Susan:

In Canada Histology is included in the Medical Technology program, perhaps
it is here in some areas??  Her training as a Med Tech may be an asset.  I
know that it has helped me.  Good Histotechs are difficult to find.  I agree
with Sarah about training.   Set reasonable expectations and time frames for
training.  If she doesn't meet the expectations then you can hire a
histotech.  You will usually know immediately if she will be able to do the
job.

Jennifer 

> ----------
> From: 	Sarah Christo[SMTP:schristo@cvm.tamu.edu]
> Sent: 	Thursday, August 26, 1999 8:35 AM
> To: 	histonet@pathology.swmed.edu; sdaniels@post.its.mcw.edu
> Subject: 	Re: hiring a tech w/ no experience
> 
> Dear Susan,
>    At one time I worked with a microbiologist that had histology training
> while training to be a med. tech.  She was quite capable with a little
> extra training to cover the histolab.  I assume that is not your case here
> as you said she has no experience.   
>   How long is your probationary period?  Maybe you could give her a try
> and see if it would work out.  If not, then you could look for a trained
> technician and still be cooperating with your supervisors.  Although, if
> you feel she would not work out, this may affect your training of her.  It
> is a touchy situation as always with the shortage of histotechs these
> days.   You can run into problem with even "trained" histotechs.   If she
> is bright, it may be worth the effort.  You may wait a long time to find a
> trained individual.  It seems like you are under a lot of stress and the
> thought of training her is stressing you out even more.  Is there someone
> else that could assist you in training or send her somewhere else for
> training?  Just a thought.  Good luck.  
> 
> Sarah Christo, HT (ASCP)
> Texas A&M University
> College of Veterinary Medicine
> Dept. of Vet. Anatomy & Public Health
> College Station, TX  77868-4458
> schristo@cvm.tamu.edu
> 
> >>> Sue Danielson <sdaniels@post.its.mcw.edu> 08/25 10:47 AM >>>
> Hello histonetters,
> 
> An issue has arisen in our laboratory which can benefit from replies from
> ANYONE who currently works in histology and electron microscopy as a lab
> manager.
> 
> A position opening exists in our Neuromuscular Diagnostics laboratory for
> a
> lab technologist.  Duties involve primarily TEM prep and, to a lesser
> extent, frozen sectioning and histochemical staining of skeletal muscle
> and
> peripheral nerve biopsies.
> 
> Our laboratory is fairly small/specialized; we process tissues from
> approximately 30 area hospitals throughout Wisconsin & Illinois.  When
> this
> open position is filled, there are two of us working full time and one
> part
> time technician who works weekend hours.
> 
> Our superiors ( 2 M.D.'s who are neurologists) are pushing to hire a
> particular applicant who has ZERO electron microscopy and histology
> experience (she is a bacteriologist by trade).  This individual is very
> bright and willing to learn; however from my standpoint as lab coordinator
> and the sole person responsible for training this individal I am against
> this. Especially since I am in class 3 afternoons per week as a part-time
> medical student! 
> 
> Time is currently of the essence.  I would prefer to wait for an applicant
> who is better qualified; however, have been told that if I am not able to
> produce any more qualified applicants by the end of next week that I will
> be
> overruled.
> 
> Please reply!  My superiors do not understand the intricacies of TEM and
> histology techniques.  I consider myself an excellent and patient teacher
> but I fear that I cannot train this person in a timely enough manner to
> keep
> the lab running smoothly.
> 
> I also suspect that by hiring this person that we would be violating some
> CLIA regulation.  PLEASE COMMENT, anyone who is willing, so I may turn in
> these responses to my superiors before it is too late.
> 
> Sincerely,
> 
> 
> Susan K. Danielson, MS
> Neuromuscular Laboratory Coordinator
> Froedtert Hospital, Medical College of Wisconsin
> ph: 414.259.3836
> fax: 414.454.7905
> email: sdaniels@mcw.edu 
> 
> 
> 
> 
>