Questions and Answers

re: Questions and Answers

Stephanie L. Mathis, MT(ASCP) — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 16:34:51 GMT

Although I also work nights, I'm lucky to work with a great laboratory director and immediate supervisor (the Blood Bank technical specialist) who let me know that I am appreciated and communicate with me in person as well as via e-mail. I realize that this type of work atmosphere which prioritizes open communication of everyone's ideas (including the new people) cannot be taken for granted. Also, unless someone calls in sick, I am informed on reasonably advance notice by my supervisor about having to work unscheduled shifts; in fact, she called me yesterday about working 3rd shift on Tuesday night of next week (when my "seven on" was originally scheduled to begin on Thursday night).

You see, I have previously worked for a couple of other hospital laboratories with "sorry" negative managers who only paid attention to employees who did things they didn't like (i.e. listen to the radio in the lab, inadvertently call the wrong doctor who hated to be awakened early on a Saturday morning with a "critical" MRSA report on a patient, etc.)

The previous commenter is absolutely right about bad bosses exacerbating our serious staffing shortage when rumors about their behavior discourage prospective Generation Y employees from applying because these younger people won't take their "blame and shame" morale-killing BS.

About the AMT vs. ASCP dilemma, the problem is that our field has so darn many different letters/agencies associated with it that HR departments at various hospitals aren't aware of all of them - and mistakenly believe that ASCP is the only "valid" certification for laboratory position applicants. I wonder how many people out there believe that h*ll will freeze over before the clinical laboratory profession actually becomes unified under ONE certification, obviating the need for expensive state licensure and all the current confusion. Don't get me started on that...

re: Questions and Answers

Anonymous Technologist — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 14:35:36 GMT

I was given a crappy night shift schedule that the supervisor took it upon herself to change numerous times for me only after it was posted and had me working nights every weekend. I saw the writing on the wall and skipped out. she and the others there obviously were in their own clique and I didn't fit in. I can say I didn't much like them either. The feeling was mutual. Glad that I left.

On a different note.. I think that managers and supervisors love communicating with the stafff that they don't see on a daily basis by email. This gives them the opportunity to not have face-to-face confrontations or have to give tough answers to staff members in person. In fact, reading and >ignoring< email is the easy cop-out taken by many. Yes - many do.

Or it is easier to skirt around the question posed by either

(a) answering with another vague question or

(b) answering with an answer that is verbose and content-less or

(c) deferring it to a later date and time or delegating it to another person that has no idea what is going on nor really cares.

MY POINT BEING >> old farts in leadership should look to change their ways of thinking as newer generations are coming up through that won't stand for the status quo, nor will they file in line and take a canned response for an answer. Yes, they will question it and NO they shouldn't be looked down upon as "instigators" this ambition should be fostered as a sign of new leadership - something yesterday's laboratories need.

re: Questions and Answers

Wilfredo Cardona — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 00:08:00 GMT

Why is that I have seen some disparity between the MT, AMT versus MT, ASCP. I have the requirement to take the ASCP Certification but I decided to take the AMT instead. I am a Certified Medical Technologist , AMT and I read some stories people talking not to good about AMT. As far as I am concerned I am as good as any ASCP MT ( I work side by side with them in my job and we treat each other with respect and as professionals as we can be), however when I look some vacancies they specify ASCP Certification. If both certifications required: first to have the credential on education and/or experience and take a national standardized test, why so much discrepancy?