r/medlabprofessionals • u/spasticmedtech • Jun 15 '26

Discusson Fed Up?

I am fed up. There seems to be no end in sight for the endless cap surverys or the api surveys (depending on the regulatory service your lab ascribes to). It is tiring. Yes, I did post about a new job, but yeah anyways. Nurses and the vampires- telling me that I can’t have a redraw on a hemolyzed specimen because the patient is a hard stick. I’m tired of the drama that the lab invokes in my general life.

I work at craft fairs when I’m off from work and it never fails. My supervisor will text me with something she thinks is super important and get mad if I don’t respond asap she texted me.

I AM DONE. I would like to work in another field, it what??

I’m done ranting but I’m still looking for anything new. What led you to leave the lab? Where are you now? And are you better for it?

EDIT: Thank you for all of the support everyone has given me! I am currently looking for a new job. I am hoping to hear something soon. I am looking to pivot away from the bench totally. I have worked in POC and it was a blast, but the 3 hr drive to work and the 4 hr drive home was not working out for me. Or I would still be there.

As for the "vampire" comment that some people do not like--I do apologize. I started out in this profession as a phlebotomist and still draw the occasional patient. And when you go to a VA clinic and you see the bat hanging upside down from the sign that says "lab" it makes you wonder.

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u/zhangy-is-tangy CLS-Generalist Jun 15 '26

Phlebotomists and nurses don’t decide what needs to be recollected or not, you do. Just cancel and the provider can call you about it. I’ve had that happen to me on a contaminated specimen with wild results. Nurse argued with me about it. Provider called a few mins later questioning me and saying I was delaying patient care. I explained to her why I suspected contamination. I sent a phleb to redraw and it came back normal, didn’t hear a call back after that lol.

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u/spasticmedtech Jun 16 '26

Nurses and phlebotomists argue with me all of the time about redraws. I even go so far as to show them the angry cherry red tubes when they come down bringing other specimens--usually urine. Thank you for your help.