Re: [Histonet] Job openings and no candidates
I have been following this and would like to ask a few questions. I am part of a community college electron microscope training program. We teach the fundamentals of both biological and materials EM, both SEM and TEM. Our biological students learn plastic sectioning for LM and EM. They do not learn much paraffin technique, but the ones I have shown have caught on quickly. They have all been exposed to fixation, dehydration, and embedding in plastic. They all know how to work safely in a lab. Most finish with an associates degree in general science, so they all have basic chemistry, biology, etc. They do not have anything like a real histology course. While our materials students seem to find jobs, especially in nearby computer firms like Intel, IBM, Western Digital etc., our bio students have a harder time. Some have asked about histology, I show them the ASCP rules and they get discouraged, thinking they will never find a place to get in that year of OJT. There are few NACCLS programs in our area, and some of the course work in such a program would be redundant for our students. What is the likelihood that some of my students would qualify for OJT in a histology lab, and how can I alert them to the possibilities? Jon Jonathan Krupp Applied Science, Business Technology San Joaquin Delta College 5151 Pacific Ave. Stockton, CA 95207 209-954-5284 jkr...@deltacollege.edu Find us on Facebook @ Electron Microscopy at SJ Delta College ___ Histonet mailing list Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu http://lists.utsouthwestern.edu/mailman/listinfo/histonet
[Histonet] Non-cert. histo classes
Greetings I am a regular reader of this list, but from a peripheral setting. I work in an electron microscopy certificate program. Our students are prepared to do either or both certificates in EM, biological and materials. During their biological training, students are instructed in thin sectioning, specimen prep., etc. I would like to get ideas about how valuable adding more light microscopy specimen prep, staining, and sectioning might be for these students. Would it be good for them to have these skills and knowledge but not a histotech cert.? I thought about doing a full cert. program, but am daunted by the requirements to set one up and I don't want to compete with other better established programs near by. Bottom line is I would like to know if teaching basic histo tech skills, w/o certification, is a viable path. Could students leverage these skills into jobs at non-health care type facilities? Could having these skill help them complete a certificated program if they wanted to take that direction later? Your input will be valuable to both me and my students. Thanks Jon Jonathan Krupp Applied Science, Business Technology San Joaquin Delta College 5151 Pacific Ave. Stockton, CA 95207 209-954-5284 jkr...@deltacollege.edu Find us on Facebook @ Electron Microscopy at SJ Delta College ___ Histonet mailing list Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu http://lists.utsouthwestern.edu/mailman/listinfo/histonet
[Histonet] How to open Reichert 820?
Hi Anyone know how to open the cover of a Reichert 820 microtome? This is the model that has a wheel for the coarse advance on the left side. I am used to the AO Style, pop the latch tip it back. These usually have a crank and a cut out slot on the left. This one uses 4 screws from the bottom to secure the lid and there is no cut out for the coarse advance to slide through. Looks like the wheel has to be removed to remove the cover. Getting the wheel off is where I am stuck. This is an old microtome we have had sitting around, would like to check the guts and clean it up. Jon Jonathan Krupp Applied Science, Business Technology San Joaquin Delta College 5151 Pacific Ave. Stockton, CA 95207 209-954-5284 jkr...@deltacollege.edu Find us on Facebook @ Electron Microscopy at SJ Delta College ___ Histonet mailing list Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu http://lists.utsouthwestern.edu/mailman/listinfo/histonet
[Histonet] Microtome knives
Greetings I need some advice regarding microtome knives. I am not histo tech, I did all my sectioning in a plant research lab, but now I find myself needing to learn more about histo type methods. We have microtomes, AO 820's, and we have a bunch of donated knives. I need advice about whether it would be better to find a knife sharpener and use the microtome knives we have, or check into getting a disposable knife holder. When I was sectioning, we just used a simple razor blade holder. Now I see references to high profile and low profile blades and holders, and I don't know the difference. Anyone willing to help me out? Thanks Jon Jonathan Krupp Delta College 5151 Pacific Ave. Box 212 Stockton, CA 95207 209-954-5284 jkr...@deltacollege.edu Find us on Facebook @ Electron Microscopy at SJ Delta College ___ Histonet mailing list Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu http://lists.utsouthwestern.edu/mailman/listinfo/histonet
Re: [Histonet] (no subject) (Not requiring HT Certification)
On May 24, 2012, at 9:25 AM, joelle weaver wrote: I think that the original post was referring to people with a HSD or GED. I am not sure of the exact reasons considered in discontinuation of OJT route, but I recall some publications discussing the desire to raise the perception and awareness of the profession. The people with bachelors and the science credits needed can choose either the HT or HTL as I understand it, with the one year of verified experience/training. I think there is a route with a associate's and the required science credits available with the verified training for the HT. I believe there are now two routes for each exam if I recall correctly, one being the program graduate route plus experience , and one with education requirements met and training/experience. There is a page on the site that lays this out if anyone wants to clarify/correct my recollection. OK, so I have a question. We train students to do electron microscopy, both specimen prep and instrument operation. They fix and embed (in plastic) tissues and make thick sections (1 um or less for us) and examine them using LM. It is not much of a leap to add paraffin techniques and/or basic staining etc. We have most of the equipment that would be needed already, but I am not ready to go into a full blown HT curriculum. So, the question is, if a student gets an Associates degree that includes the basic science, would it help the student to get the basics of HT before looking for a job? Or could they take the test, get something to show for their work and make them a good job candidate? Our students are skilled and could do the job, but figuring out how to help them and give them the right advice is my problem now. Jon Jonathan Krupp Delta College 5151 Pacific Ave. Box 212 Stockton, CA 95207 209-954-5284 jkr...@deltacollege.edu Find us on Facebook @ Electron Microscopy at SJ Delta College ___ Histonet mailing list Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu http://lists.utsouthwestern.edu/mailman/listinfo/histonet
[Histonet] Prepared STD slides?
Hi I not a histo tech, nor do I play one on TV, so I might not be up to speed on this. A microbiology instructor asked me to see if there is a source of prepared slides of STD's that he could use in class. Maybe you know some place we could check? I have done some WWW searching, but have had a hard time finding prepared slides students could use with a microscope in class. Most everything seems to have gone digital and PowerPoint-ish. Thanks Jon Jonathan Krupp Delta College 5151 Pacific Ave. Box 212 Stockton, CA 95207 209-954-5284 jkr...@deltacollege.edu Find us on Facebook @ Electron Microscopy at SJ Delta College ___ Histonet mailing list Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu http://lists.utsouthwestern.edu/mailman/listinfo/histonet
Re: [Histonet] Re:peggy wenk comments on HT/HTL practical
On Aug 31, 2011, at 9:01 AM, Pam Marcum wrote: I have followed this for a while and was wondering why no one is bringing up the lack of Histology Schools and the small number of graduates they can produce per year as an issue. Online is fine if you have a lab to work in. However; one of the people no longer at this facility simply did his book work and an HT then offered himself as just that. He never cut a section or did a stain yet he passed so it is possible. Many of us are training OJTs again due to the lack of available people and the in our case the starting salary is low. It is said it is because we are not required to complete a BS for an HT only the HTL . It means we are doing as much as we can to train someone in only one lab with the small amount of time an understaffed Histology Laboratory has yet still have the best training for the field. We are not recognized fully as Laboratory Professionals yet so it is not really getting any better than it was years ago. Now we require a 2 year degree for education in science and not much help from the organizations that rule us beyond pay more money. Many of us are not able to go to meetings ( especially NSH ) due to costs to us personally as the hospitals and Universities are not paying for travel and very little for educational help. I may be coming late to this discussion, but I thought I would add my ideas. First, like many of you, I am amazed that an HT can be 'certified' without demonstrating practical ability as part of the process. Maybe if there is some OTJ training and experience that is verified it could work, but I am hearing that that is not a requirement. So, why are the educational opportunities for HT types limited? I can only share my experience here at Delta, a community college in California's central valley. We have lots of students desperate for a job. Many of them might be willing to give HT a try, but its not in the cards for now. I am part of an EM training program, we turn out skilled and competent electron microscopists. Many of the skills the EM students learn could easily be applied to HT. We have all the equipment for fixing, infiltrating, sectioning and staining. All I would need to turn out a few HT each year is the overhead to get the students signed off for their certificate. So why don't I do this? There are several reasons. Most important these days, we, the college, have no money to fund new programs. I have been told I must have a minimum of 20 students in a class to offer it. Getting 20 students into HT classes would be hard here, especially at this time and given the limited opportunities locally for any clinical or OTJ training to round out the curriculum. America Mastertech is located close by, and they have generously offered to help out, but it is impossible to get a program off the ground in the current fiscal situation in California. I would be happy to make some contribution to the training of HT's, but it's not going to happen until a number of things change. Jon Jonathan Krupp Delta College 5151Pacific Ave. Stockton, CA 95207 209-954-5284 jkr...@deltacollege.edu ___ Histonet mailing list Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu http://lists.utsouthwestern.edu/mailman/listinfo/histonet
Re: [Histonet] Re: Is anybody hiring techs without a certification?
On May 9, 2011, at 8:58 AM, Grantham, Andrea L - (algranth) wrote: Pam, I can tell you that NSH is totally aware of this situation and one of our goals is to try to do something about it. These things are not done quickly however but little by little we are making some progress. We have partnered with other healthcare professionals like CLSI, NAACLS, CLMA, Health Professions Network, Assoc. of Pathology Chairs just to name a few (for a better list check out the NSH web site). All this in an effort to make histotechnology and histotechs known in the healthcare community. Programs like the Career Days and the Histotechnology Professionals Day were created for this purpose as well. These things don't happen by themselves either, we all have to take the responsibility of getting the word out. I know that you are doing what you can - I am too, speaking at local schools and service clubs. For HPD I had an article in our local newspaper. We just need more techs willing to do these things. When techs can't travel to an educational venue there are teleconferences, the online learning center ( especially for your OJT's) and CEU's from the Journal just to name some alternatives. We do need more schools but this is difficult. We had a very successful program here at our Community College but (and because of lack of understanding and some political stuff too) they discontinued it last year. This thread is interesting to me for several reasons. I was considering adding a Histology training program here at Delta, and I have run into the same problems as everyone else. First, there is no money here to start new programs. Despite having most of the equipment available and an offer from a local supply house for assistance, our campus is broke and getting broker. No new programs on the horizon, some existing programs are being cut or eliminated. We could probably swing it, except for the instructor costs. Unless someone is willing to teach the classes for free, I don't think we would have the $$ to pay them. Next, we have no place to send students for their internships. Most of the path labs around here are small and we might be able to place, maybe, 3 students a semester. The local folks are very supportive and if 3 students a year would sustain a program here we would go for it. I also lack much in the way of contacts with the local healthcare professionals. Until we found the local vendor, I was lost in getting professionals for the advisory board, evaluation process, and review committees. Our local vendor stepped right up and offered to make contacts with labs and pathologists who could sign on and sign off where needed, but that will still not allow a programs to get started here. Bottom line is that the bean counters now require at least 20 - 25 students per class to cover expenses. Because of the way we are funded, students enrolled are worth so much, it takes at least 20 students to break even. Even if we could enroll 20 students every time the class was offered, where would I send them for internships around here? Our nursing program is in a similar boat. They can fill the classes, they have long waiting lists and had to go to a lottery to select students. But, they are limited by locations for students to get their clinical work. Wishing it were different, Jon Jonathan Krupp Delta College 5151Pacific Ave. Stockton, CA 95207 209-954-5284 jkr...@deltacollege.edu ___ Histonet mailing list Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu http://lists.utsouthwestern.edu/mailman/listinfo/histonet
