SALARY INCREASE: A call of every medtech

We medical laboratory people oftentimes consider as the silent heroes in the hospital and true to that word, we always keep our mouths shut as we work overtime running complex tests for accurate results, fighting stress, facing the hazards....

but despite of our hardwork, we're sometimes given less respect . :-(

Yes, you heard it right. Medical technologists in the Philippines are paid less than any other medical practitioners in the country. You may think, a medtech wearing a lab gown in a microscope looks like a high-paid professional but don't be fooled. It is sad to think, we studied hard and pay expensive tuition for our education but in the end, we are paid less as compared to others.

Lucky for those medtechs working in a government hospital or under Department of Health because they'll receive lots of incentives but how about those medtechs working in free-standing laboratories and hospitals? As you know, our pay isn't that much. I would like to call it a 'salary for single individuals'.  That's why most Filipino medtechs consider working abroad for a better pay and that's the reason why our country is facing shortage of highly-skilled medical technologists.

I'm writing this not just for myself but in behalf of our colleagues in the profession. Yeah, we are frequently ranting for this! We are calling the attention of the concerned public for salary increase for us medtechs. We are dedicated to help patients also and we hope to get the same from our salary too. Give the profession some dignity! 

Cindy's friends: the microscope

Meet one my friends, the microscope. One thing that I like hanging out with the microscope is that (unlike other people who are so mean and who pretend like they care when they pray the worst behind you) the microscopes are REAL. The microscope never lies. It will magnify things for you and will let you see its true form beyond the naked eye. How I wish I could use the microscope to identify people who are bitch and who's not coz microscopes stay where it is and it adjust for you. It's really hard for me to trust people these days.. whew! #medtechhugot

How important are the microtainer™ tubes?

Each hospital labs and free-standing laboratories must have EDTA and plain microtainers™in their phlebo area.

Why is this so? Because with the baby's smaller veins, would you be able to fill 2cc of baby's blood to a 2cc EDTA tube with another 3cc for its chem test? Hmm..maybe! But it really depends on the baby's vein (if it could withstand the syringe method of draw). I know some of us depend on dripping method where you squeeze the baby's hand as the blood drips from the needle. I know the feeling that you have to get the right amount of blood before it starts to clot. It might even add trouble as you deliver it to the lab and it happened it was hemolyzed or platelets clumped. Tsk2. That's why microtainers™ are a big help for us to an easier blood collection.

REMEMBER: Don't compromise QUALITY over QUANTITY.

Microtainers™ are small blood collection containers designed for collecting a minimum volume enough for running lab tests. Be it thru venipuncture or capillary puncture. Additives such as the EDTA are added in proportion to the blood where you just need to fill a minimum of 0.5cc up to 1 cc. Even plain microtainer tubes can yield up to 300ul of serum enough to run electrolytes or bilirubin.

Microtainers™ can even compensate short draws from your venipuncture. A microtainer™ for CBC can save up more blood to be used for chemistry or other tests requiring serum.

But then, just a friendly reminder... conserve your microtainers™:-) Use it when necessary. It's more expensive than the usual ones. This may give a burden to the ones assigned in hematology because these tubes should be fed manually. So, if you think the blood is adequate, use the regular tubes.

The more microtainers™ you submit (even those who are from adult patients) would reflect your phlebotomy skill.

Phlebotomy 101: How to extract difficult veins? Must-see tips!

I think none of us phlebotomists would want to stick a needle twice. If only the patient knows how we tried our best to get his blood once. BUT...We can't avoid having patients with difficult veins and because of this, we might fail to extract some of them. As a result, patients will get angry and all we have to do is to sigh and act like we never heard them.

But then, we're just humans. We're not perfect thus we make mistakes. Letting go might be hard but just like in getting blood where you think it's hopeless and it's hurting, maybe it's best to just pull it out. Well, if you want to know how I deal my patients in situations like these, then this might be of help for you. I tell you a secret: All extractions starts with setting the patient in a good mood before we stick the needle in them.

TRICKS TO ASSURE THE PATIENT...

I think one of the things to keep a patient comfortable is to show to them that you really know what you're doing, Make an impression that you can be trusted. Sometimes, a patient might ask: Are you a sharpshooter? Are you the senior phleb? To gain trust, you must be confident and set a positive attitude that you can do it. Always act like you're an expert. VEIN ASSESSMENT IS VERY IMPORTANT. Do not haste and take your time in finding the right vein. Just with that manner, the patient will understand that you are really taking time and didn't take him for granted. If must, communicate to them but not to the extent of being talkative (I usually ask them if their lab tests are on a monthly or weekly basis and later they do the talking).

WHAT IF IT REALLY FAILED...

Based on my experience, patients tend to understand why the extraction went wrong when you explain to them what happened and also the mood that you set for them can be helpful. So, the next thing you gonna do is to convince him/her to extract again.

If the patient is already angry, it is best to keep calm. Don't contest the patient's high temper. Deal them in a professional way. Don't argue. Why not try these options for yourself?

Option 1: See if there's a basilic or cephalic vein in that arm.

- Although median cubital vein is ideal but sometimes you need to consider other veins as well such as the cephalic vein in which obese ones have more palpable cephalic vein.

Option 2: Find vein in the other arm.
- Go try palpate the patient's other arm. You may find a vein there. As what I've said, take your time. Mostly, palpable veins are located in the dominant arm so it is helpful to ask if the patient is right-handed or left-handed.

Option 3: Look for a vein in the dorsal hand of the patient

- If there's no hope to find a vein in both arms, we can get blood in patient's dorsal hand if they allow it. Sometimes, I'm surprised how some people have palpable veins on their hands while they're having deep and thin veins in the arm.

Option 4: Use small-gauge needle or a butterfly

- An assessment of what to use when extracting blood can help you achieve a one-stick only goal. Take note that thin veins can't stand bigger gauge needles as the vein will collapse upon insertion. Butterfly method is advisable if the veins are thin and superficial or if you're going to extract in the dorsal hand.

Option 5: Ask help from a senior phlebotomist
- Only and only if the patient insisted..but if not, why not try your best? It's not always your senior will come and rescue you. Show to your senior that you made an effort and at least you've tried. If it still failed for the second time, allow the senior to do the job.

PLEASE STAY TUNED FOR AN UPDATE OF MY PHLEBO TIPS

Appreciate the work you have

First of all, it would be a hypocrite for me to say 'I'm contented' when I want something more but lately I'm sick and tired of listening complaints from people about their work. True, private hospitals pay you less compared to government hospitals which I think a double of our salary, but what about that? Some wondered what if they work in a government hospital or 'why the facilities in the other hospital are far beyond compared to ours? Too many comparisons and what-ifs. If I could just tell them to keep it to themselves or ask 'why you're still here when you don't like it' then these would sort things out.

People keep complaining about work but do nothing about it. Tsk2. I understand everybody wants something for the better but you could be at least thankful of what you have for a while. To have landed a good job and earn a good salary, you may settle for it for some time while you work for your next big step. In short LESS TALK, MORE WORK.  

That's the problem to some of us. We tend to ignore what is laid in us until we realize its worth when it's gone. Think about the people still looking for a job, I'm sure they'll take your place no matter how little the salary (for a start),

Wherever the place you're working now serve it as a stepping stone and a training ground. Learn from your experiences. God has a reason why you're there and had some plans for you in the future. Work for it and He will help you. Put passion in your work and never tag everything with a price. 

A CRY OF EVERY PHLEBOTOMISTS

If you think that being a phlebotomist or a warding medtech is easy, think twice.

"Here comes the NURSE...", as people sometimes call us when getting a blood sample, but at the back of our minds, how we would love to tell them that we are medtechs. But that's how they see us and to make things easy, we remain silent.

At just a simple look, a patient might ask: "Are you an intern?" but then we just ignore the insult and laughed at the thought to stay confident and prove to them they're wrong.  As the Coldplay song goes, 'Nobody said it was easy'. Sometimes, they have no idea how nervous for us just palpating the small veins of a cancer patient, obese patients and even babies when pressured to do it JUST ONCE (either thru syringe, vacutainer or butterfly method).

Well, the issue in here is...they just don't have the idea how it feels like to be degraded by someone emotionally, professionally and even physically just because you failed to extract. Here's also the thing, the SOs or the significant others cursing us for being so incompetent and pointing their fingers like we owe them a big deal. Even calling the attention of other people just to humiliate or compare us to other phlebotomists as well. REALLY! These situations do happen just to compensate that one mistake we did! They were not in the position when some of us phlebotomists want to disappear in an instant just because of shame, and the dignity that was taken out from us.

Yes, we encounter these scenarios everyday not mentioning the health hazards we face! They don't have an idea how frustrated we are trying to get blood as we swim the needle through and through. Even a simple 'Tsk, Tsk' is an alarm that we need to pull it out because it's hopeless and the patient complained already. Worse, we get discouraged that at the end of the struggle, the blood is still hemolyzed, clotted and needs re-extraction.

Yes, our job is to inflict pain to patients by using needles. Yes, we do accept our mistakes (even the hematoma on your skin, we're really sorry) because humans as we are, we fail. We're just asking you to give some understanding and a little of your respect to be considerate enough. We're also health professionals who took our time and dedication of studying and even passing the licensure exam. If we fail, I think there's a formal or a right way that you could vent your frustration, not to shout or curse us in public. Take note, this job is just a portion of being a medical technologist. Don't judge us as a whole.

But in the lighter note, we commend those people who regard us phlebotomists as vital in the laboratory. We really do appreciate those people who reply in our sincere 'Thank you' after every extraction.

This is a shoutout for those people who don't know us yet.  You just don't know...AS PHLEBOTOMISTS, WE CARE. To all the phlebotomists and warding medtechs out there, don't just say 'I'm just a phlebotomist.', Be proud of it because the patient's laboratory results depend on you. Blood collection is where it all started. We are the key players of the patient's diagnosis.

LONG LIVE TO THE SO-CALLED BLOOD SUCKERS IN THE LABORATORY!

Things learned in Chemistry section

the struggle is real if you'll be assigned in chem.. why? 

Having MINDRAY BS300 as our machine, here are the things that we should look at:

• should avoid probe collisions! I always check the reagents open before running tests 
• controls should reach the target value or at least within range..
• ensuring there is sufficient reagent available 
• pipetting stuffs like preparing Creatinine, Total and Direct Bilirubin and SGOT
• correlating results 
• Rerunning to assure abnormal or panic values 
• Diluting samples if there's any linearity
• checking the distilled water and its waste tank regularly
• Calibrate when using new reagents (only when it has a different LOT NUMBER) 

Hoping that the company would replace a COBAS E11 over this. :-)

Catching time before the board exam

Realizing that time runs so fast, all you have to do is to get things done as soon as you can.

Whew! September is fast approaching and you know what that means, the Medical Technology Licensure Examination is getting nearer! 

I'm still not convinced to myself if I'm ready enough to take the boards but for the sake of my parents, I have to and will try to pass by God's will. 

Everyday I make a schedule as what topics to study but the ending is always I can't get all the subjects for that day. One thing that I have to fight each night is the sleep which makes me hate myself I end up sleeping without studying a thing.

Even though most of my classmates are halfway done, I still need to do it my way. I'll just focus to what's basics then go deeper to each subjects later. 

Well, it's three hours past and I haven't studied anything. I know it's not too late, I'll just mind my own pace I guess. I can do  this! To top the board exam! 

medtech level up...INTERNSHIP! (my expectations)

at last, so happy with my scrub suit on!

Wow! This is it! The blue internship uniform! I couldn't believe that I'm wearing it now and will be wearing for the next six months to come. Right in front of the mirror, I see myself differently. It's like an updated version of me wearing that dignified scrub suit. Though I look so professional on that blue outfit but I just couldn't hide my worries and made-up 'what-ifs' to would happen for this span of time.

Yes, I know this will be the toughest one. Being a medtech intern isn't something to brag on because you're thinking you're near the finishing line but it's not yet. We need to work hard and if must, two times the effort that we do to our studies to pass not only internship but a subject called Seminar 2 as well. Now here's the deal, if I was able to escape from the evil clutches of seminar 1 then our clinical instructor reiterated that this time she will be hard on us to see who are those worthy to join the commencement exercises this coming May. Whoa! If most of us think this semester will be all about duty to different medical center, rotating to every department and catching each shifts then that's not it. I have to study still or I'll end up crying again seeing failing grades because of quizzes and practical exams.

my driving force why I'm trying my best to
every step of the way

During the two-week module, honestly I found it so difficult to do the laboratory procedures with order and precision. Truth to this is because when we were still third years, our performance in the laboratory is not evaluated individually. It is a group work all throughout semesters and we just have to observe the person actually doing the test. Well, I have to say that I'm not also that kind of person who easily gets the things to be done after being told. If possible, I have to clarify it first just to make sure things will run smoothly. At times, I'm not with my self letting fear overcome me that took our clinical coordinators to notice it. Waah! Presence of mind please. Most of the day, I feel so sorry with my partner he got himself a clumsy pair like me. (So sorry, please forgive me)

What I have to work more now is phlebotomy and the blood smear preparation coz these two are the essentials in the clinical laboratory and still I couldn't get it right. My first center is in the Sacred Heart Hospital and I hope I would be having a good start on my internship experience. Although they say the center is not so busy but I'm looking forward as to the help that I could render to the patients and for me to harness my skills in the clinical laboratory.

I know there might be extensions along the way but I hope this will not stop me from finishing all the rotations till May. I hope that I could get along with my groupmates as well. What I only ask are their understanding and their willingness to help their co-interns because that alone would lift up our mood and somehow that would build the trust the RMTs would be giving us.  I hope I'll learn more and more as I hop in to one center to the next.

I guess this will end my expectations. I have lots of them on my mind but I give it up to the heavens to be with me all the time. More internship diaries to come!

Feeling excited,

Cindy♥♥♥

feeling disappointed and nervous this semis..

Problems..Problems..Problems.. I'm sooo tired..physically, mentally, emotionally.. Why the world seems so selfish to me? Why?  

I've done everything but it seems all that I've sacrificed and worked hard didn't turn out so well. I don't know what to do especially when I realized that my status this semi-finals isn't great. Why? I failed the blood banking exam! Huhuhu..

Whenever I think I'm gonna fail, I can't breathe. The thought of what would my classmates think of me and how would I break the news to my parents horrifies me. Am I that dumb enough I was not able to pass it this term? (sigh)

PROBLEMS

• While I'm struggling to make our research done this month (because no one opted to help me) I think I can't have it too because we have to wait for a month for the needed chemical to arrive. 

• I keep on telling myself to think positive but the negatives keep coming to me. I did well in Pre-lims and Mid-terms in my Seminar 1 when suddenly I was shocked on how I failed some quizzes and exams during the semis. 

• I was not able to answer the first quiz in Blood banking. (but I studied hard, it's just that time was not just enough)

What an inconsistent student I am! I can't keep my grades high. I'm so stressed now and I don't know if I will be an intern for the next semester or not. Why things turned so complicated right now? 

Just like from the excerpt of the song 'I will sing' by Don Moen....

"Though I haven't lost my faith I must confess right now that it's hard for me to pray"

I still believe that good things will come at the end but on the other side, how will accept it (with open arms) if in case I'll fail? huhu.. I hope God will shower me the gift of wisdom to grasp things easily with full understanding.

Finals will be over in a week or two. Can I make it? Only me and my fate can answer it. I will cling to the LORD no matter what! If I will fail, then maybe there's a reason why.....

SURVIVING MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY: How hard is MedTech to fail a many?

I and my bff Gerardine♥

MANY ARE CALLED BUT FEW ARE CHOSEN

As I was walking along the wide and well-lit corridors of the Medical Technology building, there I saw a flight of interns. They were wearing the very enticing blue scrub suits already, the color that shows they were now interns. As I watched them passing by, as a neophyte, a sudden thought hit upon me, ‘Wow, I wish I could be like them someday.’ but then a follow-up question burst in a split second, ‘but HOW am I going to be like them anyway?’ 

Well, we can not deny the fact that medical professions are one of the in-demand jobs of today. And because of that, schools that are offering medical courses are opening its doors wider to the increasing number of students who want to enter the field of medicine especially in medical technology. 

It is sad to reminisce that we were once a big happy family in our block. I’ve got my circle of friends then, had enjoyed studying as well as working with them no matter how hard the circumstances were. I thought we will be just the same brood of med tech aspirants who will continue for the next journey when suddenly I have seen changes after every semester. The changes of not just having new load of subjects to study but the considerable amount of students who yielded for their ambitions. I was left with curiosity when I found out that one of my friends could no longer proceed to the course for a reason yet unknown. 

As I’ve noticed, as the year level gets higher, the number of students tends to decline. Let’s say last year, 100 students were enrolled for the second semester then it happened that by the end of the said semester, only 90 students survived, feeling persistent that they should keep the fire burning while others took rest. 

There are a handful of reasons why some who took the course relinquished. First, it is because of the financial security. Tuition fee increases yearly due to the requirement of having laboratory subjects and books as reference materials. Second is the lack of interest, some were just forced by their parents to take up the course without asking their thoughts about it. It is also when other carefree students prioritize things other than their studies. The major problem of having ‘terror teachers’ and ‘nosebleeding subjects’ is a nerve wrecking to all of us because it gives us heaps of chapters to study. Notions that third and fourth years are the crucial stages for the lives of each med tech students are true for this is the time we are getting closer to the reality and must be hands-on to the profession. What made medical technology a course to be pondered upon is that it requires a lot of familiarization and a keen sense of understanding to things within a scope. Take note, we juggle 9 major subjects! Time to time, we can’t expect reposing ourselves but keep on spending sleepless nights and think endless possibilities of failing because the pressure keeps up. A single failure might pulls us down and it might lead to resignation, letting fate take its course after failing an exam. 

studying the structure of the heart..
it is not easy during moving
exams

These observations are appalling knowing that some were discouraged, crestfallen, and doubtful if they are still on the right track. 

Then here goes my realization about this dilemma: Medical Technology is not as easy as ‘peanuts’. It needs hardwork and not to be taken for granted. Hence, we must explore beyond its depths and be more passionate about it. That is why I was able to relate this with the bible verse that says 'Many are called but few are chosen' because we see good students right at the beginning, feeling so sure of themselves but as time passes by, only those ‘survivor’ Med Tech students came out to be the victors of the bloodshed. We want to be registered Med Techs someday but the problem is, are we competent enough to surpass the test of time? 

This course challenges us to be more responsible and be persistent to our focus no matter what happens. Getting involved with this field of study requires much of our interest, skill, and diligence to heed what is being asked on time because it involves diagnosis to various illnesses found in the human body. I’m writing this not to dissuade people but I want to plant an infinitesimal yet a germinating seed to the minds of each Med Tech students to fight against the odds. We must fuel our minds with positivity amidst of the trials hindering our way and should have an incessant faith to the Providence that by the end of this strife, we will find ourselves grasping the sweet scent of our diploma and the opportunity of serving the masses using our high caliber skills our dedicated teachers instilled into us. I hope that we’ll be able to keep on making footprints on our way to the zenith of success because together, by believing in ourselves and to God’s will, we can do it. Believe and you'll be RMT someday...Kudos to everyone!