[Histonet] Cutting speed

[Grantham, Andrea L - (algranth)]

Teresa,
Don't trade quality for speed. I once worked for a pathologist who actually told me that he preferred that we took our time cutting so that the sections were as good as we could make them. He said that it took a lot of the stress of making a diagnosis off of him when he got good slides, especially when the diagnosis was a difficult one. He said to treat the tissue like it came from your Mother or your child.
I have worked with people who bragged often and loudly about being fast cutters and their slides looked like it.
I agree with the person who advised that you sit down and have a talk with the lab manager to voice your concerns. Everyone should be aware that you are going to do the very best you can while your co-worker is away, even if it takes you a bit longer. 
Good luck with this!

Andi 





On Dec 31, 2011, at 10:18 AM, Kim Donadio wrote:

> My only advice to you Teresa is to take a deep breath, calm down and do the best you can. Dont take your eye off the specimen you are dealing with. It's someones life. You might hear people screaming about time, they need this, they need that. but You as a healthcare professional have the ONE most importnat task you really need to focus on, and thats making the best slide you can from each specimen you deal with. Focus on that, keep your chin up and know that you are doing the patients a service by being there doing good work while dealing with hard times. 
>  
> Best of wishes
>  
> Kim D
> 
> 
> ________________________________
> From: Teresa Moore <tmoore9k <@t> gmail.com>
> To: histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu 
> Sent: Saturday, December 31, 2011 8:44 AM
> Subject: [Histonet] Cutting speed
> 
> I graduated from a histology program in June/11 and just got a job a week
> ago.  My speed on the microtome is not great.  Everyone says it takes time
> but I feel my technique may be wrong.  To make matters worse the only other
> histotech in the lab is going on vacation the third week of January and I
> will be alone!!!!! I don't have the overall flow of the lab down yet and
> have no idea how they expect me to handle the cutting all by myself.  My
> biggest concern is my cutting speed right now.  How long does it take
> (approx) to do 40 blocks an hour.  Currently, I'm about half that!  I'm
> panicking and I've only been on the job 8 days.  Help!!!!!!!!!!!
> 
> -- 
> Teresa Moore
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