Nurses in laboratories? Are there laboratory work for nurses?

klone, MSN, RN · Feb 10, 2015

I worked in research. In addition to consenting patients, we also collected blood and spun/aliquotted it.

Zyrv · Feb 15, 2015

I worked in research. In addition to consenting patients, we also collected blood and spun/aliquotted it.

What's your job title?

klone, MSN, RN · Feb 15, 2015

Research nurse.

Go figure.

klone, MSN, RN · Feb 15, 2015

I should also mention, although I loved the lab work, it was a pretty insignificant part of my role. It definitely appealed to my sense of orderliness, and it was very relaxing to me (I'm an introvert, so working alone in the lab restored my mental battery). But it was grunt work that a monkey could do, really. If you want to work in a lab, become a lab tech. I would not recommend seeking out a research nurse position because of the lab work. Most places have techs that do the lab work, our little unit was unique.

Zyrv · Feb 20, 2015

I should also mention, although I loved the lab work, it was a pretty insignificant part of my role. It definitely appealed to my sense of orderliness, and it was very relaxing to me (I'm an introvert, so working alone in the lab restored my mental battery). But it was grunt work that a monkey could do, really. If you want to work in a lab, become a lab tech. I would not recommend seeking out a research nurse position because of the lab work. Most places have techs that do the lab work, our little unit was unique.

Cool.

Jeanne C · Jul 7, 2023

Yes you can work in laboratories as a nurse. I am and have been.

Home Health Columnist / Guide · Jul 7, 2023

Jeanne C said:

Yes you can work in laboratories as a nurse. I am and have been.

Tell us more about your position and lab work performed.

Jeanne C · Jul 7, 2023

@NRSKarenRN:

What I can say is that I currently work in a state public health laboratory as a laboratory scientist II. I do have a bachelors in Biology/Chemistry as well as my bachelors in nursing (BSN). I have had a lot of previous laboratory experience prior to this position in human and animal as well as environmental. I first worked for a newborn screening laboratory and now I work in a virology laboratory and we test for a myriad of conditions. Some of the tests I currently run are as follows (and if anyone is curious, yes, I can and do collect specimens on occasion, but mainly I do the testing - aka bench work):

Syphilis, Hepatitis A, B, C, and HIV on EIA (Eliza testing) on EVOLIS analyzers

Respiratory Panel (includes Adenovirus, Coronavirus 229E, Coronavirus NL63, Coronavirus HKU1, Coronavirus OC43, SARS-CoV-2, Human Metapneumonvirus A + B, Influenza A H1, Influenza A H1N1 Pdm09, Mycoplasma pneumoniae, Parainfluenza 1, 2, 3, 4, Bordatella pertussis, Respiratory Syncytial Virus A + B, Chlamydophilia pneumonia)

CTGC on Panther analyzers

Second/Third tier confirmatory testing/Manual testing:

Syphilis VDRL, Syphilis TPPA

HIV using GEENIUS

Hepatitis C quantitative using Panther

Rabies

I hope this answers your question sufficiently.

subee, MSN, CRNA · Jul 8, 2023

Jeanne C said:

@NRSKarenRN:

What I can say is that I currently work in a state public health laboratory as a laboratory scientist II. I do have a bachelors in Biology/Chemistry as well as my bachelors in nursing (BSN). I have had a lot of previous laboratory experience prior to this position in human and animal as well as environmental. I first worked for a newborn screening laboratory and now I work in a virology laboratory and we test for a myriad of conditions. Some of the tests I currently run are as follows (and if anyone is curious, yes, I can and do collect specimens on occasion, but mainly I do the testing - aka bench work):

Syphilis, Hepatitis A, B, C, and HIV on EIA (Eliza testing) on EVOLIS analyzers

Respiratory Panel (includes Adenovirus, Coronavirus 229E, Coronavirus NL63, Coronavirus HKU1, Coronavirus OC43, SARS-CoV-2, Human Metapneumonvirus A + B, Influenza A H1, Influenza A H1N1 Pdm09, Mycoplasma pneumoniae, Parainfluenza 1, 2, 3, 4, Bordatella pertussis, Respiratory Syncytial Virus A + B, Chlamydophilia pneumonia)

CTGC on Panther analyzers

Second/Third tier confirmatory testing/Manual testing:

Syphilis VDRL, Syphilis TPPA

HIV using GEENIUS

Hepatitis C quantitative using Panther

Rabies

I hope this answers your question sufficiently.

I am flummoxed that someone non-credentialed in lab studies is allowed to do the work that you do. Did you have any formal training ?

Home Health Columnist / Guide · Jul 8, 2023

subee said:

I am flummoxed that someone non-credentialed in lab studies is allowed to do the work that you do. Did you have any formal training ?

As JeanneC reports having a bachelors in Chemistry/Biology, that education would qualify her for working in a state public health lab as laboratory scientist performing virology testing bench work.

State by state lab services regs: https://www.lighthouselabservices.com/state-license/

Jeanne C · Jul 8, 2023

@ NRSKarenRN I was disinclined to dignify Subee's attack with an answer, so thank you for explaining this for her - you are precisely correct.

Additionally, for edification to those who show interest in working in a laboratory, anyone who works on the bench performing testing in a CLIA/CAP/ISO/CDC certified laboratory facility, must pass competencies at regular intervals throughout the year. Some laboratories will provide additional training as deemed necessary.