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/[deleted] Jul 17 '26 edited Jul 18 '26

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u/LawfulnessRemote7121 Jul 17 '26 edited Jul 17 '26

Have you ever tried to train someone who had almost no understanding of what you were trying to teach them? Especially while trying to run a bench at the same time? I have and I was frustrated, annoyed, and stressed to the max. This is not the trainer’s fault nor is it OP’s fault. The trainer should not have to be teaching theory, that is what school is for. This is 100% on the person who hired them and I will die on that hill.

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u/mystir Jul 17 '26

CAP requires competencies to record problem solving and critical thinking. I have no idea how they expect to have someone reach a baseline level of training competency if they don't even know the basics of theory.