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

Tue Feb 24 04:48:18 CST 2009

 I'm not sure why asking someone to cut on an interview would be offensive? I have been asked to demonstrate my technical skills on interviews and had no problem with it whatsoever. The way I look at it, the histology role has at least two aspects- the theoretical and scientific background knowledge and the technical proficiency. I think a manager can get some inference about your knowledge from your resume and education, but that does not tell them much about your technical abilities. I think that it is perfectly fair to get some measure and insight into the other half by asking for a demonstration. It is really a practical assessment in my opinion, as to whether your combination of knowledge and technical skill level is a good fit for that particular lab situation. Clearly, in a large clinical lab being able to produce the volume and maintain the quality is key. Perhaps in a research area, education or theoretical knowledge might be more important. I think that if you are confident of your abilities in all areas, then this would not be any sort of offense? On another note, neither your resume or your slides will tell them much about your personality "fit",  attendance or general attitude, but that is what references are for, and also the probationary period.

Joelle Weaver HTL (ASCP) 

> Date: Mon, 23 Feb 2009 16:26:12 -0500
> From: carrolpb <@t> umdnj.edu
> CC: histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
> Subject: Re: [Histonet] RE: testing cutting ability--This is starting to ReallyAnnoy me.
> 
> > Jeez, are clinical histopath labs just sweat-shops?
> 
> Pretty much. Having spent years doing path at a huge local hospital 
> which featured a slave-driving lab director who was less qualified to 
> run the lab than half the people working in it, I must say that I agree 
> with this observation.
> 
> At the same time, as much as I enjoy my more laid-back research path 
> position now, I'd get fired in a heartbeat if I produced only one block 
> every 30 minutes. Actually, I just got finished doing closer to 40 in 
> the last hour, and today was a fairly slow day (yet not at all on par 
> with the old clinical stats, were 8-12 techs embedded/sectioned closer 
> to 800-1000 blocks per shift).
> 
> 
> 
> Charles.Embrey wrote:
> > Jerry, you are right that clinical work is different from research. You are wrong to consider 20 blocks per hour to be a "sweat-shop" pace. I've know scores of histotechs that cut well over 20 blocks per hour and produce high quality slides. Sorry you feel offended by this discussion but there is a real world outside of your university walls.
> > Chuck
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu [mailto:histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of JR R
> > Sent: Monday, February 23, 2009 1:58 PM
> > To: histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
> > Subject: [Histonet] RE: testing cutting ability--This is starting to ReallyAnnoy me.
> >
> >
> > 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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