Felton, I disagree! The training this tech underwent must obviously have
covered basic histology but you cannot guarantee that a trained student will
find a laboratory that will give him/her the opportunity to develop speed while
not sacrificing quality. Having the training does not warrant that the new tech
will be able to cut a certain number of blocks per hour to satisfy the demands
of an employer's spreadsheet mentality. A good laboratory manager will make it
possible for that "newbie" to have the time at the microtome (or the embedding
station, etc.) to develop the speed that comes with an experienced eye.
Providing that newly-minted tech the time necessary just makes sense to the
employer and the tech. Realizing full well (after 40+ years as an HT) that
this is not a perfect world and that other factors weigh heavily, encouragement
pays off in quality, quantity and loyalty. Perhaps what Alpha Histotech needs
to do (if the lab manager is an open-minded, logical individual) is to discuss
this issue with that manager and allow the manager to understand that this new
tech has the enthusiasm but needs "time in grade". This is too critical an
issue to begin to lose techs (as few as there are coming into the field) by an
employer's requirement to produce quantity without the absolute necessity of
quality.
Regards to all!
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