Medical Technologist

Have you ever watched a stage play? Well, it is a very magical experience that was once the most sought after entertainment medium before the rise of Hollywood movies, computer games, and even the Internet. A stage play is a visual play of all the senses, and usually requires a great deal of preparation for the various actors, directors, and even stage hands involved. Watching the actors do their stuff on stage is a merriment that can produce different kinds of emotions, and is sure to evoke a lot of nostalgia, excitement, and wonderment for all witnessing how the story will unfold. The one thing that most viewers are not aware of in stage plays are that there are two sides of it: there is the visual stage where all the performing actors are seen but behind all these is a back stage where all of the overworked and under-appreciated staff members are doing their best to make sure that everything in the performing stage runs smoothly. While the critics and the audience give all of their applause and praises to all of the actors they can see onstage, most of the work was actually done by the people back stage, and they are left with little to no applause and appreciation that is due to them. This is a very sad thing, because this happens not only in stage plays, but it also happens in all of the fields in life: chefs have sous chefs and the entire kitchen of assistants to help them produce their perfect meals; architects have draftsmen and technical assistants that helped contribute in producing the next big architectural feature; and modern movies have all of the technical staff that does editing and promotions in order for them to produce the next big movie event.

In the medical world, the backstage job falls under the lap of a medical technologist, in that all of the dirty work necessary for a doctor, a clinic, or even a hospital needs to provide the patient is performed by them. A medical career as a technologist does not mean that you will literally live out the rest of your career boxed up in a hidden lab, but it just means that all of the necessary examinations and data that needs to be examined must pass through these specialists hands first before making their way to the doctor or medical professional for proper diagnosis of the patient.

But what is medical technology in the first place and how does it help the medical profession as a whole. Before you dismiss them as mere lab assistants that answer to medical professionals, think again. Before you can start a career in medical technology, you must need specialist and general knowledge in the medical field because the main job of a medical technologist is the proper examination, diagnosis, and detection of various diseases. Their world revolves around the different tests that needs to be done inside a laboratory, in which case they are considered as scientists, but at the same time they specialize in treating various diseases, ailments, preparation of test results, and concocting the perfect cure for a disease – in which case ties them to the medical profession as well. A career as a medical technologist will need an individual who is quick and passionate about their jobs, and who works swiftly and purposefully because the results in their findings determine and heavily influences the treatments and the diagnosis a patient receives. A medical technologist also gathers various samples, such as blood, tissue, and other kinds of specimens needed in order for them to accurately pinpoint the necessary finding that they are looking for. This spells out a lot of lab work, but ultimately that is what is needed from a medical technologist – tons and tons of lab work and examination.

So, what does it take to become a medical technologist and what are the other factors to be considered for an individual to be qualified as one? Well for one thing, a successful career as a certified nursing assistant does not necessarily make you a perfect candidate. Medical technologists are basically problem-solvers, in the sense that they are given the task to carefully break down all of the components of the various tests, analyze findings, and determine the solution for the doctor to diagnose a patient. If for some reason the medical technologist does not determine any kind of solution for the benefit of the doctor to use, he or she must be willing to perform additional tests and prepare additional samples for examination until they can find the perfect solution. Essentially, the life of the patient depends on whether the medical technologist determines the source of a particular ailment and finds the perfect solution for the patient’s disease or ailment. They must also have proper commitment to their chosen profession because one needs to remember that to give up finding a solution will mean a disastrous consequence or even death to the patient in need of the cure. One must also be able to handle pressure and manage his or her stress levels, especially since the demands of the career can be quite demanding given that lives are always on the line. One must always remember that even though a lot of stress and headaches are always involved when you start a career in medical technology, a certain level of exploration is always possible especially since in the medical profession discoveries are being made on a daily basis through hard core research.

Also, proper education and training is needed in order for you to become the perfect medical technologist. No, your curriculum in school must not be all about medical technology, but the proper foundation in the sciences must be present in your early education such as subjects in biology (you need to be an expert in the study of the human body and conditions even though you will deal with diseases most of the time), chemistry (the study of chemicals and their reaction to the human body is or course extremely necessary so that you can determine what are the different chemicals needed to produce the perfect cure and its effects to various human conditions) and also one must not forget the other staples in our modern education such as math (the universal language of numbers) and familiarity with computers. Yes, we are already in the modern age, and with the advances in technology also come modern ways and methods in examination, diagnosis and prognosis. Your computer skills should be advanced enough than the typical web surfer because a lot of medical procedures nowadays handle patient and medical data through computer-aided and 3-D technology, so a medical technologist should be not only be a master in the laboratory, but he or she should also be tech savvy as well.

It is also important to note that while proper education and training is important, there is also a governing sector that handles the certification of medical technologists as well, in order for them to be certified and to determine the level of competency that is needed to be a successful and expert medical technologist. Much like any form of profession that needs a license – the medical technologist certification can be taken after the individual’s former education and medical laboratory training. Rest assured, after taking the certification, the medical technologist will be more than ready to get started with all the lab experiments and examinations.

Based from all of the needed educational requirements and preparations needed, it might seem that only genius-level individuals can be certified as a medical technologist, but that is far from the truth. One only needs the correct mindset and passion for his career to be able to complete all of the requirements needed to become an expert in medical technology. It also doesn’t hurt that a career as a medical technologist pays extremely well. These guys can demand from USD $42,000 per year for entry-level individuals, but they can shoot from up to US $60,000 to US $75,000 per annum for individuals that aim for a career in the supervisory and managerial positions. Not only does this mean a career in medical explorations and endless discoveries, it also means that an individual can be very happy in a job that really pays well and helps save countless of lives. That is one of the dreams of man, to be able to contribute to the world and make the world a better place for everyone WHILE getting paid for it. This career might not be for everyone, but with the right drive and passion, this career is the perfect vehicle for you if you want less time in the spotlight (like the doctors who work the stage) and more time in production (just like the individuals who work the back stage). Always remember that some sacrifices need to be made so that society can become better, and if that means for medical technologists to be stuck in their labs examining blood samples and performing different tests to be able to determine the proper result for the doctor to use, then that’s where they’ll be.