MLT Interview Experience
Growing up my mother would always say, “Jasmine, you never meet a stranger.” I’ve always been somewhat of a people person. Walk in, head up, smile on, and in my little country accent that people tend to point out, offer a nice “Hey there,” to whomever I meet. I guess that’s my own way of covering up the underlying nervousness that I often feel when walking into a new situation. This is why it was much to my surprise that on my first day of work at Novant Health Matthews Medical Center, the unbelievable amount of nerves that came about as I made my way across the parking lot. After going over our syllabus and learning that we had to interview a practicing MLT or MT I knew right away that the assignment would be
…show more content…
the perfect ice-breaker tool to use to get to know one of my laboratory peers, as well as to learn more about the laboratory profession from a first person point of view. On November 8th 2015, I sat down with Mrs. Jennifer Lever and learned about her work experience. When I first approached Mrs.
Jennifer, as I call her, about allowing me to interview her, she was just as excited as I was about getting to know each other and being able to share her work experience as a Medical Technologist. We began with general introduction and background during which she told me that she graduated from East Carolina University with a Bachelor’s in Clinical Laboratory Science. Laboratory science wasn’t her first choice. She initially started out working as a Chemical Engineer, but after going through a summer internship she decided that it wasn’t what she really wanted to do. Jennifer said: “After working the internship, I decided that it wasn’t for me. I knew that once I had children that I wanted to work in a field that had a part-time option.” She went on to say that she wanted to work in a field that dealt with either science or math, and that she definitely did not want to be a nurse. Like most people I’ve spoken to, she learned about the medical laboratory profession by talking to someone that worked in healthcare, and that person just so happened to be a nurse. After discussing possible jobs in the hospital, her mother-in-law told her about possibly working in the hospital lab as a Medical Laboratory Technologist, and after doing some research she decided to meet with her academic advisor to find out what courses she needed to take to complete the
program. Jennifer has been a Medical Technologist for twenty-one years, and has been working for Novant health for sixteen. The first year of her career she worked in client services answering inbound telephone calls for the laboratory regarding test requirements such as specimen collection procedure, transport specifications, and result interpretation. Following her client service position she went on to work in donor service where she worked in an operating room as a Cell Saver operator for five years. Her role as an operator was to ensure that the instrument responsible for collecting shed blood from the patient during an operation procedure was being properly cleaned and separated prior to being infused back into the patient. She moved on from working in donor services to working in a regular laboratory setting at Novant Health. When starting a new endeavor in life, it can be led with mixed emotions: the good, the bad, and maybe some fear of the unknown. Being able to talk to someone that is already in the position which you’re moving towards can sometimes deliver a feeling of relief. I asked her what a newly hired MLT/MT should expect when they first start working in the field and she responded with much praise in regards to the training offered to new employees: “When you’re first hired, they pair you with someone working in the lab anywhere from four to six weeks depending on how much the person needs to taught, as well as the person’s understanding and skill level. Then at that point they would be able to work more independent with some supervision. It all really depends on the person.” We both laughed when I shared with her the nervousness I felt already with the thought of being on my own in a department. I said, “I know that I’ve only just started in the program, but it feels like it is going by so fast. I’m not sure if I’ll learn everything that I need to know to be a great medical lab technician. There’s just so much information.” She replied, “You will be ready. I’ve been here for sixteen years and I am still learning new things. I still ask questions. Never be afraid to ask questions.“ That definitely lifted some weight off of my shoulders. It really stood out to me that in addition to general tasks of a lab tech, whether MLT or MT, there are several other tasks and responsibilities outside of running tests that vary depending on what department and what shift is. For example, in each department there are log books that have to be filled out at some point during each shift. There are certain tests that are only run on second shift and not on first or third. There are some quality controls and temperature records that are done only on first shift, but much like in our lab classes, all shifts are responsible for routine decontamination of their work area. After talking about responsibilities of a lab tech, I asked Jennifer more specifically if there were any major differences between a medical lab technician and a medical technologist. She said the only major differences that stand out to her are the pay differences. One of the major requirements to work in the lab is to successfully graduate an accredited program and to pass the Board of Certification exam. She said, “I would strongly encourage anybody going into the medical laboratory profession to go all the way and get their Bachelor’s degree.” She told me that the advancement opportunities for and an MLT aren’t much at all. “As an MLT you won’t be able to take certain positions like Technical Coordinator, or if you wanted to move up the ladder, there aren’t very many opportunities.” She also said there are some areas in the lab such as blood bank that some hospitals may require you to be a medical technologist. She pointed out that similar to other jobs, once you’re hired, they will train you in areas that they expect you to work in whether you’re an MLT or an MT, but it is up to the organization as to what areas they would allow you to work in. I asked Jennifer if she could name some of the things that she likes about being an MT and some things that she’s not too fond of. I wasn’t surprised when we started talking about the difficulties of working with the many different personalities that we encounter in the lab. The laboratory is one of the main hubs of the hospital. There is always information flowing in and out which could create a stressful environment, and if the people that are working aren’t working together and being respectful, it can be a very dangerous situation. It’s been mentioned in class the tension that is often present between the lab staff and nurses and doctors and we talked about that. She said, “No matter where you work, whether it’s healthcare, retail, or fast food, communication is key. To work in the lab you need to have excellent communication skills to be able to talk to the nurses and doctors that are calling you and depending on you to tell them the results they need in order to care for their patients. It’s imperative that you can communicate effectively and efficiently.” Overall she said that she loves her job and loves where she works. She said, “I find it fascinating to help solve mysteries… to help find out what’s wrong with people.” I ended the interview by asking what I tend to think are two of the hardest questions to answer, but I really looked forward to her answer. When I asked her if she had the choice of going back and choosing a different career, she threw another curveball my way. To my surprise, not only was she a chemical engineer for a short period of time, but she revealed that she also had interest in being a Physician’s Assistant. She said, “If I could go back again it would probably be a debate whether or not to go PA or MT. I love my job and I wouldn’t change it, but if I could go back, I may go a different way.” I then asked her where did she see herself in the next several years and if she saw herself advancing further as a Medical Technologist. Since the lab is a high paced area with not much downtime, she said that she could never see herself being a lab manager: “I’m very much a work person. I don’t want to be in meetings all day and doing paperwork, that’s just not me, I would probably go insane.” We both laughed. She went on to say that she could see herself possibly being a Technical Coordinator after her children are out of school, but for now she loves the career that she is in. Although I’ve been working in a clinical laboratory setting for several years, I have never taken the time to sit down and actually talk to one of the lab technicians/technologists that I worked with. They would show me different things, I was allowed to put specimens on some of the instruments, and I would ask general questions, but nothing like what I experienced while interviewing Mrs. Jennifer. After the interview I felt even more excited about being selected to be in this year’s Medical Laboratory Technology program. The jobs that we have as laboratory personnel are not well known about, but I hope to find a way to get more of what we do behind the scenes out in the open in hopes to inspire others to seek a career as a Medical Laboratory Technician.
I was questioning what each one is like. Unfortunately, Debbie has only worked with Children and long-term care facilities. She acknowledged me of the fact that children may be harder to work with especially when they’re in pain, but she did enjoy it very much. She prefers doing long-term care facilities due to the variety of patients. I feel that the best idea for me to decide which area I would like to work in would be to volunteer or job shadow in different places to see which one I would like best.
She is a twenty-two-year-old Guest services Agent who is presently working at the Sheraton Hotel in Queens, New York. During my interview with her I discovered that she and her family of four migrated from Jamaica in search of a better life here in the United States of America. She portrayed a warm and friendly personality, as such it was easy for me to talk with her about self-identity. She informed me that while she was in Jamaica she excelled in High School and went on to University where she studied Health Science. Her reason for choosing that field was because her mother was very much involved in her development and encouraged her to stick to the sciences where she could specialize in becoming a medical doctor in the future. Listening to her, I realized that her decision at the time was based on what her mother had in mind for her and not necessarily what she wanted to become. I questioned her if she had figured out what she wanted to do with her life then, she clearly had no idea therefore she just followed her parent instruction. She pointed out that her mother who played a significant role in her life, always instilled in her the importance of a good education and that becoming a doctor would be the right choice. When she arrived in the United States everything changed. I followed up with the conversation and she told me that she started rebelling and didn’t want to go back to
For example, if I see one of my classmates looking standoffish I can go to them and ask them how they are feeling. Or, I can include them in a conversation with one of the patients so they are able to get acclimated to the environment. I know myself personally don’t have issues approaching strangers, however I understand that others may not have this quality. In this case, I want to make sure I can assist them. For myself I can help myself by being careful with whom I approach.
For my informational interview I spoke with a nurse who has experience working on a medical surgical unit in a hospital setting. She has been a nurse for 10 years. She also has her bachelors degree in nursing. I started my interview by introducing myself and explaining what my assignment was about, and how she could help me tremendously with answering some questions regarding her nursing career, and what she does as a medical surgical nurse.
Ask each person what they learned about themselves and how it will help them communicate with patients and improve quality care.
My educational experiences sparked my first consideration of a career in physician assistant and encouraged me to further explore this interest. At the same time, I started giving community services to healthcare. My first opportunity to personally interact with the patient was in the emergency department as a volunteer at Dekalb Medical Center. The first day I stepped onto the floor, my
Since I often found myself attending a new school, I learned how to adapt to my surroundings and talk to people with confidence and ease. Being a new student also meant that I had a lot of conversations with teachers and guidance counselors. School always felt like a safe place because of how faculty members invested in me and supported my aspirations. Since I never received that kind of affirmation at home, I developed a deep respect for my teachers and advisors. These experiences shaped characteristics in me that will exhibit professionalism as a student in academic and clinical settings. Being outgoing and approachable will be as equally important as having an eagerness to show support and respect to peers, faculty, and
For example, I learned within the field of clinical psychology, there are various aspects of the field. Currently, Dr. Felton does clinical work, research, and academia. This information was valuable because I am interested in both clinical work and research, I had previously assumed I would have to pick one and could not combine both aspects. Another important information I learned is after graduating from a clinical psychology Ph.D. program, you have to complete at least a year of clinical internship and postdoctoral fellowship. Dr. Felton completed her internship her clinical internship and postdoctoral fellowship at the National Crime Victims Research and Treatment Center at the Medical University of South Carolina. She really enjoyed it and decided to stay an additional year before she accepted her current position at the University of Maryland. Through the interview, I began to understand clinical psychology could be an emotional draining career at times. For example, Dr. Felton treats victims, specifically, children and adolescence of abuse and crime. However, she did explain that children have a lot of resilient and it is very rewarding to see them get better over time. Some of her responsibilities in her private practice includes identify and diagnosing psychological, emotional or behavioral issues, developing treatment plans for clients, and helping clients reach their goals through various therapeutic
Although the experience was nerve-racking, I believe that I did a very good job. I was able to collect the majority of the information that she was telling me while asking follow up questions. However, it was more to balance than I had expected. It was difficult asking questions and attempting to record enough information to complete my assignment. As the conversation continued, I got interested in her life stories and professional examples and noticed I had stopped taking notes. I also felt the need to make constant eye contact to show I was alert and aware of what she was saying, which brought challenges to my note taking. This interview process made me feel excited for the future. It was an intriguing opportunity to know that one day I will be able to positively impact lives the way Fultz does. To improve my interview skills, I would ask if I could record the conversation. This will allow me to interact more with the health professional while also consuming a maximum amount of information. I wish I had thought about recording this conversation prior to the interview, because Fultz spoke beautifully about her passion as a social worker, and I wish I was able to directly quote her in this
Going to the doctor can be a frightening experience for many people. Choosing a doctor is a difficult process that can result in a poor experience at the appointment or worse in some cases. First impressions play a large role in a patients response to the practice overall. “Great Smiles” focuses on this concept and shapes their office procedures to make all first visits a positive experience. This office is located on a busy main road in an upper class suburban area of Michigan. The buildin...
Especially while going into a group and individual meeting because we have to prepare for anything especially dealing with people who has not taken their medicine in weeks. We attend workshops to help us deal with troubling patients so that we do not allow our emotions to take over when they lash out at us. The very reason we have a laid-back environment so that they can feel comfortable enough to let us into their world. Miss Cynthia Robinson and Phylandria Hudson are the people who are in control of mingling the association 's new individuals. “I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment” (1 Corinthians 1:10, ESV). We utilize the casual socialization strategy when acquiring new representatives. When they are currently procuring another competitor, they meet with them together then solicit them an arrangement from inquiries. After they settle their prospects to two people, they meet with the group, and that is their time to become more acquainted with us and get more data at work. We work as a team so when a new hire comes in for two weekends out of the month, we have group building activities. Like cooperating on cases and only becoming more acquainted with their identity and the way, they correspond with us and also, they get an opportunity to become more
I prefer to work closely with patients and build that connection with them.” This answer didn’t really shock me all that much, I think its really common for people to go for pre med and then find/figure out that they wont be able to really establish and connect well with the patients. My next question was simple and asked, “Was it your dream to always become a nurse, and did anyone have an influence on your decision?” Emily explained that she has always wanted to work in the medical field, but didn’t really know which area or career path until college. She also went on to say that both her mother and sister are nurses, but her mother had the most impact because Emily was able to be in the hospital a lot during high school and started volunteering when she was young. Knowing Emily’s background it doesn’t surprise me that she went for nursing, there is clearly a family history of it. Also, with Emily volunteering at a young age she was really exposed to the hospital setting which would help her choose a career. I just got a volunteer position at St. Paul Children’s Hospital which I am very excited for because I will be able to experience the hospital setting and really see why Emily is so excited about nursing. My last question was, “What made you want to work with
As I have a tendency to be quite shy, I often have difficulty with meeting and communicating with new people. I found this was especially evident during my clinical placement as a student paramedic at another university. When dealing with patients, there were often long, slightly awkward silences as continuing a conversation away from clinical questioning was quite difficult for me. Upon looking back at the interview, I’m pleased to see that I displayed quite a number of rapport building techniques throughout my conversation, and this has given me hope that my skills are perhaps improving as I mature.
Certainly, I began with the goal getting of his vital sign and giving him a bed bath. Fortunately I had practice how to take a vital sign and giving a bed bath before my first clinical at the university skill lab and I had developed this confidence before my clinical tour. That day will be mastering the skill which I had just learned in manikins, and applying in real human with huge safety precaution. In between morning my instructor was giving me a brief before I getting to the patients room. From her experience she knew what kind of challenges and a patient behavior can be I face. As I proceeded to my own patient, I hit a roadblock that would give me a flat tire for the rest of the shift.
I was a bit apprehensive about our first day on the cardiac floor. I am confident in the quality of my practice, and eager to increase my skill set and exposure to new experiences, however juggling the many tasks that are demanded from a nurse while practicing on an inpatient floor is overwhelming to me. I have experience working in an emergency department as well as the preoperative and postoperative care units, so the long-term needs of an inpatient tend to make me feel inundated. As I walked into the hospital, I decided to set my preconceived notions about how my day was going to go aside; realizing that as a nurse, you must be flexible and ready to accept whatever the day may throw at you.