It is extremely frustrating as a lab tech to hear nurses talk about the lab like we just press buttons. In fact it is appalling, especially when we go through many of the same, and many more, college courses.
They even go so far as to refer to our profession as one where you don't have to think. Wow. I couldn't imagine someone not thinking when they are identifying antibodies your patient has, then trying to type the corresponding antigen negative blood so your patient doesn't have a transfusion reaction. Or when we are performing a differential that lets the doctor know the patient has CLL.
Not to mention that we have to look at previous labs and document why there has been a significant change. Or worse yet, figure out that the results are not consistent, and the nurse or CNA has mislabeled specimens.
We bust our butts, and when we are not actively testing specimens, we are calibrating, running QC, and doing maintenance on the machines.
All while getting paid much less for being just as essential and having just as much education.
Also, we do not cause your specimens to be hemolyzed. We are not shaking them up, I assure you. They cannot become that way from sitting around, even though specimens don't sit around in the lab when tests are ordered. On that note, clots occur from not inverting the tubes once they are drawn. Also not us, generally the phlebotomist is drawing the specimen, but the only clotted tubes we get are from nurses and CNAs. We don't want to give you the bad news either.
We need to be recognized as essential medical professionals as well as nurses. We know plenty that nurses don't, and vice versa. It's just hard to listen to people on their pedestals with no respect or understanding about the profession they bash.
I wouldn't even call this a rant, because it is only addressing the misconceptions that I hear repeatedly.
I admit to not knowing much about the different roles in lab. I honestly never thought about it. I call them all "lab".
Same here. When they do their job it's great. Place an order, blood is magically drawn, critical results called, system works.
When there is a goof up, it's a big mess I have to clean up. Redraw specimen, hand carry, explain odd results (i.e. blood drawn from arm with running IV)
Never had any negative thoughts about lab personnel until this ranter invaded a nursing forum and took a dump.
Quality patient care is dependent on everyone doing their job: the housecleaning staff ensuring he room is properly attended, the lab staff ensuring the tests are done appropriately, the nursing staff being the eyes and ears and hands of the team, the associated health professions assuring the patient gets the needed multidisciplinary care, maintenance and IT making sure the systems are working, and the providers ensuring the right diagnostics and medications are ordered. Even the administrators ensuring proper staffing and equipment is available. In this way, everyone is on the same level.
Quality patient care is dependent on everyone doing their job: the housecleaning staff ensuring he room is properly attended, the lab staff ensuring the tests are done appropriately, the nursing staff being the eyes and ears and hands of the team, the associated health professions assuring the patient gets the needed multidisciplinary care, maintenance and IT making sure the systems are working, and the providers ensuring the right diagnostics and medications are ordered. Even the administrators ensuring proper staffing and equipment is available. In this way, everyone is on the same level.
Right, which is why this comment stood out to me:
Do you have a bachelor's? I rest my case.
I fail to see how it's remotely relevant to the topic at hand and seemed actually to be an attempt to discredit the poster to whom he was responding. If, for example, I had an issue with housekeeping, or a lab tech, or a respiratory therapist, it's just not a question which would come to mind if my goal was to increase understanding and foster teamwork.
I'm was a lab tech for 15 years before deciding to obtain my BSN. I really enjoyed being a lab tech but becoming a nurse was my passion. I can somewhat understand what the OP was stating although I could've been expressed a little differently. The lab is known as the "forgotten staff". They along with nurses and other staff play a vital role in saving patients lives. My reason for this posting is to explain some of those "strange phlebs, mad scientist, and irritating calls".
1) the phlebs may seem a bit unreasonable because usually they have assigned floors to cover and one phleb may have to draw up to 50 patients in an allotted amount of time.
2) the blood bankers have one of the most important roles in the lab. So you're absolutely right, we would want them to be like mad scientist. Because as we all know, one mistake could potentially end a life.
3) Lab tech have to make those annoying calls just to verify that this is indeed that patient's blood. Unfortunately we've heard of mislabeled specimens.
So although it can be a little irritating on both sides, we much remember who's most important..the patient!
In my personal experience at work, we have some really awesome lab techs. Ones that do their work to where I don't even have to call the lab to ask why the labs haven't been started yet. Then there are days where I'm on the phone after every patient I stick asking why the labs haven't been started yet. So it swings both ways.
Just like, if I see who's charging that day I can already tell if it's going to be a good day or not.
Everyone that works at the hospital is important. We all have an important roll that has to be filled to make sure our patients are taken care of. No one is more important than another.
I fail to see how it's remotely relevant to the topic at hand and seemed actually to be an attempt to discredit the poster to whom he was responding.
I think we all agree that wasn't the right way to handle it. And I think we all agree there is a difference between being licensed and unlicensed, much more so than by education level.
And if I am not mistaken, can't LPNs and RNs apply for ASCP certification without any additional education?
We are on the same professional level. You know your stuff, I know mine. Same amount of education. And both necessary, to each other and to the doctors. Acting like we are below you is incorrect. But there are a lot more nurses out there to disagree with me, I'm at a disadvantage from the start.
Do you have a bachelor's? I rest my case. Sorry to bother you. But surely you read it for a reason.
I only felt irked while reading nurses saying things like, if you want a job where you "do not have to think" a laboratory technician is the job for you. I give nurses respect daily as I work alongside them. I understand they have an education like mine, but I can learn from them, and they could learn from us. I just wish for that same respect, and now I'm sure I will not get it.
At least I got something I wanted, an answer.
To be totally honest with you I think that is in respect to the phlebotomists who also run labs at some facilities. I think that many do not realize that those who do run the lab tests are different people than the phelbotomists.
What did you expect coming to a nursing forum to complain about nurses?
I don't have a problem with what you said, and think you've been quite civil. Sorry about the mob. I've had some lab folk I wanted to throttle, and many that I could have hugged. We're going to have pet peeves about other departments, that's life.
We are on the same professional level. You know your stuff, I know mine. Same amount of education. And both necessary, to each other and to the doctors. Acting like we are below you is incorrect. But there are a lot more nurses out there to disagree with me, I'm at a disadvantage from the start.
A lab tech degree is not equal to my nursing degree. I am held accountable to act on your results. YOU are not held accountable to my actions that I take with your results.
Mavrick, BSN, RN
1,578 Posts
Same here. When they do their job it's great. Place an order, blood is magically drawn, critical results called, system works.
When there is a goof up, it's a big mess I have to clean up. Redraw specimen, hand carry, explain odd results (i.e. blood drawn from arm with running IV)
Never had any negative thoughts about lab personnel until this ranter invaded a nursing forum and took a dump.