So, I also want my blog to be about you coming along through my MLS journey. From my
We started off the class discussing the order of tubes. See, when we do a draw there are many colored tops for the tubes that you take when you do a blood draw. For example tubes range from lavendar, green, blue and even yellow. Below, I list different tubes and their order.
Yellow: Sterile/Micro tube: Used for blood culture and contains liquid
Red: nonadditive tube
Blue: sodium citrate tube (most critical) and inlcudes coagulation factor. This tube also has to have a 1: 9 ratio
Lavendar (purple): EDTA
Grey: oxalate
Green: Sodium heparin or lithium heparin (Used for chemistry)
Dark blue (navy blue): Heavy metals
Tiger yellow (dark): SST
It was really awesome to note that every tube has a different color and every color has a different purpose. We all have to take fundamantal courses for our program so some colors I remeberd what they were used for. However, some tubes were nice to be reminded of their purpose again.
In addition to going over the tubes and their purpose, the prosfessor also demonstrated how to draw a patient. There is a specidic order and way to address the patient before you stick a needle in their arm lol. When my classmates and I went to the lab and saw the Charlie arm we could hear each other say, “I don’t want to get poked!” or “Whoever draws me has to be good lol.” Did I mention that we have to poke each other? Yeah, lol, we’re going to have to practice peer draws 5 different times! Lol, but don’t worry, we’ll have to practice first with a charlie arm like 30 times before we actually get to poke each other lol.
Being in the MLS program in my school has opined my eyes to many different things. From learning different bacteria, to understaining the complexity of different autoimmune diseases, to learning the function of the liver and even learn how to properly draw blood from a patient, I can honeslyy say that I have learned and still contiue to learn more about my field each and every day and I love it. Of course, it’s not easy somteimes. There is stress and exams, but do I love what I study? Absoloteu.
What I like about writing a blog about my jounrey as an MLS student is that I get to tell you how it is, how I feel, and what I do. Medical laboratu sciene encompasses different areas inclduing mcirobiology, hematology, immunology, cliincal chemistry, urinalysis and much more. So, I don’t write about perfectness, I write about me. From the stress and joy of being in my field, I will take you on my jounrey through it all. I will write down a day in the life, some facts about my field as well as share my faith in the process.
There is so much I want to do in life and so many things to dream. However, what good is knowledge if you don’t share it with others? Share the knowledge that you learn. Inform people of the things that matter. People care. I don’t know everything. I’m still learning. I just hope that I am able to give inspiration to students and people all around the world. We all are different. We all have a different purpose in life. Just like the phlebotomy tubes, we all are important. We may not know each others’ stories, but it’s nice to share with others our stories and testimony. The world is waiting to hear yours too.