I am given the opportunity to specialize in one area of the lab and learn it thoroughly. On a daily basis, I get to see a wide variety of disease processes that many small hospitals rarely see.

I work in the hematology laboratory and I have a variety of assignments. I may work on the complete blood count (CBC) instrument processing samples and then review the results. If I work in the cell differential area, I compare the results from the CBC machine to blood cells under the microscope. I bring up the patient's results on my computer to see what was flagged abnormal. I then place the blood smear under the microscope and look at the cells to confirm that the results flagged on the CBC are accurate.

Some days I may assist a nurse with bone marrow collections. My job is to check the sample to ensure that it is, in fact, bone marrow. I then take the sample and make slide preparations and divide up the rest of the sample into appropriate tubes for other tests. Other days, I am an educator in our lab and teach students or new employees. I truly enjoy the different aspects of my job, especially the fact that my work in the lab helps a physician diagnose and treat patients. I help sick people get better.

I know that my job here in the lab makes a difference in our patients' lives ... that is a good feeling.