[Histonet] RE: testing cutting ability--This is starting to Really Annoy me.

[JR R]

All this talk of having people actually section as part of the interview process is offensive to me. 

I have hired and trained lots of histotechnologists.  Mostly I train them myself, from scratch, but sometimes I hire them pre-trained.  Then of course, I re-train them anyway so they can do the work to the specs of my lab.  Any deficiencies they have will be corrected through training.  By me.

At my University there is a formal 30 day (maybe it's longer, I can't recall) probationary period for new hires.   That's good enough.  Why in the world would I need to have them section as part of an interview process?

I am also offended by the "blocks per hour" language.  Partly it's because in my lab we do exhaustive serial sectioning, so I consider a tech who gives me one block every half-hour to be doing a good job.

Maybe it's different in clinical work, but...20 blocks per hour?  And you expect quality work?  

Jeez, are clinical histopath labs just sweat-shops?

It's no wonder histopathologists feel overworked and underappreciated.

Jerry Ricks
Research Scientist
University of Washington
Department of Pathology





> Date: Mon, 23 Feb 2009 10:14:06 -0500
> From: trathborne <@t> somerset-healthcare.com
> To: rjbuesa <@t> yahoo.com; histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu; tbraud <@t> holyredeemer.com
> Subject: RE: [Histonet] RE: testing cutting ability during an interview
> CC: 
> 
> We also have the staff talk to the applicant during this process. It gives you a good idea if the person can talk and cut at the same time. The last thing anyone wants is a histotech that has to stop sectioning during a conversation!
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
> [mailto:histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu]On Behalf Of Rene J
> Buesa
> Sent: Monday, February 23, 2009 10:05 AM
> To: histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu; Terri Braud
> Subject: Re: [Histonet] RE: testing cutting ability during an interview
> 
> 
> I for one always required any applicant to prepare 20 slides stained with H&E. I can assure that I selected "difficult" blocks to cut and the applicant was required to sign a disclaimer that included that s/he he knew how to section and avoid injuries.
> The whole process was timed (to get a first idea about productivity) and I evaluated and graded the slides at the end.
> The results were used as one of the elements to decide about offering the position (the fundamental) but I waited until all the applicants had completed the tests so sometimes the applicant had to be contacted a few days later to let him/her know about the results.
> René J.
> 
> --- On Mon, 2/23/09, Terri Braud <tbraud <@t> holyredeemer.com> wrote:
> 
> From: Terri Braud <tbraud <@t> holyredeemer.com>
> Subject: [Histonet] RE: testing cutting ability during an interview
> To: histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
> Date: Monday, February 23, 2009, 8:57 AM
> 
> >From a recent digest:
> <If you want to know if someone you are interviewing can really section or
> stain, set them down at a microtome during the interview process, and watch
> them.> 
> 
> I have a question about the following statement plucked from a recent digest.
> What are the legal ramifications if a person cuts themselves during an
> interview? 
> We've had this discussion at my place of employment and came to the
> decision that it would leave us open to a legal liability.
> I would love to hear some discussion on this subject, as well as any
> experiences that others have had.
> Terri
> 
> Terri L. Braud, HT(ASCP)
> Anatomic Pathology Supervisor
> Laboratory
> Holy Redeemer Hospital and Medical Center
> 
> 
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