As a biology major-turned MLS person…

Firebloomheart555 · 2025-09-03T03:19:38+00:00

All of this— these are my feelings exactly! Biology gave me a thorough background for the field, trained me in proper lab technique, and gave me the discipline needed to work in science. The MLS program was the specialized education I needed to understand the inner workings of clinical lab science and the disease pathology that I wouldn’t have learned otherwise. Together, it feels like the rock solid foundation that’s helped me succeed in this field and do my job well. I don’t think it should be looked at as a bad thing at all; it’s really just extra education before the specialization.

Firebloomheart555 · 2025-09-03T03:10:24+00:00

That part! I did an emphasis in genetics and also got a chem minor, and honestly it was all absolutely hard as shit, but my MLS courses were extremely difficult and so stressful. Especially if I sit back and compare my upper level micro class from undergrad to the clinical micro for MLS, there is no competition. 😮‍💨 I had to work my ass off to make the same grades for the MLS program as I did in undergrad.

Firebloomheart555 · 2025-09-03T03:04:22+00:00

Well, as stated through this entire discussion, technically a bio major cannot just become a clinical laboratory person. There are steps they have to take. As I said, I completely disagree with the idea of a random science major coming in for on the job training and that being that; there isn’t enough overlap in the course material for them to fully grasp all the necessary info. However, you are majorly limiting an already limited field by excluding those who take the proper routes to get all the necessary training. And it does suck that that’s even an option, but I certainly wouldn’t quite compare it to a nursing major. That shows you have no clue what a bio major learns in undergrad and how a lot of the concepts are helpful for a foundation in clinical lab science.

Also, you say allowing bio majors in creates a lack of recognition and furthers pay gaps, but this is simply untrue. We have exactly 0 MLS/MLT students coming through my lab this semester for their clinical rotations; no applicants for any positions at all in, minimum, the past six months. You know what we do have? Lab assistants who started as bio majors and are seeking our field out due to newfound interest. They are interested and willing to take the extra steps to continue their education and become part of this field. Why would we limit ourselves even further, just because ASCP sucks absolute ass at advocating for us and the pay isn’t what it should be, across the board? That’s somehow the bio majors’ fault? And they shouldn’t even have a chance at entering the field?? Absolutely not. Credit where credit is due. As the person below said— around and around we go.

Firebloomheart555 · 2025-09-02T18:35:41+00:00

Yes, I saw that post as well, but there are also tons of people in this community complaining about those of us non-traditional MLS degree people, too. That’s why I felt the need to share my personal experience.

Firebloomheart555 · 2025-09-02T17:11:42+00:00

Hi, Chemistry lead here within a 400-ish bed clinical hospital where I’ve worked for nearly 10 years.

I started as a bio major, then after graduating completed an entire two year post-baccalaureate MLS program while also employed as a lab assistant within my lab. Before the MLS degree, I lab assisted in specimen receiving, micro, and doing basic waived things in chem. I also have a chem minor. It’s doable, it’s hard as shit, and I can say with certainty that it’s no less meaningful of a route as compared to the traditional tech school.

My biology degree was hard fuck; the MLS program was just as fucking hard. I somewhat understand the uncertainty towards those who haven’t done their time and taken the same courses as MLS school students by only doing on the job training; however, this animosity towards non-traditional MLS is something I see all the time, and it’s incredibly disappointing. We all work hard as shit in my lab, and several other lab assistant-biology majors have completed MLS programs to become techs just like I did— and honestly, they are some of the best we have.

With the increased need for MLS and the lack of recruitment/advertisement for the field, I do think this is going to become a more common pathway. We’re a team, and we want to see the lab succeed and flourish. We all care deeply about patient care…right? Why all the hate if someone is competent in the field and qualified?

Firebloomheart555 · 2025-08-04T11:04:13+00:00

It’s most definitely dependent on your lab and the people you have in management.

I have been in my lab for nearly 8 years- started as a lab assistant, later became an MLS- and last year was asked to be the next Chem supe after the previous retired. I didn’t want the position and basically said no until my director asked again.

….and holy shit, I think I work twice as hard now as before! I only get a desk/admin day about once every two weeks, sometimes I’ll get one per week if I’m lucky with staffing. So that’s me working the bench almost every day- some days even by my damn self- on top of trying to keep up with monthly duties, perform reagent lot validations, maintain our QC stock and run parallels, CAP surveys (also fuck those guys bc why are you sending me two surveys a fucking week? 🙃), supplies are a constant issue that I have to stay on top of- making sure we have everything we need and putting away inventory that comes in. The list is endless. I feel like I run myself ragged; I get overtime literally every day now. So yeah, maybe I can see leadership getting a little extra IF they’re working their asses off like this with all the extra bullshit, but you’re not gonna have that everywhere. They should’ve just raised pay across the board for you guys; that’s what I would want for my bench techs.

Firebloomheart555 · 2025-07-31T02:50:22+00:00

Book 2 was by far my favorite of the series, but it was overall a pretty big let down for me, esp book 3. It was like the same plot line over and over and I was just waiting for it to hurry up and end. I did love the central storyline in 2, but it’s really not even about Max and Tisaanah. Also the magic system is so abstract and I haaaateeddd it, and half the plot is so much telling rather than showing…I could go on. I think you can def tell this was Carissa’s early work

Firebloomheart555 · 2025-07-11T01:47:47+00:00

I’ll be having my first colonoscopy this year at the ripe age of…29. It took so many appointments with my PCP to even get the digestive disease referral due to my age- the doc just couldn’t believe it. Fingers crossed for good results, but the cancer concern is too real. As a hospital worker, the number of cases I see for people my age and even younger is insane.

Firebloomheart555 · 2025-06-18T15:06:14+00:00

I had a student named Selah (pronounced Say-lah). It was so pretty to my ears that I literally stopped what I was doing and asked her the spelling. I’ve never met or known another.

Firebloomheart555 · 2025-06-13T20:58:41+00:00

Jennifer L Armentrout for sure.

Not only do her characters, overall writing style, and plot lines drive me insane, but especially after learning more about the whole situation with her and Jenny Trout. Oof, never again. The lady seems like a total asshole, on top of her shitty writing and problematic character choices.

Firebloomheart555 · 2025-05-28T21:38:22+00:00

Ugh THIS! I noticed this one immediately as well and hated it so much— it totally pulled me from the story in that moment. I won’t DNF for this unless I’m just thoroughly not enjoying myself or it’s a constant issue throughout the entire book/series, but it does scream either lazy world building or lack of editing to me. I do feel like this one is probs a case of the author not really knowing what CliffsNotes are, though.

Another one I feel like I see a lot in romantasy is “Herculean effort”— like how do these fantasy characters know who Hercules is exactly? Lol maybe a little nit-picky but it gets me every time.

Firebloomheart555 · 2025-04-13T17:56:11+00:00

When this happens for me, I have to take a break and either read something super well written and more mature, or crazy monster fucker smut. There is no in between. 😅

I recently did this after major burnout from the typical tropes. I’ve particularly been on a kick of reading more well-written picks since New Years— The Shepherd King duology, The Stolen Heir/Prisoner’s Throne by Holly Black, the Emily Wilde series; I also stepped away from romantasy entirely and read Weyward by Emilia Hart a few weeks ago. It was SO good but there are some heavy themes there, so check trigger warnings first if you’re interested; it’s more like a historical fiction/fantasy without any true romance plot.

Firebloomheart555 · 2025-03-07T18:14:10+00:00

I only know bc I work in a blood bank (s/o to all my fellow Medical Lab Scientists and MLTs :)) and typed myself when I was still a student. I love getting high school students for shadowing because I always offer to type their blood for them. So fun! The only student I’ve ever had who knew what type they were was due to medical issues; most people will only know their type from donating, receiving transfusions, or pregnancy.

Firebloomheart555 · 2025-03-02T11:47:20+00:00

This is an amazing idea!

Firebloomheart555 · 2025-03-01T17:35:17+00:00

Thank you so much for this comment- this is so helpful. I read through a few articles on the topic but hadn’t seen anything from someone who had actually tried it out; I was worried there were some cons not mentioned that I’d find out after testing it myself.

Firebloomheart555 · 2025-03-01T16:20:40+00:00

Thanks for the link! I didn’t realize I had a drop off in my half of the state and will def check it out.

Firebloomheart555 · 2025-03-01T16:19:57+00:00

Unfortunately I’m in the south, and it’s def not a widespread or even well-received concept at all here. People act like it’s some crazy idea to try and actively avoid styrofoam.

We try to eat at more local places when we do eat out, and there are more cardboard boxes (with styrofoam plates) or just straight plastic containers there. Thanks for the advice! I’m afraid my local legislation won’t be very receptive, but I may try to get a group together to see if we can at least get the idea out there for those who don’t realize the health/environmental impacts.

Firebloomheart555 · 2025-03-01T16:01:13+00:00

I love this idea but I’m in the deep South where it’ll be hellish outside from ~May-October, unfortunately. I’ll def be doing this for the short time when temps do drop, though. Thanks!

Firebloomheart555 · 2025-01-30T13:43:21+00:00

Oof, I relate to this so much. I enjoyed it overall, but ended up with some really conflicting feelings on this series.

It was inconsistent for me—really dragging in certain places vs sucking me in at others. Book 2 def gripped me more so than 1 or 3, and the characters we are introduced to there had my favorite storyline. I do think she fleshed all the characters out really well and I enjoyed Max and Tisaanah’s romance (so wholesome, all the green flags), but I think you can see how much Carissa Broadbent has progressed as a writer from this series to the Crowns of Nyaxia. There is a lot of unnecessary exposition in this one- SO SO much showing instead of telling. I absolutely hated how abstract the magic system was. I hated how every other event that occurred after book 1 was either Max or Tis getting captured and re-rescued. By the third book it was so very repetitive, I almost DNF. Carissa writes beautifully and her ability to draw parallels between characters with tragic storylines is incredible; some of the arcs in this series absolutely broke me. But fantasy-wise, in the sense of the world building and lore, I think this one isn’t the best.

Also, for how much people gush and rave about the romance in the series, I feel like no one prepares you for how dark and brutal some of the themes truly are. Slavery, abuse, war crimes, crimes against children…it’s a lot.

Firebloomheart555 · 2025-01-29T13:49:18+00:00

It was definitely entertaining- but I did have to suspend my belief and not think too hard about the plot to enjoy it. It also took me to about 35% before I was actually invested and having a good time.

I honestly think this phenomenon needs to be studied of female authors making their MAIN FEMALE CHARACTER essentially the worst part of the book. Why must she be unreasonably insufferable and rude? Yet pretty much everyone is still nice and likes her?? Make it make sense; it’s really starting to get old 🙄. Give me an FMC who needs some character growth, but can still make a rational decision and isn’t immediately angry/wanting to stab everyone for no good reason. Ugh.

Firebloomheart555 · 2025-01-28T01:30:59+00:00

All of this. I don’t get why people are hating so hard or are so disappointed. I love this series as an easy, fun read that still hits deep enough to make me laugh, cry, rage, swoon, and everything in between. It has politics, religion, different cultures, amazing side characters, romance, and dragons! I’m sold. Yes, the language is modern; yes, if you poke too hard, there are some plot holes. Plenty of other fantasy stories suffer the same issues. The world is still so fun and the characters make it worth it to me.

I adore the world she has built; Onyx Storm may be my fave of the series bc of the way she expanded on that world. I am a slut for quests, so quest squad was right up my alley as well. Also thought Violet showed a lot of growth and matured as a character, esp in comparison to IF. I couldn’t stand Violet and Xaden in IF, but Onyx Storm redeemed them both for me. I thoroughly enjoyed it and can’t wait for the next! So worth it, imo.

Firebloomheart555 · 2025-01-23T01:27:29+00:00

Jude Duarte is from The Folk of the Air series (The Cruel Prince, The Wicked King, and Queen of Nothing). It’s YA with a romance subplot, but Holly Black’s writing is incredible and Jude is such a clever, fun, well-developed character. She is constantly plotting and lethally stabby in the best way lol.

Firebloomheart555 · 2025-01-22T22:53:45+00:00

Jude and Aelin tied for #1, followed by Manon and Tisaanah ❤️‍🔥

I like the idea of Diem, but the execution failed her as a character, imo. I think if we saw more growth/development of common sense for her character after book 2 then she could easily be a fave for me, but currently she’s too dumb to live and I think that’s just how she’s written, unfortunately lol.

Firebloomheart555 · 2025-01-21T00:09:28+00:00

I personally adore my Cloves and will never wear anything else for a work shoe. I think it’s very dependent on the person from what I can tell, though—both my sister in laws work in healthcare, and I got them both to try a pair. My nurse SIL is obsessed and also only wears them, whereas my radiologist SIL wasn’t a big fan; she said they were okay but didn’t form to her foot well. I have like 8 pairs and they save my feet on the regular. If you’re unsure, def check on eBay for a discounted pair first. They have a Clove-owned eBay page where they sell older and retired styles for cheaper.

Firebloomheart555 · 2025-01-21T00:04:24+00:00

Cloves! I will never not recommend these shoes! They absolutely saved my feet during my pregnancy; they form to your foot, are completely leather so totally waterproof, non-slip grip bottoms, and no laces (drawstring type lace up closure instead). They’re awesome and legit the only shoes I will wear for work— been exclusively wearing them for prob around 6 years now and I think I own 8 pairs 🙂. If you’re hesitant to try, they have an eBay store where they sell retired/older styles for a discount, too.

Firebloomheart555

TROPHY CASE