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.
Truth be told, it was just yesterday that I was wishing I pursued lab tech. Other days I think
"shouldda been an RT cuz nursing sucks"
Yes, everyone's job is important. But everybody KNOWS the drawbacks to their own profession better than anyone else. Those nurses were probably imagining that you have it better than they do, lower pay and all.
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.
I'm not sure what the level of degree has to do with anything. I've been around a while and I have never belittled the lab or heard a colleague do so. I understand your angry about what someone has said but I think you would have better luck talking to your place of employment than taking it up on an online nursing forum. This may help you vent but it's not going to change your current work environment, it's not going to fix your problem, and your going to continue being miserable if you don't address the appropriate departments at your job instead of here.
Ok, I have worked in a lab for 10 years as a Tech and a RN for 10 years. I can say that neither is above or below each other. They both have critical thinking skills and knowledge of their skill set. Nurses need to understand that it takes A LOT of critical thinking skills to figure out what is going on with a patient without ever looking at the patient. Lab techs NEVER make a specimen hemolyzed. That goes back to the person who drew it. Nurses don't get enough education about lab in school or on the job. I can vouch for that. Luckily I already had it.
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.
I have recent experience with this. Got a call from Heme lab - rm XXX'S CBC and pt/inr was hemolyzed. We needed to draw a new sample. I happened to be working charge that day, and I didn't remember that patient being on my central line/ PICC list, so I pulled open the chart and verified that yes, in fact, this patient was a lab-draw. After sharing this with the lab person, there was a pause, and the person said, and I quote, "that can't be right. Our samples don't go bad."
So. Yeah, they do. It is not just nurses and CNAs, as you say.
To the person who suggested shadowing lab techs: Good Lord, don't we have enough to do already??? If that trend gets started we'll be shadowing dietary or housekeeping next! Nurses have come a long long long way in 75 years and we have won the right not to have to come in at 4 am to cook breakfast, shovel coal and mop the floors, THEN go take care of patients. That's not a claim of superiority or condescension, it's clear division of labor as it should be.
Cola89
316 Posts
Truth be told, it was just yesterday that I was wishing I pursued lab tech. Other days I think
"shouldda been an RT cuz nursing sucks"
Yes, everyone's job is important. But everybody KNOWS the drawbacks to their own profession better than anyone else. Those nurses were probably imagining that you have it better than they do, lower pay and all.