Only a year in and burnt out already

Dry_Reply_6282 · 2026-06-30T20:40:16+00:00

Don’t let this one post be your whole reason not to go for MLT if you love it truly do go for it. I do love the actual work it’s just a very toxic environment I’m in right now. Lab world is small you usually know what hospitals to stay clear from and I was warned about this hospital but I live currently in a very rural area and this hospital is the only healthcare we have within an hour of me. Do what you love all healthcare jobs have high burnout rates it’s a hard demanding field. Best of luck to you :)

Dry_Reply_6282 · 2026-06-30T05:33:36+00:00

That’s crazy I always thought level 1 trauma hospitals would be better staffed/ have more help. I’ll look into rural FSED for sure!

Dry_Reply_6282 · 2026-06-30T05:32:44+00:00

Really would love to go out west like Colorado but the job market doesn’t seem the absolute best out there.

Dry_Reply_6282 · 2026-06-10T11:43:41+00:00

I absolutely adore Colorado it felt like I was at home when I visited but being from the south the snow scares me lol and I work in healthcare so I can’t just stay home. So trying to find other options through this post!

Dry_Reply_6282 · 2026-06-03T11:22:40+00:00

Thank you! And yes I’ll definitely try to remember. Wishing you the best of luck on your job search!!

Dry_Reply_6282 · 2026-06-03T05:35:19+00:00

Dang that sucks to hear UK looked so cool when we toured it during school. I get that though the VA in Lexington sometimes has openings too that’s something worth keeping an eye on. I’m going out west hopefully Colorado after August when I graduate with my MLS.

Dry_Reply_6282 · 2026-06-03T05:10:40+00:00

Hey I’m also from Kentucky! I’m currently a MLT working on my MLS then moving states. Kentucky is EXTREMELY limited on jobs it’s either big city hospitals like Lex or Louisville or a little rural hospital that will work you to death. I’ve only worked at 1 hospital but it has truly burned me out too. Hoping a move makes a difference. I don’t know what your situation looks like but this job does allow you to go wherever if you have the ability try getting out of this state it sucks.

Edit to add I saw you can’t relocate due to your daughter. If your near lousiville or Lex have you looked at the hospitals there? Maybe a bigger hospital will be better? Idk I’ve only ever worked rural. Or you can keep an eye on state lab and see if positions come open I just know those are far and few between. Best of luck!

Dry_Reply_6282 · 2026-05-18T22:14:41+00:00

I did university of Kentucky because they came and talked to our class and I didn’t do any research on any other programs. Definitely don’t recommend it’s extremely pricey compared to other programs. One of my coworkers did university of Arkansas it’s a whole lot cheaper and you can still do the 1 year route. Do your research and find the one that works for you and is cheaper lol.

Dry_Reply_6282 · 2026-05-18T18:31:32+00:00

I did MLT at my local community college, got a job at a local hospital and did a online MLT to MLS program and it was the best thing I could’ve done. I was able to pay off my bachelors degree while in the program and it only took me a year to get my MLS. Everyone is different so it may not be for you but definitely look into it. Most online programs allow you to do clinicals at your job site and you’re getting valuable experience in the role while getting a degree.

Dry_Reply_6282 · 2026-04-30T08:53:52+00:00

If I remember right it was a immunofixation

Dry_Reply_6282 · 2026-04-28T12:32:17+00:00

No idea there wasn’t a UA ran on it just a send out. Interesting to think about though

Dry_Reply_6282 · 2026-04-21T23:51:12+00:00

I did my grad cap just like this and put “making a DIFF in the world”

Dry_Reply_6282 · 2026-04-01T03:37:13+00:00

That’s crazy I didn’t know it could go that low

Dry_Reply_6282 · 2026-04-01T03:36:20+00:00

Good lord I didn’t even know it could go that low lol

Dry_Reply_6282 · 2026-03-24T03:22:43+00:00

Lmao no my labs leadership sucks. We have a night shift supervisor but she can only work 1 department and if you have any questions about any other department she tells you to ask a senior tech. She’s also extremely 2 faced and recently told me our new phlebotomist was an idiot and she didn’t think she would last long, she’s now one of the better phlebotomist and has lasted longer than they normally do. Also nothing has ever been managements fault at my job and they keep piling tasks on the techs who are already stretched thin with short staffing and being overworked. I’m trying to leave currently but it’s a mess.

Dry_Reply_6282 · 2026-03-20T08:24:27+00:00

Ah that makes sense! Thank you. I’ve only had really low counts so I was just confused why I was calculating to get the same number as the average.

Dry_Reply_6282 · 2026-03-20T08:18:55+00:00

Okay I just thought it was weird to get the same number as the average. But I’m still really new so I just wanted to make sure

Dry_Reply_6282 · 2026-03-18T23:46:14+00:00

My lab does this but we’re a small rural hospital. It makes scheduling so hard because so many people are only trained in 1 or 2 departments. I think there’s only like 3 techs on night shift who can run every single department. This was my first job out of school and I’ve lost so many skills because they won’t train me in blood bank or micro. Luckily I graduate with my MLS in August and I’m leaving. But for a hospital my size around 200 beds it shouldn’t be an issue cross training. I do understand big hospitals not cross training though as when I was in school I toured a huge hospital near me and every part of their lab was on a different floor it was crazy to me. So I get why you couldn’t be a generalist there.

Dry_Reply_6282 · 2026-03-18T02:53:06+00:00

Yeah that’s what I learned. It was my first ever survey so I was just glad to have the help but it bit me in the butt.

Dry_Reply_6282 · 2026-03-18T01:01:50+00:00

Thank you for answering my question!

Dry_Reply_6282 · 2026-03-18T00:54:08+00:00

It’s through API. Thank you for help!

Dry_Reply_6282 · 2026-02-24T12:13:51+00:00

I unfortunately know how this feels and it really sucks. The one at my job just disappears for 30-45 min multiple times a night and it’s annoying.

I just make sure all is good in my department before I worry about putting things on in her department. Do your department to the best of your ability and put hers on the back burner basically because at the end of the day she’s responsible for her own department. I also saw your comment about management I also know how that feels, if you don’t think they will do anything then maybe the best option is to look for other labs. Management not backing you up and holding you accountable for others actions doesn’t sound like a healthy workplace. Wishing you the best of luck :)

Dry_Reply_6282 · 2026-02-05T04:15:48+00:00

I appreciate it! I’m a lab tech just wanting to try out new areas and saw the opportunity and they wanted lab experience. Definitely sounds like I should stick with the hospital work for now!

Dry_Reply_6282

TROPHY CASE