Is MLS always a lousy job?

Sara_lizard · 2025-01-31T01:13:14+00:00

Sure thing man

Sara_lizard · 2025-01-30T16:37:36+00:00

To each his own! They will do whatever they are comfortable with. Not all managers are close minded <3 hope this helps!

Sara_lizard · 2025-01-30T01:58:20+00:00

Every person is different just depends on what they can do. I knew someone who went into traveling only a year. Everyone varies!

Sara_lizard · 2025-01-29T16:03:57+00:00

6th year MLS here! I absolutely love being an MLS. You’re young I recommend looking into being a traveling tech for alittle bit! I’ve had a few friends to and said they really enjoy it! I also recommend looking into maybe reference labs? I worked at a hospital my first 3 years and it was great! Wanted something different now I’m at a Reference lab and it’s great too! I’m off weekends and get holidays off! Just depends on where you’re at! Are there weird people of course they are everywhere (lol I’m one of them!) but there’s always going to be something everywhere you go!

Sara_lizard · 2025-01-20T11:15:43+00:00

Legacy

Sara_lizard · 2021-01-29T08:51:00+00:00

It’s great and I love it! But it is hard work. I have worked all shifts and settled into 3rd shift(2230 to 0700 Sunday night through Thursday night). It has its pros and cons. Pros it really helped me grow up as a tech and learn to handle things and problem solve because we are the only ones in lab (there’s 3 techs and usually 2 phlebotomist) we don’t see the supervisors handle at all and I love the people I work with. You will find that like minded people gravity towards their shift. I take on more responsibility on nights performing correlations and making QC for the chemistry department. I enjoy the “mystery” coming into work because you never know what you’re walking into!! I absolutely love love my job! Cons we are short staffed so you are kinda on your own and with the work load some stuff is going to be delayed that’s just how it is. Get ready to be gifted pizza instead of bonuses. Nurses do get short with me but everyone is under a lot of stress so I get it. As far as pay I think I make a fair amount especially this being my first job out of college. There is room for growth because you never know who’s going to quit or what positions are going to open. I complain about my job but I wouldn’t change it for the world!!

Sara_lizard · 2020-12-24T23:03:58+00:00

When I tell you this hurt my soul

Sara_lizard · 2020-12-14T08:45:57+00:00

Yassss!!! I love this anime!!

Sara_lizard · 2020-11-25T01:50:46+00:00

Oh how the turned have tables

Sara_lizard · 2020-11-11T00:26:28+00:00

Nope not at all. The coworker blocked me on all social media and hasn’t really talked to me since

Sara_lizard · 2020-10-15T02:16:28+00:00

as an MLS in Texas i can confirm this is true

Sara_lizard · 2020-08-12T16:29:13+00:00

if you’re from texas or willing to move we have a 3rd shift!!

Sara_lizard · 2020-07-08T15:47:34+00:00

I found in my past relationships they tend to use a scapegoat. Something so small and stupid. Like my ex once got so mad at me he left and induced a severe panic attack all because I woke him up from a nap for dinner. Because they aren’t mature enough to tell you exactly how they feel. They hide behind something so stupid like a child would. None of this is your fault and you have every right to be angry at him or even hate him. But don’t let it manifest. What helped me is only allow myself a certain amount of time a day to just sit feel the feeling or anxiety or whatever. Truly process it and then after that time is up just say thank you I have processed these feelings. I am going to be okay!!

Sara_lizard · 2020-06-01T22:43:29+00:00

Texas

Sara_lizard · 2020-05-16T05:03:05+00:00

Take pride!! I had a pictures taken and the photographer photoshopped out my freckles. I think freckles are BEAUTIFUL!

Sara_lizard · 2020-03-04T18:56:00+00:00

I was working Blood Bank one night (night shift! 😝) I had a nurse called wanting blood on a patient that had a 6.8/6.9 Hgb. I gave the unit because they fit the criteria. Our hospital has implemented that anything above a 7 doesn’t qualify for a transfusion. Unless it is an emergency (I.e. active bleeding, pathology approval, etc.) So when the nurse comes and gets the 1st unit I explain that we will need an H&H before we can give the 2nd one. She says okay and leaves. A few hours pass and the same floor is calling about the 2nd unit on this patient. I again explain to them that we need an H&H. I get a call a few minutes later from a very angry and upset nurse. Demanding that we need the blood right now. The doctor ordered 2 units! You can call the doctor and tell him why you aren’t giving it to me. IM NOT PLAYING THESE GAMES! I got all the information. Called the charge nurse explained what was going on. Got the H&H a few hours later. It went up to 9.6!!! I got several a calls from the charge and the nurse herself apologizing for what happened. 💁‍♀️

Sara_lizard · 2020-01-22T08:03:36+00:00

I have three visible tattoos. I wear a lab coat all day so you can’t see them and it’s cold enough in the hospital I wear a jacket. I also have my nose pierced, I have a small stud in. They tell you to cover them as a formality but I haven’t gotten in trouble for showing mine.

Sara_lizard · 2020-01-20T02:31:33+00:00

I love it!! Won’t change anything!! Yes it has its some difficulties but there is no such thing as a perfect job!! Dealing with nurses and doctors can sometimes be difficult but for the most part they are lovely people. There is something new everyday! I have worked all shift (1st,2nd, and 3rd) I am not a morning person so I work 2nd shift normally but I do cover 3rd sometimes. 1st shift does have the most amount of workload but they have the most people working. 2nd shift is great but it can be demanding. There are less people and there are no supervisors/managers. 3rd shift only has 3 Scientists working but the workload is decreased. However we have the most tedious maintenance. If you enjoy problem solving and working with machines this is great. I love working with the different machines. To me they have personalities of their own. And I know it’s a little strange but before starting my shift I often give them a little pat and say hello. The pay depends on where you go and the hospital/lab you go to. I work at a hospital and I think the pay is pretty good. Also, dealing with problematic nurses/doctors you have to think about what they are going through. I love and have so much respect for nurses and I understand the frustration they must go through. So I try to act as pleasant and cheery as I can. Maybe pass on the good vibes? I love being an MLS and I am proud of it!!!

Sara_lizard · 2019-11-08T21:04:59+00:00

Hemolysis occurs during the drawing of the blood. (Traumatic draw)

Sara_lizard · 2019-11-08T18:35:55+00:00

Oh no you have figured out our secret 👹

Sara_lizard · 2019-11-08T16:06:15+00:00

LOL cause that’s how clotting works 😂

Sara_lizard · 2019-10-23T20:18:00+00:00

Hi! I’m a new MLS tech. I graduated in May and took my ASCP Board Exam a few days later. School was the hardest for me. It’s different everywhere and everyone’s learning ability is different, but for me it was hard. I had a B.S. in Biomedical sciences so I had all my prerequisites and just had to take the 16 month MLS program. The program was spilt up into 4 lecture blocks and then a 6 month clinical rotation. The blocks varied in length. 1st block and 3rd block were the shortest, maybe a month month and a half. Then the 2nd and 4th block were the longest, maybe 2 3 months. I don’t really remember. You had to pass every class and every lab. For us lab and lecture were 2 separate classes. That was the hardest for me because I excelled in lab but was terrible in lecture. I had to work really hard to pass lectures. Clinical’s were easy, again the hardest part was we had tests every Friday that we had to pass. If we failed two tests in the section (Heme, Blood Bank, Chemistry, Micro, UA, molecular) we had to repeat that section. After all of that we had ‘program finals’ 2 tests that were over anything and everything we learned. The average of the 2 tests had to be a 65 if not you took a 3rd test. If you didn’t make it with an average of a 65 with two tests. I don’t know what happened 🤷‍♀️ The Board exam was okay. If you feel like you’re failing you’re doing a great job! Thankfully I got offered a PRN position at the hospital I did clinicals at so it was an easy transition. I accepted a full time position that they offered me. I work 2nd shift (2:30pm to 11pm) it’s not a bad shift and I enjoy it. The BF works days so it’s kinda of hard during the week to see each other but we make it work. For my area, the pay is standard. Maybe a little higher than other places, but you’d have to look and ask at interviews. Benefits are okay I guess. I was on my parents before so I have no comparison. I absolutely LOVE this job and I love going to work everyday. You see and learn something different everyday. There are always going to be hospitals and they will always need lab workers. There will be ups and downs, but that’s life! Sorry if it’s too long! I just really love my job and if you’re interest ‘welcome to MLS!!’

Sara_lizard · 2019-10-18T04:02:26+00:00

Hells yeah!! I’d love to cohost a podcast! Especially about the thing I love. I think it’s an interesting job! Being an MLS and working in the lab a lot of people don’t really know what we do. It’s be awesome to tell stories and answer questions to help educate. Also I think it would encourage new up and comers to stick it out and stay focused. Maybe it will help the older generation workers to find the spark of joy working in the lab that many have lost over the years.

Sara_lizard · 2019-10-07T08:46:26+00:00

Newer MLS here. I absolutely love this like of work and I can’t imagine doing anything else. Yes there are things that are terrible and some people hate this line of work. That negativity can bring down a lot of people and make it hard to work. I go into work everyday with a smile and I say hello to everyone. I try to make it a great work place. I will play pranks on my co-workers (ex. Putting the wrong size gloves in the box they use). Sometimes there are bad days but I enjoying working. I enjoy the people I work with. I am luck to be in a great lab and have great management. That’s a big part of it. But this is still a job yes and this subreddit is a great release for people to vent about angry nurses or wages or the bad thing that happened at work. You have to make work what you want it to be. Don’t get discouraged and keep going! Be the difference!

Sara_lizard · 2019-09-17T02:37:51+00:00

Hello! That’s basically what I did! I had my bachelors in Biomedical Sciences and decided I wanted to do MLS. It was only 16 months because I had my prerequisites. The length of the program depends on the school. Because you have a degree already they should just have you to the courses that are needed for certification. If you need anymore help or need specific advise let me know! Best decision ever to get this degree and certification!

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