I've been fortunate to spend more of my career in places where the Doc would come in singing because he loved our quality of work and had helped to make his job a song instead of complaining about the one slide that had a wrinkle.  I wish more of us were in places where our work--which we take pride in and spend more time at than we do with our families--was audibly appreciated daily.  Please trust that these places still exist---I talk with my old co-workers who still create a place of 'second family' in the lab and I work with them every day as an agent.
   
  It IS about the patient.  When I get stuck in the mire (we all do), I volunteer on the cancer floor at the hospital where I work.  To give a backrub to the patient who's bone marrow I cut the day before, or walk the hall with the lymphoma patient we worked up last week who will qualify for the new therapy because of our work...of course they don't know that I am the one who took part in their diagnosis, but it sure keeps my focus on the patient, not the people who focus on the negative....the ones who can't see the forest for the trees.
   
  Just my two cents. 
   
  Cheryl

Mildred Fail  wrote:
  Hi Peggy,
I used to love my job, I would be excited about coming to work. Looking at a well cut well stained slide was like looking at a fine painting. It didn't matter whether I had worked on the slide or not. I liked the beauty of it. Wonderful colors. Working out a problematic antibody gave me a sense of accomplishment and pride. I loved reading and learning more about the stains going back in time to learn how it was done before dyes were so readily available. Though I am fortunate that most of the pathologists focus on the forward progress much more emphasis is placed by others on the negative. One of my techs says it is a thankless job. Seldom does anyone walk in to say how good a stain looks and most of our stains are quite good, picture perfect. But good stains are expected so therefore not always appreciated. You have to have a real passion for histology to ignore all the negative, to keep on trying to perfect your craft, to keep on learning. it is the passion for histology that
 allows you to see a problematic stain as a challenge. Once your focus is off the slides, the patient , the stains, you loose your footing and the job is no longer exciting. 

Rena Fail

>>> "Peggy Brask" 
02/21/06 08:28AM >>>
I am a second semester student at Argosy University in the HT program. I
was wondering what the pros and cons are in the Histonet world. I have been
in the service industry in one form or another for the last 30 years. This
is a total diversion from my past life and I would like to know what you
love about your job and what you hate about your job. If anyone would like
to give me some input, I would greatly appreciate it.

Thanks, Peggy

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