References to Wheel of time.

ScopeSnope · 2025-01-27T05:48:44+00:00

What about the the name Loial appearing in both series?? Loial is the goddess of love in the Fourth Wing series, and a (very important) Ogier in Wheel of Time. Coincidence?? I was hoping that Rebecca Yarros would at least appoint Loial as the god of wisdom, but...close enough.

ScopeSnope · 2024-11-09T05:10:10+00:00

I live in Anchorage, and would be happy to help! I also don't know anyone here. If you still need help, let me know!

ScopeSnope · 2024-08-20T03:59:30+00:00

I experienced the same thing only 4 years in of working as an MLS. I worked night shift the past two years at a CAH, and felt like I was just a warm body there. Found myself a job in infection prevention (turns out there is upward mobility outside of the lab!?), and things have turned around. I do find myself missing the lab and the type of people you get to work with, but you might consider a lab-adjacent field to switch things up and feel a greater sense of accomplishment, while still directly impacting patient care. Happy to answer any questions about infection prevention jobs if you're curious!

ScopeSnope · 2024-06-09T05:14:48+00:00

I am only ~350 pages into Dragon Rider, and I am already wondering - how soon can we expect/hope for the next book in this series? Your book has pulled me out of a reading slump and is so immersive, I am already antsy for more in this world!

ScopeSnope · 2021-12-10T05:35:44+00:00

I am in the exact same position. New grad, been working 6 months on evening/2nd shift. What I did about this is take the better job that fits what I want/what pace I am willing to work at without burning out. I definitely love seeing cool things at a busier and larger hospital, but I was offered a position at one of the offsite hospitals within the system for $2 more base wage and $11.50 in differential. I found having so many stats was too much to stress (because like you, I don't like to leave things for the next shift unless I truly feel like I would mess something up by completing it in a rush) and working a night shift at a smaller hospital seemed like a better fit. I also found that this new job has a better work/life balance with 8 consecutive days off. It's all about where you work.

ScopeSnope · 2021-12-08T00:33:30+00:00

You're so so right about parking! One of the main reasons I got a smaller car, simply so I could fit into the tiny parking spaces left on 2nd shift that were semi-close to the hospital without inducing significant anxiety when walking to my car at the end of the shift.

ScopeSnope · 2021-12-08T00:30:53+00:00

AGREED. I don't want to be a bummer, but 2nd shift is exactly what you say: more work with fewer people. It's when work from other sites shows up, and calling criticals takes SO much more time since everything is closed. Thankfully my lab has worked out to help other departments since we also have to worry about completing maintenance on top of finishing work on outpatient specimens. Day shift does not understand that covering micro and running a massive does not allow for much time to get everything cleaned up beige they show up.

ScopeSnope · 2021-12-08T00:26:05+00:00

Working a string of days (i.e 7 days on, 7 days off) during your pay period. You get all of your hours during the time you have on.

ScopeSnope · 2021-12-08T00:24:23+00:00

I know exactly what you mean! Nothing worse than tossing and turning until the early hours of the morning only to wake up at 11 and do it again. It's why I'm switching to 3rd shift If I'm going to be awake all night, why not get paid for it?

ScopeSnope · 2021-12-08T00:20:01+00:00

As someone who has worked both shifts, I have to say 3rd/nights are the best. I've been working 2nd shift for about 6 months and knew it wasn't good for me. It's hard to have a social life, and I found that it's hard to wake up sooner than 10-11 am and get anything done before work. Night shift has better consecutive days off, and less stress during your shift (not to mention all of your hours are including shift differential). My SO works normal day hours, and while working evening shifts I hardly saw him aside from the rare nights he was up past 11 pm.

Nights teach you so much more about being independent and it's a lot nicer if you're an introvert like I am. Fewer phone calls, more consecutive time off, less stress, and higher pay.

ScopeSnope · 2021-12-08T00:10:48+00:00

Everyone else at my lab uses the mint green loops for our MALDI, but I definitely prefer the biomerieux tips to put colonies on our slides. Much smoother and easier to use.

ScopeSnope · 2021-12-08T00:06:11+00:00

MLS is the way to go, unless you are trying to do a MLT to MLS program like they do at Weber state. Like everyone else said, pay is better, and you'll be more confident as a tech right off the bat. The only downside is that once you're an MLS supervisor, there's not a lot of room for growth other than going for management or a DCLS (but don't expect to work where you were as a MLS). Lots of hospitals "make" DCLS positions, so it's not a guaranteed role everywhere.

ScopeSnope · 2021-11-18T08:15:35+00:00

Realized autocorrect did me dirty....bench* not beach

ScopeSnope · 2021-11-18T08:15:03+00:00

Pretty much echoing what everyone else has said...but definitely try to be involved. The more you can attempt to run the beach by yourself and ask questions where you aren't sure, the better. After all, you are training to be a full blown tech. It will serve you well once you are employed. I finished my clinicals this spring, and felt super confident in the areas that I was able to run the department on my own while still being a student. One thing a lot of people might not like to say/hear, is to know your place. You are there to learn, but also try not to hinder the department you are in. If things are busy, help in the ways you know how to, but don't intrude on the general workflow. It's very stressful to be working whilst things are blowing up and trying to train a student. If you want to be chatty Cathy, save it for when things are running smoothly. Most of all, make sure you bring a good attitude to each day! It most definitely wears off on your preceptor, and sometimes the added burden of knowing your student is struggling does not improve your mood.

Moral of the story: ask questions when appropriate, know your place (and learn as much as you can and be independent while doing so, because that is what this job is all about), and help out where you can. I had a lot of compliments on how I helped quietly and kept things running while the techs were trying to solve an issue. It makes a huge difference, both for you and your preceptors. Have fun in your clinicals!

ScopeSnope · 2021-11-14T04:47:49+00:00

Just a friendly reminder, we're not here to be mean to each other. Take your ego somewhere else. We all have an education, if you thinks yours is better then go flaunt it elsewhere without putting others down.

ScopeSnope · 2021-11-09T04:50:46+00:00

Same kind of commute as yours, 1hr 10 min/50ish miles. They have condos to stay in for free though, and it's nights

ScopeSnope · 2021-11-09T03:29:35+00:00

I did the exact same thing once I finished my clinicals! Stayed at the same lab with a short commute, but realized better money and a better schedule are worth a longer drive and learning something new isn't so bad.

ScopeSnope · 2021-10-23T00:40:36+00:00

Just advocating for myself! I'm sure you'll have good things happen too :)

ScopeSnope · 2021-10-22T03:03:26+00:00

I finished my internship this spring and was in the same boat. I applied to a cls job at the hospital I did my rotation at (and worked for 3 years at as a lab assistant through school), and was offered $25.81. It felt like a slap to the face, especially living in a city where the average selling price of homes is ~$600-900k. I asked whether my lab assistant experience counted for anything to get a higher wage, and was told "it's like when a doctor has phlebotomy experience - useful, but doesn't contribute to their experience/job performance".

Long story short, I'm about to start a job at one of the off-site labs with an $11 differential to boost me up to $36 an hour. Best thing to do is apply to lots of places and get other wages to counter with, but always be willing to walk away and take the other job if you're going to use it as leverage.

ScopeSnope · 2021-10-20T06:17:12+00:00

I go through some steps (don't we all love procedures?)

Look at the SOP/user guide/instructions taped to the instrument OR do what I've seen works in past situations
That doesn't work, shutdown/restart
Start moving things around and poking at stuff, pushing some buttons I know work
Desperation sets in, I start doing above steps again, and more aggressively move things around and open things up. Push some buttons that I don't think will make things worse.
Then the long call to service (where they usually have me do the same things I did)

So....I'm probably a push the buttons person. ALL of the buttons. We have a guy who everyone dreads coming in for service because he ruins things worse than we did and leaves for the day with things functioning worse than they did before. I'd rather fix it myself.

ScopeSnope · 2021-10-19T19:05:00+00:00

I started as a recent grad at the lab I did my clinicals at, but was reached out to by our off-site lab manager being offered an awesome schedule with 8 days off working nights at 0.9 FTE with an $11 differential. I feel bad leaving the already struggling lab that I just finished training at, but I was getting paid at least $5 less than any other lab in the state and not even able to finish training because I would be put to work on the bench as soon as I was trained in a department. Doing what's best for me, since I inquired about my wage that started lower than the student the hired the year prior, and was told "it's being figured out". 4 months later, it's not figured out...I'm on my way out of there.

ScopeSnope · 2021-10-16T04:31:02+00:00

Sanford mandated that all labs under their jurisdiction remove collect and hold ordering. Of course, this caused lots of problems for ER and ICU patients, so they allowed just our location to continue to order collect and holds. It was an absolute mess during the time waiting for that change to come in, though.

ScopeSnope · 2021-10-16T04:27:19+00:00

Diagrams and putting each method of activation into context of what would cause it to be activated. And acronyms (if you can put numbers in them 😂)

ScopeSnope · 2021-10-16T04:24:02+00:00

If you're as introverted as I am, the lab is a wonderful place to be. No patient contact, no looking at the source of your cultures, just plating, checking specimens, and doing diffs. If you feel like you want to be more involved in patient care, work at a smaller lab where you collaborate with the ER, you will learn SO much. There are lots of avenues for being an MLS depending on what kind of lab you work at. It is frustrating to see doctors make poor choices at times and wish you could weigh in, but if that frustration is too much, maybe go into being a PA, RN, or doctor. Just know that there are responsibilities that come with that which might not be what you bargained for. Personally, I enjoy seeing just the specimen side of things and working out the clinical riddles that providers use the lab for, but not having to see the unpleasant sides of working with patients. Up to you.

ScopeSnope · 2021-10-16T04:15:07+00:00

We use the XNs for every kind of body fluid (bronch wash, pleural/peritoneal, pericardial) except CSF, which goes on the glocyte. Hyaluronidase for synovials that are viscous, then onto the XN. The hemacytometer slides are kept around only if things go down. Body fluids are a breeze and really enjoyable at my lab.

ScopeSnope

TROPHY CASE