What do you enjoy most about your lab assistant career?

What do you enjoy most about being a lab assistant? What do you dislike the most? Is it challenging? Are there many opportunities to learn and advance?

What keeps you at your job?

Host said: What do you enjoy most about being a lab assistant? What do you dislike the most? Is it challenging? Are there many opportunities to learn and advance?

What keeps you at your job?

I like knowing that I'm doing something important. Important in keeping the public safe. that dedication and honesty plays a big part.
I had lots of opportunities to learn from and help me get where I am today. and yes, sometimes i think the most challenging part, is having to deal with to many cheifs in management.
what keeps me here is i like what i'm doing in helping the public. i know i'm doing something important. I know i'm doing a great job. I'm not afraid to admit when I have madea mistake.

Host said: What do you enjoy most about being a lab assistant? What do you dislike the most? Is it challenging? Are there many opportunities to learn and advance?

What keeps you at your job?

make sure you feel comforable in the lab enviroment. You'll know when you found the right lab to work in .good work. and always want to learn more.

In reference to clinical lab assisting, the field has a variety of duties depending on where you work. Lab assisting may involve processing specimens by preparing them for their respective departments (microbiology, chemistry, cytogenetics..etc.) This may include plating for microbiology, aliquoting (separating blood using a pipet), accessioning(ordering lab test with patient's requistions), operating lab equipment such as a centrifuge, checking temperatures where specimens are stored...just to describe a few. In essence, it's the quality control of specimens. You will likely work with Medical Technologist/CLS and MLTs to further process the specimen. Your job may entail Phlebotomy (drawing blood from patients) as well. It's an interesting field to get into if you are detail oriented and don't mind handling blood, stool, urine etc. It's a good pathway to start with if you're looking into becoming an a CLS/Medical Technologist. There are many opportunities for learning. Just be aware of the safety precautions because you'll be dealing with biohazardous material.

Hope this gives you a good idea...

Oh..I didn't answer your question. Do I like my job? It's great because like other jobs in the medical field, it has a high level of importance. If I don't maintain accuracy, it may cause a problem in a patient's blood results resulting in misdiagnosis. My job in particular, doesn't involve patient interaction so the only drawback is that the only people I'm dealing with with are my co-workers and specimens alllllllllllll dayyyyyyyyyyy longgggggggggggggggggg. I don't recommend it if you need on going patient interaction. If you're an introvert, and don't like dealing with the public, this is the ideal job for you.

How hard is it to find a job as a lab assistant? Are there certain qualifications that hospitals/labs look for? Currently I'm pursing a bachelors degree in med. tech. and think it would be great work experience.

any other important drawbacks of being a medical lab assistant ?