Medicine laboratory - Laboratory pet peeves...

Author

Laboratory pet peeves...

Katra

2005-04-29, 8:57 am

This list is a bit slow.
How about some light hearted conversation? :-)

My personal pet peeves:

Co-workers who wear mascarra and get it all over the microscope occulars.

Drippy urine cups I have to clean off before doing analysis when they
come down from the nursing units. Yeah, I know we wear gloves to handle
them but it's still annoying!

Stool containers with snap lids. The gas produced by some stools tends
to pop them off!

Doctors who order stat crossmatches in the middle of surgery because
they forgot to order the blood pre-op.

Anyone else??? :-)
--
K.

Sprout the MungBean to reply

"I don't like to commit myself about heaven and hell‹you
see, I have friends in both places." --Mark Twain

Don

2005-04-29, 5:52 pm

"Katra" <KatraMungBean@Centurytel.net> wrote in message
news:KatraMungBean-DD72AF.23450528042005@corp.supernews.com...
> This list is a bit slow.
> How about some light hearted conversation? :-)
>
> My personal pet peeves:
>
> Co-workers who wear mascarra and get it all over the microscope occulars.
>
> Drippy urine cups I have to clean off before doing analysis when they
> come down from the nursing units. Yeah, I know we wear gloves to handle
> them but it's still annoying!
>

How about urines in a biohazard transport bag that have an empty cup
floating in them?...Oh yeah, an a lid in there somewhere too...

Fellow techs who think they are "sooooo helpful" running around here and
there, getting in your way and leaving a trail of semi-processed specimens.
Don't these "team players" realize the energy they expend when it's
un-necessary?

D

JEDilworth

2005-04-29, 10:56 pm

Everything that's been mentioned so far plus:

1. Rude nurses - I had one that just DID NOT want to talk to me last
night regarding a specimen that I had to cancel that was sent from the
ER before his floor arrival (a foley tip - which is not culturable -
another pet peeve). My team leader ended up emailing HER manager to get
back.....who said there is no justice?

2. Rude doctors - ones who pull rank and just won't listen to you

3. Lazy people on another shift who you end up having to clean up after
in some way (something was not subbed out, ID'd correctly, left for you
when they could have done it, etc. etc.)

4. Specimens from outpatients that either have no name on the specimen
and/or no orders on the requisition (which are usually received after 9
p.m. on a Friday so the problems can't be cleaned up until Monday)

5. Unlabelled specimens of any kind - especially SPINAL FLUIDS (I've
seen this numerous times. You'd think if they went to this much trouble
with a patient they'd at least label a CSF). A subheading of this would
be straight catheter specimens that have almost leaked out into the bag
because they couldn't BOTHER to screw the lid on after putting the
patient through a catheterization (especially a little bitty baby).
Sheesh!

6. Specimens and requisitons whose names don't match, and the nurses
just want you to tube the specimens back to them so they can "fix" it.
We cannot do that and require that a form be filled out by their nurse
manager and they haul their butts across the street to relabel the
specimen if it's one that's not easily collected again (tissue, CSF,
fluids). They don't like that a whole lot.

7. Rock hard fecal specimens labelled with a diagnosis of "diarrhea."
Who is kidding who here?

8. Specimens with <0.5 ml (serum, fluid of any kind) with about ten
tests ordered on them for multiple departments (including complicated
send out testing with copious specimen requirements) and they can't
understand why you have to QNS some of them.

9. Complicated clerical/ordering/specimen problems left over from
another shift without any kind of note being left, everyone from that
shift has left for the day, and the nurse calls down and doesn't want to
go through the whole story again because she already was dealing with
someone who is not there any more....so you have to try to reconstruct
everything while the phone's ringing off the hook, STATs are coming in,
blood cultures are turning positive, and that unlabelled CSF just
arrived.....

10. Lab weeks that feature all kind of activities for first shift,
including games, potlucks, etc. and the other shifts are just completely
ignored. I always wonder how in the heck all these first shift people
have time for all these activities....this year was particularly
blatant.

Well, there are ten more - any commentary?

Judy Dilworth, M.T. (ASCP)
Microbiology

"You should have known one does not use a platinum loop for shoveling
coal." - Dr. Max Gottlieb in the novel "Arrowsmith"

"Katra" <KatraMungBean@Centurytel.net> wrote in message
news:KatraMungBean-DD72AF.23450528042005@corp.supernews.com...
> This list is a bit slow.
> How about some light hearted conversation? :-)

Katra

2005-04-30, 8:53 am

In article <9Wuce.57$lZ.17@trnddc04>, "Don" <dpagates@verizon.net>
wrote:

> "Katra" <KatraMungBean@Centurytel.net> wrote in message
> news:KatraMungBean-DD72AF.23450528042005@corp.supernews.com...
>
> How about urines in a biohazard transport bag that have an empty cup
> floating in them?...Oh yeah, an a lid in there somewhere too...

<lol> Rare, but it happens!

>
> Fellow techs who think they are "sooooo helpful" running around here and
> there, getting in your way and leaving a trail of semi-processed specimens.
> Don't these "team players" realize the energy they expend when it's
> un-necessary?

<sigh> No organization......

>
>
>
> D
>
>
--
K.

Sprout the MungBean to reply

"I don't like to commit myself about heaven and hell‹you
see, I have friends in both places." --Mark Twain

Katra

2005-04-30, 8:53 am

In article <eu-dnc7qAvM7Ze_fRVn-sA@buckeye-express.com>,
"JEDilworth" <bactitech@nospamhortonsbay.com> wrote:

> Everything that's been mentioned so far plus:
>
> 1. Rude nurses - I had one that just DID NOT want to talk to me last
> night regarding a specimen that I had to cancel that was sent from the
> ER before his floor arrival (a foley tip - which is not culturable -
> another pet peeve). My team leader ended up emailing HER manager to get
> back.....who said there is no justice?

Indeed... ;-)
House supervisor for the night is often helpful.

>
> 2. Rude doctors - ones who pull rank and just won't listen to you

I refer those to the lab manager!

>
> 3. Lazy people on another shift who you end up having to clean up after
> in some way (something was not subbed out, ID'd correctly, left for you
> when they could have done it, etc. etc.)

<sigh> I work evenings. I don't mind work being left for me, but PLEASE
leave me a clean, restocked and organized bench!
I hate cleaning up other people's messes, especially if there are
completed samples laying about making me wonder if they still need
processing.

Lab slobs. :-P

>
> 4. Specimens from outpatients that either have no name on the specimen
> and/or no orders on the requisition (which are usually received after 9
> p.m. on a Friday so the problems can't be cleaned up until Monday)

Oh yeah!
Especially doctors that bring you a sample from their office with
insufficient patient information to get them properly registered!
And since it's "the Doctor", he expects you to do it anyway...
I try to at least get a phone number from him and a date of birth, and
pray the patient is in the database.

Otherwise, yeah, it waits 'till Monday!
And I leave complete documentation as possible.

>
> 5. Unlabelled specimens of any kind - especially SPINAL FLUIDS (I've
> seen this numerous times. You'd think if they went to this much trouble
> with a patient they'd at least label a CSF). A subheading of this would
> be straight catheter specimens that have almost leaked out into the bag
> because they couldn't BOTHER to screw the lid on after putting the
> patient through a catheterization (especially a little bitty baby).
> Sheesh!

Or worse...

Mis-labelled ones.

With orders. :-(

That don't get discovered until hours later when the testing is done and
charted.

>
> 6. Specimens and requisitons whose names don't match, and the nurses
> just want you to tube the specimens back to them so they can "fix" it.
> We cannot do that and require that a form be filled out by their nurse
> manager and they haul their butts across the street to relabel the
> specimen if it's one that's not easily collected again (tissue, CSF,
> fluids). They don't like that a whole lot.

Heh. I don't think so either. ;-)
They have to come to the lab to fix those errors.

And we don't have a tube system. Not yet.

>
> 7. Rock hard fecal specimens labelled with a diagnosis of "diarrhea."
> Who is kidding who here?

And they order the "works" on them too!
How the H*** am I supposed to do a C. difficile on a rock hard stool???
Bad enough trying to process an O&P on those!

>
> 8. Specimens with <0.5 ml (serum, fluid of any kind) with about ten
> tests ordered on them for multiple departments (including complicated
> send out testing with copious specimen requirements) and they can't
> understand why you have to QNS some of them.

Been there.
I generally call the Dr. myself.

>
> 9. Complicated clerical/ordering/specimen problems left over from
> another shift without any kind of note being left, everyone from that
> shift has left for the day, and the nurse calls down and doesn't want to
> go through the whole story again because she already was dealing with
> someone who is not there any more....so you have to try to reconstruct
> everything while the phone's ringing off the hook, STATs are coming in,
> blood cultures are turning positive, and that unlabelled CSF just
> arrived.....

Ah....... Talk about a stress test!
I don't hesitate to call people at home if the problem is complicated
enough!

>
> 10. Lab weeks that feature all kind of activities for first shift,
> including games, potlucks, etc. and the other shifts are just completely
> ignored. I always wonder how in the heck all these first shift people
> have time for all these activities....this year was particularly
> blatant.

And a day shift that gets in 10 pizzas as a sales rep gifty,
and eats them ALL, even taking some leftovers home with them!

Oink!

Lab week is, what, this week I think?
None of our shifts is celebrating it.
The hospital has a brunch for nurses week etc., but they always ignore
lab week. :-(

Makes us feel like a necessary evil or something.......

>
> Well, there are ten more - any commentary?
>
> Judy Dilworth, M.T. (ASCP)
> Microbiology

Kat M.T. (ASCP) 18 years, generalist and former Hematology supervisor.

>
> "You should have known one does not use a platinum loop for shoveling
> coal." - Dr. Max Gottlieb in the novel "Arrowsmith"
>
>
> "Katra" <KatraMungBean@Centurytel.net> wrote in message
> news:KatraMungBean-DD72AF.23450528042005@corp.supernews.com...
>
--
K.

Sprout the MungBean to reply

"I don't like to commit myself about heaven and hell‹you
see, I have friends in both places." --Mark Twain

Manky Badger

2005-04-30, 8:53 am

"Katra" <KatraMungBean@Centurytel.net> wrote in message
news:KatraMungBean-DD72AF.23450528042005@corp.supernews.com...
> This list is a bit slow.
> How about some light hearted conversation? :-)
>
> My personal pet peeves:
>
> Co-workers who wear mascarra and get it all over the microscope occulars.
>
> Drippy urine cups I have to clean off before doing analysis when they
> come down from the nursing units. Yeah, I know we wear gloves to handle
> them but it's still annoying!
>
> Stool containers with snap lids. The gas produced by some stools tends
> to pop them off!
>
> Doctors who order stat crossmatches in the middle of surgery because
> they forgot to order the blood pre-op.
>
> Anyone else??? :-)

Being called out of bed at 4.30am to do an emergency pre-op blood count,
waiting like a lemon till 6am when the pre op sample arrives together with
the post op sample:
"we sent them together to save the poor porter making so many trips" !!

Last week that one was !

Manky Badger

2005-04-30, 8:53 am

"Katra" <KatraMungBean@Centurytel.net> wrote in message
news:KatraMungBean-DD72AF.23450528042005@corp.supernews.com...
> This list is a bit slow.
> How about some light hearted conversation? :-)
>
> My personal pet peeves:
>
> Co-workers who wear mascarra and get it all over the microscope occulars.
>
> Drippy urine cups I have to clean off before doing analysis when they
> come down from the nursing units. Yeah, I know we wear gloves to handle
> them but it's still annoying!
>
> Stool containers with snap lids. The gas produced by some stools tends
> to pop them off!
>
> Doctors who order stat crossmatches in the middle of surgery because
> they forgot to order the blood pre-op.
>
> Anyone else??? :-)

Doctors who can't speak English very well who then accuse me of racism when
I can't understand them on the phone.

Manky Badger

2005-04-30, 8:53 am

"Katra" <KatraMungBean@Centurytel.net> wrote in message
news:KatraMungBean-DD72AF.23450528042005@corp.supernews.com...
> This list is a bit slow.
> How about some light hearted conversation? :-)
>
> My personal pet peeves:
>
> Co-workers who wear mascarra and get it all over the microscope occulars.
>
> Drippy urine cups I have to clean off before doing analysis when they
> come down from the nursing units. Yeah, I know we wear gloves to handle
> them but it's still annoying!
>
> Stool containers with snap lids. The gas produced by some stools tends
> to pop them off!
>
> Doctors who order stat crossmatches in the middle of surgery because
> they forgot to order the blood pre-op.
>
> Anyone else??? :-)

The way that junior medical staff abandon protocol in favour of panic EVERY
time there is a major emergency.

Manky Badger

2005-04-30, 8:53 am

"Katra" <KatraMungBean@Centurytel.net> wrote in message
news:KatraMungBean-DD72AF.23450528042005@corp.supernews.com...
> This list is a bit slow.
> How about some light hearted conversation? :-)
>
> My personal pet peeves:
>
> Co-workers who wear mascarra and get it all over the microscope occulars.
>
> Drippy urine cups I have to clean off before doing analysis when they
> come down from the nursing units. Yeah, I know we wear gloves to handle
> them but it's still annoying!
>
> Stool containers with snap lids. The gas produced by some stools tends
> to pop them off!
>
> Doctors who order stat crossmatches in the middle of surgery because
> they forgot to order the blood pre-op.

Being chief BMS means I am not in any position of authority, just that I
take the blame :o)

Mike Collins

2005-04-30, 8:53 am

Katra wrote:
> This list is a bit slow.
> How about some light hearted conversation? :-)
>
> My personal pet peeves:
>
> Co-workers who wear mascarra and get it all over the microscope
> occulars.
>
> Drippy urine cups I have to clean off before doing analysis when they
> come down from the nursing units. Yeah, I know we wear gloves to
> handle them but it's still annoying!
>
> Stool containers with snap lids. The gas produced by some stools tends
> to pop them off!
>
> Doctors who order stat crossmatches in the middle of surgery because
> they forgot to order the blood pre-op.
>
> Anyone else??? :-)
Add on tests (particularly amylase on abdo. pain patients) which could have
been requested with the casualty sample but aren't because the requester
doesn't have brain in gear.
People who phone up and say "I wanted this urgently but I forgot to put it
on the form. Particularly annoying with electronic requests which can be
marked urgent with one click of a mouse.
Blood gas samples with the needle still attached.

--
Mike Collins
UK
Mike&heather-at-oakwellmount-dot-freeserve-dot-co-dot-uk

slenon

2005-04-30, 11:51 am

Physicians who order STAT work and then complain when you wake them up with
the results. If it is important enough to order STAT, to call me in at 0
dark thirty, it's important enough to disturb his/her highness sleep, too.

Physicians and nurses who think of drugs only in brand name form. I no
longer care to explain that the generic drug name on a report is the same
drug as the brand on someone's pen, coffee cup, stethoscope, or note pad.

National Lab Week promotions, celebrations, games, and bullshit. Pay
clinical lab staff what they are worth, recognize our worth every day.
Don't try to buy me off once a year with trinkets and pop-psych motivational
meetings.

Pop-psych, pop-Ed, pop-business techniques applied to health care
management. I know my job, I know why it is important, and I know that the
levels of corporate bullshit shoveled on at such meetings add nothing to
patient care, add only to inflated management budgets and decreased
staffing.

Co-workers who expect me to pull overtime because they have children and I
don't, who expect me to give them prime vacation slots because they have
children, who expect me to pull holidays because they have children, who
expect me to work holidays because I'm Jewish ( Jews celebrate Thanksgiving?
I never knew that)

I'm glad your kids bring you fulfillment. But they are not my
responsibility. If you choose to have them, you carry the burden. I'm sure
that sounds cold and unconcerned, but I've raised my kids and I didn't abuse
my co-workers to do it.

I don't live in a village. I live in a modern town with running water,
electricity, and phone service. Watching your kids or caring for them is
not in my job desription.

--
Stev Lenon 91B20 '68-'69
When the dawn came up like thunder
slenon@tampabay.rr.com
http://web.tampabay.rr.com/stevglo/...page92kword.htm

Katra

2005-04-30, 11:51 am

In article <d4vls3$t1p$1@newsg1.svr.pol.co.uk>,
"Manky Badger" <spam@puritanDOTfreeserve.FULLSTOPcoSPOTuk> wrote:

> "Katra" <KatraMungBean@Centurytel.net> wrote in message
> news:KatraMungBean-DD72AF.23450528042005@corp.supernews.com...
>
> Being called out of bed at 4.30am to do an emergency pre-op blood count,
> waiting like a lemon till 6am when the pre op sample arrives together with
> the post op sample:
> "we sent them together to save the poor porter making so many trips" !!
>
> Last week that one was !
>
>

Oh lordy!!!
I'd have had a fit! :-P

Hope it was overtime pay.....
--
K.

Sprout the MungBean to reply

"I don't like to commit myself about heaven and hell‹you
see, I have friends in both places." --Mark Twain

Katra

2005-04-30, 11:51 am

In article <d4vmdf$d64$1@news7.svr.pol.co.uk>,
"Manky Badger" <spam@puritanDOTfreeserve.FULLSTOPcoSPOTuk> wrote:

> "Katra" <KatraMungBean@Centurytel.net> wrote in message
> news:KatraMungBean-DD72AF.23450528042005@corp.supernews.com...
>
> Doctors who can't speak English very well who then accuse me of racism when
> I can't understand them on the phone.
>
>

<snicker>
That's pretty low of them.
I've had a few where I've had to ask them to spell or repeat what they
were asking me so I know how you feel. I'm usually pretty good with
accents but sometimes they are pretty thick. There is one nurse with a
very heavy russion accent on OB I have trouble understanding sometimes
but she is improving.....
--
K.

Sprout the MungBean to reply

"I don't like to commit myself about heaven and hell‹you
see, I have friends in both places." --Mark Twain

Katra

2005-04-30, 11:51 am

In article <d4vmgj$88k$1@newsg4.svr.pol.co.uk>,
"Manky Badger" <spam@puritanDOTfreeserve.FULLSTOPcoSPOTuk> wrote:

>
> The way that junior medical staff abandon protocol in favour of panic EVERY
> time there is a major emergency.
>
>

Sounds like an OB-GYN MD I know.... ;-)
--
K.

Sprout the MungBean to reply

"I don't like to commit myself about heaven and hell‹you
see, I have friends in both places." --Mark Twain

Katra

2005-04-30, 11:51 am

In article <d4vmj2$8a5$1@newsg4.svr.pol.co.uk>,
"Manky Badger" <spam@puritanDOTfreeserve.FULLSTOPcoSPOTuk> wrote:

> Being chief BMS means I am not in any position of authority, just that I
> take the blame :o)
>
>

Heh. That's nothing new!
I was Hematology "supervisor" for 12 years and all it meant is that I
had all of the responsibility and none of the authority, so I know how
you feel! :-P

And now, being a staff member for 18 years, if I'm on a shift with
anyone who's been there for less time and something goes haywire, guess
who gets blamed?
--
K.

Sprout the MungBean to reply

"I don't like to commit myself about heaven and hell‹you
see, I have friends in both places." --Mark Twain

Katra

2005-04-30, 11:51 am

In article <d4vugr$no9$1@newsg3.svr.pol.co.uk>,
"Mike Collins" <mike&heather@acornwellmount.freeserve.co.uk> wrote:

> Add on tests (particularly amylase on abdo. pain patients) which could have
> been requested with the casualty sample but aren't because the requester
> doesn't have brain in gear.
> People who phone up and say "I wanted this urgently but I forgot to put it
> on the form. Particularly annoying with electronic requests which can be
> marked urgent with one click of a mouse.
> Blood gas samples with the needle still attached.

Yeah. With the needle tip stuck in that stupid little rubber block. :-P
I keep a pair of hemostats in my pocket for stuff like that.
--
K.

Sprout the MungBean to reply

"I don't like to commit myself about heaven and hell‹you
see, I have friends in both places." --Mark Twain

Katra

2005-04-30, 11:51 am

In article <OKMce.33151$5f.32488@tornado.tampabay.rr.com>,
"slenon" <slenon@tampabay.invalid.rr.com> wrote:

> Physicians who order STAT work and then complain when you wake them up with
> the results. If it is important enough to order STAT, to call me in at 0
> dark thirty, it's important enough to disturb his/her highness sleep, too.

How about those "stat" cultures? ;-)

>
> Physicians and nurses who think of drugs only in brand name form. I no
> longer care to explain that the generic drug name on a report is the same
> drug as the brand on someone's pen, coffee cup, stethoscope, or note pad.

I pass those on to Pharmacy.

>
> National Lab Week promotions, celebrations, games, and bullshit. Pay
> clinical lab staff what they are worth, recognize our worth every day.
> Don't try to buy me off once a year with trinkets and pop-psych motivational
> meetings.

We don't even celebrate it. :-P

The quarterly Press Gainey bonuses have been a nice touch!
Hoping they keep those up... They are good for moral.

>
> Pop-psych, pop-Ed, pop-business techniques applied to health care
> management. I know my job, I know why it is important, and I know that the
> levels of corporate bullshit shoveled on at such meetings add nothing to
> patient care, add only to inflated management budgets and decreased
> staffing.

Gods. I hate those too!
Makes me feel like a kindergarten student or something!
Especially the cutsie decorated posters!
It's patronising.

>
> Co-workers who expect me to pull overtime because they have children and I
> don't, who expect me to give them prime vacation slots because they have
> children, who expect me to pull holidays because they have children, who
> expect me to work holidays because I'm Jewish ( Jews celebrate Thanksgiving?
> I never knew that)

Heh.
That is a common gripe.
Some people are ignorant.

>
> I'm glad your kids bring you fulfillment. But they are not my
> responsibility. If you choose to have them, you carry the burden. I'm sure
> that sounds cold and unconcerned, but I've raised my kids and I didn't abuse
> my co-workers to do it.
>
> I don't live in a village. I live in a modern town with running water,
> electricity, and phone service. Watching your kids or caring for them is
> not in my job desription.

Then there are the ones that sometimes bring them to work late in the
afternoon.
--
K.

Sprout the MungBean to reply

"I don't like to commit myself about heaven and hell‹you
see, I have friends in both places." --Mark Twain

JEDilworth

2005-04-30, 5:52 pm

It is a requirement now for laboratories to require results to be
repeated back and documented. If they complain, we just say that it's
just one of the new rules. Most are okay with it.

Judy Dilworth, M.T. (ASCP)
Microbiology

> <snicker>
> That's pretty low of them.
> I've had a few where I've had to ask them to spell or repeat what they
> were asking me so I know how you feel. I'm usually pretty good with
> accents but sometimes they are pretty thick. There is one nurse with a
> very heavy russion accent on OB I have trouble understanding sometimes
> but she is improving.....

JEDilworth

2005-04-30, 5:52 pm

We write up the perp on any samples with needles received. Lots of
paperwork that has to go to our QA person. We can't just let those slide
any more.

Judy Dilworth, M.T. (ASCP)
Microbiology

"Mike Collins" <mike&heather@acornwellmount.freeserve.co.uk> wrote in
message news:d4vugr$no9$1@newsg3.svr.pol.co.uk...

> Blood gas samples with the needle still attached.

JEDilworth

2005-04-30, 5:52 pm

Going along with the pop-business rant, what's up with this "war
college" crap? This seems to be the latest for lab management.

http://tinyurl.com/dpooq

I have no problem with managers going to meetings - I have problems with
the mentality of whoever named this gathering. Managers either use
sports metaphors or battle metaphors - both of which drive me crazy. Is
it this nuts in the UK also? Do they have a "war college" over there
(since Bush and Blair think along the same lines....). The more I think
about this the more I want to just throw up.

National Lab Week is now over, thank goodness. Virtually every activity
was held for the day shift. TWO SHIFTS of people were really not
included at all. Our MT school's director has the students plan the
events every year. I have no problems with the students doing this, but
I really think she should have intervened and made sure that they were
more inclusive. It seemed particularly blatant this year.

Sorry you had so many problems with the women you worked with in the
past Stev. My old lab used to have a policy that was pretty good: Any
vacation requested between Jan. 1 and Jan 31 was awarded based on
seniority if two people wanted the same week. Any vacation requests
after these dates were awarded on a first come first serve basis.
Holidays were equally rotated. If you ended up with a Holiday you
couldn't work, you were expected to negotiate a trade with someone else
for their holiday. We didn't (and don't now) have problems with holiday
and vacation requests.

Judy Dilworth, M.T. (ASCP)
Microbiology

slenon

2005-04-30, 5:52 pm

Judy, I spent a lot of time in small hospitalsl, forced to use part-time
females who wanted the income but not the jobs. They had a different work
ethic than mmany other women I'v worked with. They were often able to quit,
at least for short periods, if they didn't get their preferred time off.

--
Stev Lenon 91B20 '68-'69
When the dawn came up like thunder
slenon@tampabay.rr.com
http://web.tampabay.rr.com/stevglo/...page92kword.htm

JEDilworth

2005-04-30, 5:52 pm

Yes, I can believe that. In hospitals, you all have to take turns and
when you quit, you can't easily get hired back because of internal
bidding, etc. Private labs are much different. I personally hope I never
have to go back to one of those.

Judy Dilworth, M.T. (ASCP)
Microbiology

"slenon" <slenon@tampabay.invalid.rr.com> wrote in message
news:pWSce.19277$716.14277@tornado.tampabay.rr.com...
> Judy, I spent a lot of time in small hospitals, forced to use
part-time
> females who wanted the income but not the jobs.

Katra

2005-04-30, 10:50 pm

In article <nNKdndfPFv3lbu7fRVn-rQ@buckeye-express.com>,
"JEDilworth" <bactitech@nospamhortonsbay.com> wrote:

> It is a requirement now for laboratories to require results to be
> repeated back and documented. If they complain, we just say that it's
> just one of the new rules. Most are okay with it.
>
> Judy Dilworth, M.T. (ASCP)
> Microbiology
>

Excellent policy.
I may have to suggest that.
--
K.

Sprout the MungBean to reply

"I don't like to commit myself about heaven and hell‹you
see, I have friends in both places." --Mark Twain

Katra

2005-04-30, 10:50 pm

In article <pWSce.19277$716.14277@tornado.tampabay.rr.com>,
"slenon" <slenon@tampabay.invalid.rr.com> wrote:

> Judy, I spent a lot of time in small hospitalsl, forced to use part-time
> females who wanted the income but not the jobs. They had a different work
> ethic than mmany other women I'v worked with. They were often able to quit,
> at least for short periods, if they didn't get their preferred time off.

Sounds like the typical Phlebotomy team members. ;-)
--
K.

Sprout the MungBean to reply

"I don't like to commit myself about heaven and hell‹you
see, I have friends in both places." --Mark Twain

Don

2005-05-01, 5:56 pm

Manky Badger

2005-05-02, 8:54 am

"Katra" <KatraMungBean@Centurytel.net> wrote in message
news:KatraMungBean-DD72AF.23450528042005@corp.supernews.com...
> This list is a bit slow.
> How about some light hearted conversation? :-)
>
> My personal pet peeves:
>
> Co-workers who wear mascarra and get it all over the microscope occulars.
>
> Drippy urine cups I have to clean off before doing analysis when they
> come down from the nursing units. Yeah, I know we wear gloves to handle
> them but it's still annoying!
>
> Stool containers with snap lids. The gas produced by some stools tends
> to pop them off!
>
> Doctors who order stat crossmatches in the middle of surgery because
> they forgot to order the blood pre-op.
>
> Anyone else??? :-)

The way that junior medical staff abandon protocol in favour of panic EVERY
time there is a major emergency.

Mike Collins

2005-05-02, 10:54 pm

Katra

2005-05-04, 10:51 pm

Katra

2005-05-04, 10:51 pm

Katra

2005-05-04, 10:51 pm

Katra

2005-05-04, 10:51 pm

Katra

2005-05-04, 10:51 pm

Katra

2005-05-04, 10:51 pm

slenon

2005-05-05, 5:58 pm

JEDilworth

2005-05-05, 5:58 pm

Katra

2005-05-05, 5:58 pm

Katra

2005-05-05, 5:58 pm

Don

2005-05-06, 9:18 am

Don

2005-05-07, 5:53 pm

"JEDilworth" <bactitech@nospamhortonsbay.com> wrote in message
news:eu-dnc7qAvM7Ze_fRVn-sA@buckeye-express.com...
> Everything that's been mentioned so far plus:
>
PARSED FOR YOUR CONVENIENCE

Geez, and I thought the micro lab was a laid back area...STATS? Are you
kidding me?
I guess I learned something then

Don

> Well, there are ten more - any commentary?
>
> Judy Dilworth, M.T. (ASCP)
> Microbiology
>

Don

2005-05-07, 5:53 pm

PARSED FOR YOUR CONVENIENCE

[vbcol=seagreen]
> <sigh> I work evenings. I don't mind work being left for me, but PLEASE
> leave me a clean, restocked and organized bench!
> I hate cleaning up other people's messes, especially if there are
> completed samples laying about making me wonder if they still need
> processing.
>
> Lab slobs. :-P
>
My pet peeve numero uno!

>

Yeah, I like them. C. difficile or O&Ps. C'mon, if you send me a rock, your
patient does NOT have a problem with either.

> And they order the "works" on them too!
> How the H*** am I supposed to do a C. difficile on a rock hard stool???
> Bad enough trying to process an O&P on those!
>
>
>
> And a day shift that gets in 10 pizzas as a sales rep gifty,
> and eats them ALL, even taking some leftovers home with them!
>
>
Now that's shabby! People actually lower themselves to that level? I think
more appreciation for night shifts in general is needed. As I always say to
a dayshifter, trade me then for a week!

>
> Lab week is, what, this week I think?
> None of our shifts is celebrating it.
> The hospital has a brunch for nurses week etc., but they always ignore
> lab week. :-(

A brunch for Nurses' Week? Heck, our system makes individual bronze statues
for them! I do wish Lab Week was further away from Nurses' Week. I get
ornery and jealous around this time...

D

Don

2005-05-07, 5:53 pm

"slenon" <slenon@tampabay.invalid.rr.com> wrote in message
news:OKMce.33151$5f.32488@tornado.tampabay.rr.com...

PARSED FOR YOUR CONVENIENCE

> Pop-psych, pop-Ed, pop-business techniques applied to health care
> management. I know my job, I know why it is important, and I know that
> the levels of corporate bullshit shoveled on at such meetings add nothing
> to patient care, add only to inflated management budgets and decreased
> staffing.
>

That's a good one, Steve. My take is this: it's motivational speakers taking
over healthcare management and practices. Where I work we have systems in
place to essentially tell us how happy we are. Yeah, I know my job, I know
my importance and I know about patient care a lot more than some pop-psych
(your term) "coach" that is better off working on the Yankees and their
cellar dwelling in the AL East! Does this keep me on topic as a pet peeve?

Don

Katra

2005-05-08, 8:56 am

In article <GMafe.5209$_g1.4787@trnddc04>, "Don" <dpagates@verizon.net>
wrote:

> PARSED FOR YOUR CONVENIENCE
>
>
> My pet peeve numero uno!

;-)
The only thing for me that beats that out is Macara on the microscope
occulars. Don't know why that drives me up the wall, but it does!

>
>
>
> Yeah, I like them. C. difficile or O&Ps. C'mon, if you send me a rock, your
> patient does NOT have a problem with either.

Probably has IBS. <G>

>
> Now that's shabby! People actually lower themselves to that level? I think
> more appreciation for night shifts in general is needed. As I always say to
> a dayshifter, trade me then for a week!

It happens all the time. :-P
And most of the phlebotomy team wonders why they can't lose weight! <lol>

>
>
> A brunch for Nurses' Week? Heck, our system makes individual bronze statues
> for them! I do wish Lab Week was further away from Nurses' Week. I get
> ornery and jealous around this time...
>
> D

<grins>
Now that the tech shortage is beginning to really hit, maybe that will
change????

>
>
>
--
K.

Sprout the MungBean to reply

"I don't like to commit myself about heaven and hell‹you
see, I have friends in both places." --Mark Twain

Katra

2005-05-08, 8:56 am

In article <pTafe.7185$U01.2067@trnddc07>, "Don" <dpagates@verizon.net>
wrote:

> "slenon" <slenon@tampabay.invalid.rr.com> wrote in message
> news:OKMce.33151$5f.32488@tornado.tampabay.rr.com...
>
> PARSED FOR YOUR CONVENIENCE
>
>
>
> That's a good one, Steve. My take is this: it's motivational speakers taking
> over healthcare management and practices. Where I work we have systems in
> place to essentially tell us how happy we are. Yeah, I know my job, I know
> my importance and I know about patient care a lot more than some pop-psych
> (your term) "coach" that is better off working on the Yankees and their
> cellar dwelling in the AL East! Does this keep me on topic as a pet peeve?
>
> Don
>
>
>

Indeed!!! <lol>
So, is anyone else experiencing the "magic kingdom" species of corporate
hospital management?
--
K.

Sprout the MungBean to reply

"I don't like to commit myself about heaven and hell‹you
see, I have friends in both places." --Mark Twain

JEDilworth

2005-05-18, 11:22 am

You mean the Disney tape? We had that one, and also one where they threw
big fish around at a fish market somewhere in Seattle (I guess it was
supposed to demonstrate teamwork). Gee, it's SO like that at the lab I
work in....

Judy Dilworth, M.T. (ASCP)
Microbiology

"Katra" <KatraMungBean@Centurytel.net> wrote in message
news:KatraMungBean-75991B.07522808052005@corp.supernews.com...
> So, is anyone else experiencing the "magic kingdom" species of
corporate
> hospital management?

Katra

2005-05-18, 11:22 am

Sort of...
Disney has published a set of standard corporate management practices
and holds seminars for managers and CEO's.

Some hospitals have adopted it, and so has Coulter. I saw signs of it
when I was up there training for our most recent hematology analyzer in
Miami Florida.

Gods I love those training trips! ;-)

It introduces you to a "magical" outlook towards patient care, and a
continued quality improvement program with set dress/uniform codes and
codes of behavior, phone manners, etc. It can, however, be a bit
difficult to apply ALL corporate practices to a health care setting.

The one thing our hospital did tho' that really raised morale across the
board was to finally put their money where their mouths were! They
introduced the "Press Gainey" quarterly bonuses!

When we first started the Press Gainey program, our hospital was rated
WAY down at the 45th percentile in patient satisfaction surveys. :-( We
had developed a serious morale problem at the time, probably due to a
number of reasons, partially perhaps due to a sudden increase in
workload and a serious need to expand bedspace and introduce updated and
more modern technology. It WAS a small town hospital and it's swiftly
getting to be not so small. We underwent massive construction, expansion
and modernization over a period of about 3 years.

We are given a bonus equal to a percentage of our quarterly gross every
three months based on patient satisfaction ratings sent to us by the
Press Gainey patient surveys.

I'm happy to report that I got a 4% bonus last quarter as we have
managed to raise ratings to the 97th percentile!!! :-)

It's taken us about 4 years to get there...

In article <VL-dnbkYyL7WQOPfRVn-qg@buckeye-express.com>,
"JEDilworth" <bactitech@nospamhortonsbay.com> wrote:

> You mean the Disney tape? We had that one, and also one where they threw
> big fish around at a fish market somewhere in Seattle (I guess it was
> supposed to demonstrate teamwork). Gee, it's SO like that at the lab I
> work in....
>
> Judy Dilworth, M.T. (ASCP)
> Microbiology
>
> "Katra" <KatraMungBean@Centurytel.net> wrote in message
> news:KatraMungBean-75991B.07522808052005@corp.supernews.com...
> corporate
>
--
K.

Sprout the MungBean to reply

"I don't like to commit myself about heaven and hell‹you
see, I have friends in both places." --Mark Twain

Manky Badger

2005-05-18, 11:22 am

"JEDilworth" <bactitech@nospamhortonsbay.com> wrote in message
news:VL-dnbkYyL7WQOPfRVn-qg@buckeye-express.com...
> You mean the Disney tape? We had that one, and also one where they threw
> big fish around at a fish market somewhere in Seattle (I guess it was
> supposed to demonstrate teamwork).

I've been to that fishmarket.

What a waste of time it was - everyone said that if you're going to Seattle,
Pike Place market is a MUST !!!! It's crap. It's the same as any fishmarket
anywhere in the world except that they throw the fish around. I watched them
drop a couple too.

nicstepro@aol.com

2005-05-18, 11:22 am

we 'celebrated' late as we had an HVAP inspection that week.

Hmm, 1) internet abuse?

Ever since certain areas of the lab become connected, you can pretty
much depend on doing all the work while your co-worker checks her AOL
mail. We've solved the problem generally just by handing them the work
instead of getting up and doing it ourselves when we work her.

But, you can't really ban it for the others who use it responsibly.

2) working by yourself- with another person

another co-worker who is incredibly knowledgable, but will spend 2
hours on a slide with immatures, or a fluid slide, or a mailbox (not
internet here, a dumb box) reminding people some protocol forgotten the
night before and you do - everything else. We've solved this one with
the 7 step prayer: God grant me the grace to accept the thing I cannot
change.

3) the 'perfect' co-worker

you know, never wrong about anything lab related or otherwise, always
criticizing.

4) chatty patties

a milder peeve - definately personality related, but yapyapyapyapyap.

5) the unique dater

I've never seen anyone else do this, but May 5, 2005: it's 050505,
05/05/05,
5-5-05, but 5-5-5 ? 5/5/5 ? That just ain't normal! Its just
unnatural!

Don

2005-05-18, 11:22 am

Don

2005-05-18, 11:22 am

Don

> Well, there are ten more - any commentary?
>
> Judy Dilworth, M.T. (ASCP)
> Microbiology
>

Zorander

2005-05-18, 11:23 am

<snip>
> How about those "stat" cultures? ;-)

and then call for the result. "Sure, no significant growth after one hour."

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Pamela and Howard Signa

2005-05-18, 11:23 am

We just watched "Give Em The Pickle" and are going to roll it out to the
rest of the staff. Sounds good on tape, but never rolls out that way. Given
that we are expected to perform at 100 %, when we are, and I am not
exaggerating, 13 FTE's UNDERSTAFFED. Dr. God complains and that is all it
takes, for the standard, "What is the best practice" comment from
administration.

PeT Peeve of mine.......

The Hospital practically shuts down when "They" are having Joint Commission,
but we are expected to carry on as normal in the weeks before the Lab JCAHO.

Another.....

JCAHO coordinator that is a nurse, but THINKS she knows all of the lab
standards better that we do.....

I have issues...........................

Pamela N. Signa, BSMT(ASCP)(AMT)
Director of Laboratory

"Zorander" <JeffPaulsen@EZSweeps.com> wrote in message
news:42840b7d$1_1@spool9-west.superfeed.net...
> <snip>
>
> and then call for the result. "Sure, no significant growth after one
hour."
>
> ----== Posted via webservertalk.com - Unlimited-Uncensored-Secure Usenet
News==----
> http://www.webservertalk.com The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World! 120,000+
Newsgroups
> ----= East and West-Coast Server Farms - Total Privacy via Encryption
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Katra

2005-05-18, 11:23 am

In article <42840b7d$1_1@spool9-west.superfeed.net>,
Zorander <JeffPaulsen@EZSweeps.com> wrote:

> <snip>
>
> and then call for the result. "Sure, no significant growth after one hour."
>

<grins>
I had the ER call me tonight to see if there were any results on a urine
culture yet....

about 1 hour after the specimen had been plated!

Duh.
--
K.

Sprout the MungBean to reply

"I don't like to commit myself about heaven and hell--you
see, I have friends in both places." --Mark Twain

Katra

2005-05-18, 11:23 am

In article <wDUge.24375$yq3.8019@bignews1.bellsouth.net>,
"Pamela and Howard Signa" <psigna@nospambellsouth.net> wrote:

> We just watched "Give Em The Pickle" and are going to roll it out to the
> rest of the staff. Sounds good on tape, but never rolls out that way. Given
> that we are expected to perform at 100 %, when we are, and I am not
> exaggerating, 13 FTE's UNDERSTAFFED. Dr. God complains and that is all it
> takes, for the standard, "What is the best practice" comment from
> administration.
>
> PeT Peeve of mine.......
>
> The Hospital practically shuts down when "They" are having Joint Commission,
> but we are expected to carry on as normal in the weeks before the Lab JCAHO.
>
>
> Another.....
>
>
> JCAHO coordinator that is a nurse, but THINKS she knows all of the lab
> standards better that we do.....

So what else is new... ;-)
We don't know anything, we are just lab tech's, right?

<snort>

>
>
>
>
> I have issues...........................
>
>
> Pamela N. Signa, BSMT(ASCP)(AMT)
> Director of Laboratory
>

We are having our JCAHO inspection this week.

We just lost our director last week!

We are understaffed by 8 at the moment.
Supposed to have 23 and we have 15......

Anyone need a job in central Texas near San Antonio? ;-)
They pay a little higher and benefits are better!
--
K.

Sprout the MungBean to reply

"I don't like to commit myself about heaven and hell‹you
see, I have friends in both places." --Mark Twain

Pamela and Howard Signa

2005-05-18, 11:23 am

I had a physician assistant call me a couple of weeks ago and say the dr was
concerned because he had had several patients with high INR's, and wondered
if there was something wrong with pur machine. He wanted to know if there
were some controls that we could run.

Controls...... what a concept!!!!!!!

Pam
"Katra" <KatraMungBean@Centurytel.net> wrote in message
news:KatraMungBean-57888E.00213113052005@corp.supernews.com...
> In article <42840b7d$1_1@spool9-west.superfeed.net>,
> Zorander <JeffPaulsen@EZSweeps.com> wrote:
>
hour."[vbcol=seagreen]
>
>
> <grins>
> I had the ER call me tonight to see if there were any results on a urine
> culture yet....
>
> about 1 hour after the specimen had been plated!
>
> Duh.
> --
> K.
>
> Sprout the MungBean to reply
>
> "I don't like to commit myself about heaven and hell--you
> see, I have friends in both places." --Mark Twain

Katra

2005-05-18, 11:23 am

In article <KB0he.24990$yq3.1416@bignews1.bellsouth.net>,
"Pamela and Howard Signa" <psigna@nospambellsouth.net> wrote:

> I had a physician assistant call me a couple of weeks ago and say the dr was
> concerned because he had had several patients with high INR's, and wondered
> if there was something wrong with pur machine. He wanted to know if there
> were some controls that we could run.
>
> Controls...... what a concept!!!!!!!
>
> Pam

<snicker>
That's too funny..... ;-)

Sometimes, if I get more than one "whacky" result in a row, I'll pull a
normal patient from the rack and re-run it just to check on the odd
chance that I had a reagent go bad, and I document it.

That usually covers it without having to make up a fresh control.
--
K.

Sprout the MungBean to reply

"I don't like to commit myself about heaven and hell‹you
see, I have friends in both places." --Mark Twain

Zorander

2005-05-18, 11:23 am

Katra

2005-05-20, 8:56 am

mpmorin

2005-07-09, 12:15 pm

Where is the original list?

"Don" <dpagates@verizon.net> wrote in message
news:iFafe.7081$hh6.5482@trnddc01...
>
> "JEDilworth" <bactitech@nospamhortonsbay.com> wrote in message
> news:eu-dnc7qAvM7Ze_fRVn-sA@buckeye-express.com...
> PARSED FOR YOUR CONVENIENCE
>
> Geez, and I thought the micro lab was a laid back area...STATS? Are you
> kidding me?
> I guess I learned something then

>
> Don
>
>
>
>
>

Katra

2005-07-09, 12:15 pm

Go too google groups and google for the thread title. :-)

There are far more than 10!

It was a good thread IMHO. <lol>

Cheers!

In article <I_Pze.121$1%4.24@trndny02>, "mpmorin" <mpmorin@verizon.net>
wrote:

> Where is the original list?
>
>
> "Don" <dpagates@verizon.net> wrote in message
> news:iFafe.7081$hh6.5482@trnddc01...
>
>
--
K.

Sprout the MungBean to reply

"I don't like to commit myself about heaven and hell‹you
see, I have friends in both places." --Mark Twain