Marsha,  I'm sorry you don't think histotechs are respected.  I think you
are mistakenly equating pay with respect.  Pay is normally based on demand
and ability to compensate.  I spent 20 years in the Air Force below what
would be considered poverty level but never felt ashamed or not respected
because of my low pay.  I guess I could enjoy the most unpleasant of jobs if
I was paid enough but I don't know if I would be truly happy.  I guess it
all depends on your point of view.  

Charles R. Embrey Jr., PA(AAPA), HT(ASCP)
Histology Supervisor
Carle Clinic
Urbana, IL
 

-----Original Message-----
From: Marsha R Price [mailto:mprice26@juno.com]
Sent: Saturday, August 25, 2001 4:48 PM
To: histonet@pathology.swmed.edu
Subject: Histotechs Future Pay


Histonetters,

There is more to the story about my nurse friend and I. We attended
school together, practically had our children together, etc.etc. (To make
a long story short). 

What I am trying to say is I have the same level of education as the
nurse, but I chose a career for satisfaction at the time instead of pay,
and over the years have not regretted it because I absolutely love
histology and loved the type of work. My friend on the other hand hated
her work but loved the pay. Now because of being able to make the kind of
money she makes , she loves her job.

I hate that I am not liking the field I have chosen because I cannot make
enough to put my kids through college without possibly working two jobs.
I have a son who graduated high school at the age of 16 and starts
college this semester and Wow! is an education expensive these days! I am
thinking I should go ahead and go to RN school just to be able to put my
other two kids through college. I am also thinking that since Histotechs
will never receive the respect we are due and the pay we should receive
(as I have been told by various Histotechs), I should have chosen a
career for the pay instead of a career for job satisfaction.

I was under the impression that after 2005, histotechs would no longer be
able to go through the 2 year OJT to receive their HT, but would have to
have their AS, was I wrong about this?

Just my other 2 cents worth.

Marsha Price


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