Written by Akai Hunter.
“Just suck it up”
Whatever you do, if you mess up, just suck it up and start over! Usually, advice like this could seem harsh to say in the workplace, but in my line of work, this statement is actually comforting.
Today’s world seems so uncertain. With each day, we never know what’s going to happen next. Covid has entered the chat room and doesn’t seem like he…or she… will be ending their conversation anytime soon. So, since they are here, let’s talk.
COVID-19 has brought darkness to many families around the nation. My heart goes out to all the people who battled or are battling with this wretched virus. With so much death and dubiety, I know it can be difficult to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Lighthouse has shined a light on me and I am blessed to be a part of a company and team whose number one goal is to service the community.
Our Role in The Healthcare World
Working in the lab is the best job out there. I will say it because it just has to be said, but the lab family is the least appreciated in the health world! However, we have such a major role! The media has glorified nurses and doctors in the health field because that’s who usually takes the most care of the patients, and I have no argument against that. But what about the little people in the big lab coats…or the bigger people in the bigger lab coats!? Let’s just say, “if there’s something weird and it doesn’t look good, who ya gonna call?” (If you said ghostbusters, I love you, but you’re wrong! They are gonna call the lab!). Can we just take a minute and give a hand to our lab techs around the world?! *this is where you clap and scream* ahhh, shucks! Thank you, thank you. 😁 The lab family may not be seen but we are definitely heard!
A Glimpse Into The Lab Work
Let’s highlight a few things that your friendly neighborhood lab tech does. Well to start off, everything in a lab is a team effort. Accessioners, where ya at? *scans the room* I see you! Thank you, without you all, our lab techs and assistants would just be in a frenzy of tubes with no organization. You guys set the tone for how each day will be.
Personally, a good day for me is a day with many negatives. I know what you’re thinking, but let me explain. So each day we may see anywhere between 700-1000… or more samples. That’s a lot of people that are getting tested for Covid. A lot of people = a lot of pressure. I am responsible for ensuring that I handle each person’s sample as if they were a loved one or family member of my own. All my reagents have to be mixed accordingly. All my levels have to be precise. My technique has to be spot on. I never want any deviation in my work, because, at the end of the day, I want my true positives, absolutely positive (if there are any) and my negatives absolutely negative! That way, our fancy lab scientist can send accurate readings to your fancy doctor🙂 So, the more negatives, the better! Everyone likes good news, right?
Just Suck It Up and Start Over
But just like in any profession, an error will happen because we are humans (unless you can’t select all the traffic lights in the squares, then you, my friend, are a robot). Another beacon of light that I like to highlight is if I do mess up, I can just suck it up (with my pipette) and start over. Not many people in the health field have that much room for error, and even though we have the ability to retest without it causing immediate pain to the patient, our goal is to get it right the first time! Cause’ let’s be honest, lab material is NOT cheap and we NEVER want to waste a patient’s sample. I definitely don’t want to be the reason for having to ask that 6’7, macho bodybuilder to be re-swabbed (I heard he cried the first time, yikes!)
What’s Even More?
It doesn’t just end there, the lab family makes sure that even after a sample is tested, we keep it, just in case further review is needed. So when I say I’m going to get baby Eli out of the fridge, don’t be alarmed *no babies were harmed in the making of this post.* Lab techs check, and double-check, and tripped check- We are a stickler for accuracy! With Covid here and making our jobs and lives a little harder, the Lighthouse is definitely here to make your testing experience as smooth as possible!
So Covid, yeah, I see you, and I hear— huh? Oh, I’m sorry, I couldn’t hear you, my KingFisher was on. Maybe next time!
-your friendly neighborhood techy!
Lighthouse Lab Services offers assistance to the clinical lab industry via Lab Management, Recruiting, Consulting, Supply Chain, Lab Director Services, and LIS. Please, feel free to reach out to us if your lab needs any help.
Also, we operate the country’s largest members-only groups on social media. You’re welcome to join:
Thanks Akai for the wonderful article! Salute to all the Lab Techs who works around the clock! Please know you are appreciated.
Thank you so much!
Thank you for your dedication to help all people. Please know that your hard work is much appreciated. I am extremely proud of your commitment to help others. Its folks like you and the many people that work beside you that make this a better world. Continue to Soar and God Bless your talents.
Thank you for all you do, keep up the good work.
Thanks so much Neicy for the hard work and dedication you provide to keep us healthy, I’m so proud of you, love Aunt Carol George
I’ve worked in a lab before. I can personally relate to the phrase “just suck it up” and in certain situations it is just not that easy. This was a great read!
Thank you for your comment Kortnee.
I agree! Thank you for your time!
Awesome work Akai! Thank you for all that you are doing to help during this pandemic! You are definitely a hero!
Thank you! Much appreciated!
Thank you for all that you have been doing during this pandemic !!! The undercover hero’s
Thank you for the read! Much appreciated
I truly enjoyed reading your article Akai ! Kudos to all of the Lab Techs ! You are truly loved and appreciated.
Good article and keep up the great work! Your time and commitment does not go unnoticed.
Thank you so much!!
Thank you so much, Alex!
Awesome article Akai! Thanks for educating me on what happens behind the scene in the lab and especially during this pandemic. You and your peers are greatly appreciated; the dedication and commitment to help people in the neighborhood is monumental!! #suckitup
Thank you for taking the time out to read! I’m glad you enjoyed it!
Thanks for your perseverance and dedication throughout the pandemic! People like you are the true heroes! More people should be aware of what goes on behind the scenes in these labs to get people the care they really need!
Thank you so much, Faith! I absolutely agree with you!
This is a beautiful article ! Thank you for all that you have done during this pandemic, without yourself and other frontline workers we wouldn’t have made it this far. So again thank you and you are greatly appreciate.
Thank you for taking the time out to read, Chantavia!
Excellent article!! Very informative and personablez
Thank you so much, Jessica!
This was such a good article!! Awesome job Ms.Akai Hunter!! Lab techs are just as important, and grateful for y’all’s service. Very informative I may add.
Here’s to you Akai and the whole family of lab technicians for the excellent service you provide for patients, doctors, nurses, and the whole medical community! Thank you for your dedication to perfection!
Thank you so much, Carter!!
Thank you for your time, Jasmine! Very much appreciated!
Great article Akai! We appreciate all the hard work of those in your field that are behind the scenes.
Thank you very much, Aisha!
Excellent article! Big shout out to all the lab techs out there your are the unsung heroes!
Thank you so much, Allen!
I’m in LOOOOVE with this article. Well done. I can only imagine how hard it must be for people in your profession to deal with this consistently. Awesome work Akai.
I’m so glad you enjoyed!! Thank you for taking the time out to read, Domo!
Amen Akai! Loved the article!
Thank you, Josh!
This article is great and enlightening. Thank you Lab Techs for your service especially during the pandemic. I would love to read more…
Thank you so much, Schia! I’m glad you enjoyed! Hopefully, more coming soon!
Wonderful article!! Thank you to all our lab techs who work hard behind the scenes! ♥️
Thank you so much for your time, Juhi!
Akai, very proud of your work and all, the other lab technicians. Wonderful article. You all really make a difference.
Thank you so much, Shirley! I appreciate your time!
Awesome article with PURPOSE!!! Thank you to Akai and all the other techs for your service.
Thank you so much, Wiley! I’m glad you enjoyed!
Very well written and hit the nail on the head. I just retired from the laboratory as a manager and the Covid crisis was the worst thing I’d ever seen. The lab worldwide stepped up and did their duty. We truly provide (a lot of times), the answers behind the outcome, especially during this pandemic.
So true! Thank you for sharing your personal experience, Juan. Thanks for years of your hard but very important work in the Laboratory!
Thank you for time served in the lab, Juan! And thank you for the taking the time out to read! Very much appreciated!
Great article Akai, keep up the great and well appreciated work!
Thank you, Hunter!
Great article keep up the hard work Akai
Thank you, Emmanuel, I appreciate it!
Very true and I’m thankful for this article Akai. Stay positive!!
Thank you so much, Hezekiah!
After further analysis I have concluded that the article that I have set my eyes upon has fully informed me of the duties you and your colleagues experience. The tediousness of the job can surely add pressure but it can be done with sheer tenacity,repition, and helpful reassurance from your fellow confréres. If no one else says it, I will, the world needs you and we greatly appreciate your commitment to this job. And if they don’t, just suck it up!!
Well said, Tamia! Thanks for your time
I love this! It reminds of why I love our profession. We may be under-recognized but I kind of like that we’re mysterious in that way, while providing such a vital service to the medical community! I’m so proud of you and of all the laboratory professionals out there. Thanks for the uplifting article Akai! Happy lab week guys!
Thank you for your time, Natasha! Happy Lab Week!
Great article Akai! Being that we have worked together in a lab before, I know she means every word! Laboratory techs deserve more recognition and i’m glad you shined some light on them! You and your colleagues are truly appreciated! Stay happy and covid free!
I loved working in the lab with you Rocki! As an accessioner, you played a huge role for the techs! I appreciate your time and dedication!
A beautiful article and the right topic!!!! Keep it up!
Thank you, Dexter
Thank you, Dexter! I appreciate your time.
Great article to give insight to the behind the scenes workers that make the show go on! A good and underrated perspective most people never consider.
Exactly! Thanks for reading and your comment, Antonio
Thank you, Antonio!
As a former lab technician, this article speaks monuments! It’s informative, yet witty and just all around a great read! I hope to see more of this in the future! Lighthouse lab services, will this be a reoccurring post? I absolutely loved it!
Elizabeth, thank you for your time and kind words! We glad you like it. And yes, we plan to have more articles of this type. Stay tuned
Thank you for your kind words! I appreciate your time, Elizabeth!
We often do tend to forget who’s the true muscle behind all the madness. We honestly don’t thank you guys enough for all of the work you do!
Thank you for your comment, Dominique!
This article is so true. Being a lab tech, errors happen but at the end of the day it can be result to get an accurate result. I love your article. Great job!
Thank you so much!
Great Job Akai, being informed of what’s going on at this time when the world is going through a pandemic is truly a God given way to let us know it will all be fine at the end of this. Your light is shining. May God allow you to keep shining!!
Thank you!
This was a great article! It was good to get a glimpse into the life of a Lab Tech and to get to experience your true personality through this article. Shout out to the 🐐s
Thank you for your time and comment , Victor!
Thanks Miss Hunter for this lovely article! Great way to get insight of what’s going on behind the scenes! Shoutout to all the Lab Techs who works around the world! I love that the Healthcare never stops working! Great field to be a part of!
I agree, Jade, healthcare is the best field to be apart! Thank you for your time and comment!
Amazing article and well said Akai. Keep up the great work and continue to strive for greatness because you’re truly appreciated.
Thank you for your kind words, Catrina!