Spread the Word: A Medical Technology Student’s Perspective

This Semester

Tiffany Landis — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 14:22:00 GMT

This semester has been stressful. I have a full schedule and a lot of projects due. Just this semester I started the Master's program. I have stayed busy with lots of studying and reading assignments. I am taking Blood Bank, Mycology, Chemistry, Hematology/Coagulation...(read more)

Lab Safety

Tiffany Landis — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 15:05:00 GMT

As students, we are taught about laboratory safety and how to handle situations as they arise. However, you never know how you are going to react in a situation until you're faced with it head-on. It's important to realize blood products could pose a...(read more)

Field Trip

Tiffany Landis — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 15:13:00 GMT

My med tech class took a field trip to Lifeblood, based in Memphis, a blood processing and collection center. The trip was very educational. I always thought when someone received a blood transfusion they were getting whole blood, but that's not always...(read more)

Passion

Tiffany Landis — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 17:13:00 GMT

It took me a while to figure out just what I am passionate about. I was sitting in on the presentations at the GMABB meeting in Memphis, and I realized my passion. My passion is becoming a medical laboratory scientist, so that I can help people. I have...(read more)

Blood Bank Rotation

Tiffany Landis — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 14:43:00 GMT

I am dreading blood bank, but is this worth me fretting over? Medical technologists in blood bank must be organized and accurate. I can do that! Blood bankers type blood and match it to a donor for blood transfusions. Getting more interesting! A mistake...(read more)

A Student's POV: The Merger

Tiffany Landis — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 21:23:00 GMT

While I was in Chicago at the ASCLS National Meeting, it was announced the NCA and ASCP BOR were to merge to create BOC. I know there was some that were apprehensive about this merger. In my opinion, the merger gives more recognition to the laboratory...(read more)

Rotating through the Microbiology Lab

Tiffany Landis — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 02:02:00 GMT

My last week in the Microbiology lab started with two days of working and reading on the Respiratory and miscellaneous bench then ending with the blood bench. I was able to determine if there was a pathogen growing on the plate versus normal flora bacteria....(read more)

A Support System: Joining a National Organization

Tiffany Landis — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 21:58:00 GMT

The ASCLS National Meeting was an amazing experience. I met a lot of wonderful professionals and made some really great friends. I was amazed will all the excitement about the profession and how welcomed I felt. Students are the future of this organization...(read more)

Microbiology Rotation Part 2

Tiffany Landis — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 14:51:00 GMT

I am now on the second week of my 3-week rotation in microbiology. I started today on the urine and stools bench learning how to interpret plates and what tests to run next. This is the problem-solving part of microbiology, which so far is pretty interesting....(read more)

Microbiology Rotation Part 1

Tiffany Landis — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 12:29:00 GMT

On the first day of my microbiology rotation, I did not know what to expect. I got a tour of the hospital and a lesson on safety. I was then put at my first station, set ups, as this hospital calls it. I took worksheets with the patient information and...(read more)

Immunology Rotation

Tiffany Landis — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 12:22:00 GMT

Honestly, I was a little nervous about my immunology rotation! However, once I met my instructor and started learning about the machine they used, it was not so bad after all. At the hospital I was at, they have the Centaur XP which runs tests from HIV,...(read more)

Annual ASCLS Meeting

Tiffany Landis — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 15:24:00 GMT

The annual ASCLS meeting is being held in Chicago in July. This is a great opportunity for students, because of all the valuable information and connections that can be found there. This meeting will serve as an introduction to the organization and give...(read more)

Hematology Rotation

Tiffany Landis — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 11:33:00 GMT

My summer rotations kicked off with a good start in hematology. I was placed at Centennial Medical Center in Nashville. I really like working and learning with all the medical technologists there. There is never a dull moment! I really learned a lot about...(read more)

Thoughts on Being a Student

Tiffany Landis — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 15:19:00 GMT

As medical technology students, we are being prepared for the workforce. We are being taught to perform laboratory procedures in a timely and accurate manner. We are being taught to think about the theory behind the test, not that we are just running...(read more)

Lab Shortage

Tiffany Landis — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 14:17:00 GMT

Currently, there is a shortage of medical laboratory professionals. It has been stated before that the laboratory is a big part of patient healthcare, yet the laboratory is often overlooked. Therefore, how can we get students interested in the field and...(read more)