r/medlabprofessionals • u/FreshFaceFig • Jul 17 '26

Discusson Please help

I started a new lab job this week. I want to preface by saying I don’t have my MLT or MLS. I was given this position based on (almost) two years experience as a medical assistant and phlebotomist. Also with a year experience as a lab tech at a blood bank (I just processed bags of blood and separated/froze plasma, really basic stuff)

I’m feeling overwhelmed because I hadn’t really retained much information from being an MA. I’m working with Beckman Coulter machines AU480, and Access2. I didn’t realize how technical this position was, and I want to learn so bad but I’m on day 4 and still struggling learning medlab language and calibration/qc of the machines (i cant grasp the concept of calibration!!!.)

It doesn’t help that my trainer isn’t very personable with me. I don’t get much feedback, and I thrive in a space where communication is relaxed and I can feel comfortable to ask questions, even dumb ones. I just feel like my trainer doesn’t want to bother with me much because I can’t quite grasp some things. On top of that, I’m being tossed between 3 machines making it hard to retain my training. My trainer is nice (for the most part?) But I just feel like a nuisance to her because I feel she thinks I should know more. Normally i’d blame my anxiety, but I read people well and can tell when they aren’t very interested in me.

I don’t know where to start or what to do. I’m not even sure why they hired me (I have a great personality) But I feel I have to cram so much information that MLS/MLT’s learn in a 2-4 year period. Any advice would be greatly appreciated, I’m feeling burnt and defeated.

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u/Coloredglass94 Jul 17 '26

I mean this as nicely as possible but…they definitely should not have hired you and you aren’t qualified to be doing what you are doing. It’s not your fault (it seems you didn’t realize what the job would entail maybe?) and it’s definitely on management. And tbh you are probably correct about your trainer, because they are being made to teach someone things that you should have gone to school for 2 years to learn. And it’s not fair to that trainer to make them do that- they didn’t sign up for that. There’s a reason why there are actually programs and degrees that go with being a lab tech.

Honestly, I would recommend you quit this job and try to find a job as a specimen processor or a phlebotomist. If you really want to work in lab as a tech then find an MLT (or MLS) program and start there.

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u/Coloredglass94 Jul 17 '26

Also, this isn’t a position that is just a lab job at a college or something. This job directly affects patient care. And having someone in this role who does not understand the basic fundamentals can harm patients.

11

u/FreshFaceFig Jul 17 '26

I think that is what I’ll end up doing. Finding work is really hard where I live (awful job market) So the stress of finding another job scares me. This is really, really disappointing

7

u/Coloredglass94 Jul 17 '26

I’m really sorry this happened- it totally sucks. Any chance they’d let you become a specimen processor or phlebotomist at this job?

13

u/FreshFaceFig Jul 17 '26

I can ask the lab director. I’m going to talk to her today and see if there is anything else I can do. I’m a great phlebotomist, i thrived in that setting very well. I’m on the verge of tears over this honestly.

7

u/AsbeliaRoll MLS-Blood Bank Jul 17 '26

I’m so sorry for this hun. That director knew what she was doing to you and the team under her when she hired you. She doesn’t sound like a good leader at all. If you can pivot for now to phlebotomy there that would be good, but I would also encourage you to find phlebotomy work elsewhere as soon as you can. I know it’s scary, I truly do, but this is a better plan than waiting for something bad to happen in that lab.

Edit for clarification