent.

Laboratory folks whom I have met (self included!) are generally low key intellectual types who avoid conflict. Most are very independent and work well on their own. We gripe a lot among ourselves, but have a great passion for what we do.

That said, it takes a certain type of person to be happy in this field. If you are obsessed with details and love to study, you will thrive here. If you are using MT as a starting point for advanced graduate study, its a great place to learn. If yours is a two income family, you can get by with one person being an MT. If you dont need the benefits , you can work part time. You do have to work weekends, holidays, and all shifts. You do have to work alone a lot, which can be stressful in itself. You will be responsible for participating in life and death decisions...lab info is important stuff.

Choose a career path wisely. Plan ahead, and dont get stuck somewhere for life. Thats the advice I am also giving my 17 year old daughter. :)

Liann · Jan 20, 2005

Also...

"getting the word out" is a theme of every National Medical Laboratory Week in April. Each year we plan a grand production designed to teach the public and our co workers just what we do. The lack of interest is staggering. We sit at tables in front of colorful displays or powerpoint demos where no one stops to look. We send out press releases that are ignored or barely acknowledged. We offer tours and free cholesterol screenings, etc but these seem poorly attended.

Lab work just is not glamorous! We are the black box where tubes of blood and other specimens go in and results come out the other end. Period.

oregonrene · Jan 20, 2005

Thank you Liann. I really do appreciate the heads-up.

Liann · Jan 22, 2005

Well, then welcome to the world of the lab! Forewarned is forearmed. Best of luck to you!

Dont forget to keep hanging out here at allnurses. This group is the greatest! :chuckle

Curious1alwys, BSN, RN · Feb 11, 2005

Hey Oregonrene! Cool to find this thread!

I am in the same boat as you...........thinking of changing from nursing to CLT, for pretty much the same reasons. Been a long time since I took some chem and math, thought I hated it then, but appears now it is the only thing I am interested in! LOL!! (According to all the career tests). Guess all that studying when I first started college 10 years ago for dietetics rubbed off! I never graduated with my BS though and now considering going back for my BS. I will have some of the classes towards it assuming they have not expired. I have an appt with an advisor next month.

So....... is it the general opinion then that if you like science and being in the medical field in general but DON'T want direct hands on patient interaction to any lengthy extent, that MLT could be for you? This is how I feel about myself.

In addition, can you specialize? I mean, does MLT give you the opportunity to become an "expert" at something? I want to feel like an "expert" not a caretaker full of compassion. Will this career take me there? If not, can you suggest any other field that will in the medical arena??