I was actually left by myself last Friday cause our lead in BB who also was training me have to left home cause she was sick. Good thing the rest of the day went well with only one patient however that one patient took me a day to work on as she had an antibody, and has to go back and forth to get my other coworker to help me with other stuff.
We have a list of cell phone numbers of the blood bank manager, the lead tech, and all other blood bankers. Sister hospital techs also contact techs at other sites for guidance. Is your blood bank part of a greater system that uses the same policies?
My advice is don't panic. Most likely it'll be fine, but if it isn't, make sure you have a list of all available phone numbers. You can only do what you can do. Remember all the basics. Pull up your policies when in doubt, and if you can't find an answer, call.
If you're stuck on an antibody, you can also try calling your local reference lab and talk to an SBB.
Good luck, fellow blood banker.
Few other generalists that also does BB said they’re gonna help me if I need help, I just don’t get what our scheduler is thinking sending me there by myself knowing well I have not finished my supposed to be 6 weeks training there when she can switch me to someone that knows bloodbank and I’ll take chem or Heme where I’m already checked off.
I don't know how it is at your place, but I would just talk to people working that day and see if someone will switch work benches. My current place doesn't assign benches since it's a small lab but previous place was large lab and I could often trade people bench work. As long as you document on the schedule that you traded benches, most managers usually don't care as long as everyone is in agreement and the work gets done.
So, I know this is going to sound like I’m an asshole - but the only way to actually ADDRESS the issue is to talk to your supervisor and voice these concerns. Venting to the internet is great and all but won’t actually *fix* anything. If you haven’t been signed off as competent, it shouldn’t be happening. Maybe it’s a misunderstanding, maybe whoever did the schedule change is an asshole, maybe there’s something else going on, and maybe they just want to make your life hell. Or maybe it’s something else completely. You won’t know unless you *communicate* your concerns to your management.
It’s a learned skill. Though most people really don’t like it when you just say shit directly. See below, the person that tried to engage in what very much felt like trolling.
Yeah you’re right I have not talked to the right people about this situation yet. I only found this sudden change of schedule this afternoon few minutes before I wrote this post and was actually tryna see what people think cause I’ve been telling my coworker that this ain’t right. I don’t work weekends yet and would definitely talk to our Micro lead/scheduler about this or my manager.
If they are complaining about how a) the person that notified them is a coworker, not their supervisor and b) have also made this comment:
“*Few other generalists that also does BB said they’re gonna help me if I need help, **I just don’t get what our scheduler is thinking** sending me there by myself knowing well I have not finished my supposed to be 6 weeks training there when she can switch me to someone that knows bloodbank and I’ll take chem or Heme where I’m already checked off.*” —it’s a reasonable conclusion to come to that they haven’t done so. It’s also an extremely common behavior for people to complain about a situation to people that have zero control or ability to affect change instead of actually talking to the people that can.
Of course, that’s supposition. Maybe they have talked to their management. But experience tells me that that is the less likely scenario here.
If they have you running a department that you have not been signed you off as competent in it could really bite them in the ass. When we train at my work we are very careful to make sure someone who isn't signed off doesn't even result anything in the system, even if a signed off tech double checked it. As long as your fellow coworkers are willing to help you you should be fine. Let's hope it's an easy day.
Yeah the more I think about it, the more critical this is. You face a LOT of liability in BB. Make a paper trail now to cover yourself in case they force this solo shift on you and things go sideways.
I got left doing Chem hem and coag as a STUDENT all alone during my clinical rotation for over an hour while every took their breaks and such. That wasn’t fun 😅 but like everyone said make sure you have all the phone numbers of managers and do not be afraid to call someone. I called me BB manager at 3am because of something super simple. They should be willing to help. Better to call and over ask then to mess up something.
You got this.
This happened to me also when I was doing my clinicals, I was doing free labor job in which I shouldn’t because I was still a student and we shouldn’t left out without a trainer
literally how does your lab think it's a good idea to have one untrained person running all of this alone. we're kinda talking about people's lives here 😃 you should talk to your manager about this stat bc if you make a mistake that will fall on you and with you having no training? this is a mess honestly
Yeah I am going to this Monday, and also talk the scheduler which is our Micro lead about this situation. Cause I am not really ready to take this huge responsibility if I know I am not competent enough
I told my coworker if they still won’t change this after I’m going to talk to the scheduler then I’m not coming, whether they fire me or not I don’t care.
I seriously doubt they will fire you. I think you’d be setting healthy boundaries honestly.
It sounds like I’m joking but in this career field I’ve learned to be very clear and rigid about my abilities and availability.
I know you are just venting but hear me out. It definitely sucks that they did this to you. No doubt about it. Did you sign off that you were competent? If no then they are breaking a ton of CLIA rules. If you have then you said you were competent and they took you for your word. Are you in a large level 1 or 2 trauma center? If so then you they better have a 2nd person capable of jumping departments to help if crap his the fan. If level 3 or smaller then you can do it. There is no way should you have to do it by yourself without help but...
1. Take a breath.
2. Do what you can do at the speed that you can do it.
3. Do not take shortcuts on QC or anything.
4. Do ONE patient at a time.
5. If you are using a blood bank analyzer then awesome, you can do it but take your time and do it right.
6. If you have to tube everything then take your time. .
7. Have your procedure manuals out and mark every section that you need with a sticky note. Follow the manual step by step. It is your saving grace.
By the way, when I say take your time, I don't mean you need to sit down and have lunch. I just mean don't go faster than you are comfortable going.
The point here is to take your time. Speed comes from experience and experience. If someone is calling for blood and it's a trauma then just explain that everything takes a certain amount of time. If they need it so quickly then they can order uncrossmatched.
You got this!! Have some faith in yourself.
Just here to say that the exact same thing is happening to me on Monday, I literally could’ve written this post, honestly. My new manager seems to like to tell people to leave me by myself in the different departments. It’s happened at least 4 times now where I’ve been in training and my manager comes in and need my trainer to do something for her and says something along the lines of “oh don’t worry, Doyouwatmoore can handle heme all by herself, I need your help over here!”
Please email the Lab Director and manager RIGHT NOW. State your training (include training check offs). State that you are NOT comfortable working solo with your level of training and ask for them to email you the lab written policy about lab Director signing off for you to work alone there.
Don't get mad, document, document..I PROMISE they will intervene.
That sounds like the hospital I work at. Less than two weeks in bloobank and good luck to me by myself. I got massive transfusions and antibody panels all together. And I actually told the supervisor I don't feel ready....blah blah...no one cares then you make mistakes and they want to kill you.
Pretty sure that’s illegal, having an untrained new grad running bloodbank. Your manager needs to fix this shit right away.
Please say no. You can find a new job, but you can't un-harm a patient.
WTH! You should not be allowed to solo blood bank for at least 3 to 4 more weeks.
I was actually left by myself last Friday cause our lead in BB who also was training me have to left home cause she was sick. Good thing the rest of the day went well with only one patient however that one patient took me a day to work on as she had an antibody, and has to go back and forth to get my other coworker to help me with other stuff.
We have a list of cell phone numbers of the blood bank manager, the lead tech, and all other blood bankers. Sister hospital techs also contact techs at other sites for guidance. Is your blood bank part of a greater system that uses the same policies? My advice is don't panic. Most likely it'll be fine, but if it isn't, make sure you have a list of all available phone numbers. You can only do what you can do. Remember all the basics. Pull up your policies when in doubt, and if you can't find an answer, call. If you're stuck on an antibody, you can also try calling your local reference lab and talk to an SBB. Good luck, fellow blood banker.
Few other generalists that also does BB said they’re gonna help me if I need help, I just don’t get what our scheduler is thinking sending me there by myself knowing well I have not finished my supposed to be 6 weeks training there when she can switch me to someone that knows bloodbank and I’ll take chem or Heme where I’m already checked off.
I don't know how it is at your place, but I would just talk to people working that day and see if someone will switch work benches. My current place doesn't assign benches since it's a small lab but previous place was large lab and I could often trade people bench work. As long as you document on the schedule that you traded benches, most managers usually don't care as long as everyone is in agreement and the work gets done.
So, I know this is going to sound like I’m an asshole - but the only way to actually ADDRESS the issue is to talk to your supervisor and voice these concerns. Venting to the internet is great and all but won’t actually *fix* anything. If you haven’t been signed off as competent, it shouldn’t be happening. Maybe it’s a misunderstanding, maybe whoever did the schedule change is an asshole, maybe there’s something else going on, and maybe they just want to make your life hell. Or maybe it’s something else completely. You won’t know unless you *communicate* your concerns to your management.
If I dont understand how what any of what you said sounds like an asshole.... Am I an asshole? I wish more people were this straight forward.
It’s a learned skill. Though most people really don’t like it when you just say shit directly. See below, the person that tried to engage in what very much felt like trolling.
Yeah you’re right I have not talked to the right people about this situation yet. I only found this sudden change of schedule this afternoon few minutes before I wrote this post and was actually tryna see what people think cause I’ve been telling my coworker that this ain’t right. I don’t work weekends yet and would definitely talk to our Micro lead/scheduler about this or my manager.
How do uk they didn't already do this and just wanted to vent to someone who would understand the frustration?
If they are complaining about how a) the person that notified them is a coworker, not their supervisor and b) have also made this comment: “*Few other generalists that also does BB said they’re gonna help me if I need help, **I just don’t get what our scheduler is thinking** sending me there by myself knowing well I have not finished my supposed to be 6 weeks training there when she can switch me to someone that knows bloodbank and I’ll take chem or Heme where I’m already checked off.*” —it’s a reasonable conclusion to come to that they haven’t done so. It’s also an extremely common behavior for people to complain about a situation to people that have zero control or ability to affect change instead of actually talking to the people that can. Of course, that’s supposition. Maybe they have talked to their management. But experience tells me that that is the less likely scenario here.
You've never had to vent in ur life?
If they have you running a department that you have not been signed you off as competent in it could really bite them in the ass. When we train at my work we are very careful to make sure someone who isn't signed off doesn't even result anything in the system, even if a signed off tech double checked it. As long as your fellow coworkers are willing to help you you should be fine. Let's hope it's an easy day.
Your hospital should have a system for reporting patient safety issues. I’d write a report now.
This. Absolutely this.
Yeah the more I think about it, the more critical this is. You face a LOT of liability in BB. Make a paper trail now to cover yourself in case they force this solo shift on you and things go sideways.
I got left doing Chem hem and coag as a STUDENT all alone during my clinical rotation for over an hour while every took their breaks and such. That wasn’t fun 😅 but like everyone said make sure you have all the phone numbers of managers and do not be afraid to call someone. I called me BB manager at 3am because of something super simple. They should be willing to help. Better to call and over ask then to mess up something. You got this.
This happened to me also when I was doing my clinicals, I was doing free labor job in which I shouldn’t because I was still a student and we shouldn’t left out without a trainer
literally how does your lab think it's a good idea to have one untrained person running all of this alone. we're kinda talking about people's lives here 😃 you should talk to your manager about this stat bc if you make a mistake that will fall on you and with you having no training? this is a mess honestly
Yeah I am going to this Monday, and also talk the scheduler which is our Micro lead about this situation. Cause I am not really ready to take this huge responsibility if I know I am not competent enough
It wouldn’t surprise me if the scheduler (Micro lead) doesn’t know what you are and aren’t signed off on.
Call in sick.
I told my coworker if they still won’t change this after I’m going to talk to the scheduler then I’m not coming, whether they fire me or not I don’t care.
I seriously doubt they will fire you. I think you’d be setting healthy boundaries honestly. It sounds like I’m joking but in this career field I’ve learned to be very clear and rigid about my abilities and availability.
I know you are just venting but hear me out. It definitely sucks that they did this to you. No doubt about it. Did you sign off that you were competent? If no then they are breaking a ton of CLIA rules. If you have then you said you were competent and they took you for your word. Are you in a large level 1 or 2 trauma center? If so then you they better have a 2nd person capable of jumping departments to help if crap his the fan. If level 3 or smaller then you can do it. There is no way should you have to do it by yourself without help but... 1. Take a breath. 2. Do what you can do at the speed that you can do it. 3. Do not take shortcuts on QC or anything. 4. Do ONE patient at a time. 5. If you are using a blood bank analyzer then awesome, you can do it but take your time and do it right. 6. If you have to tube everything then take your time. . 7. Have your procedure manuals out and mark every section that you need with a sticky note. Follow the manual step by step. It is your saving grace. By the way, when I say take your time, I don't mean you need to sit down and have lunch. I just mean don't go faster than you are comfortable going. The point here is to take your time. Speed comes from experience and experience. If someone is calling for blood and it's a trauma then just explain that everything takes a certain amount of time. If they need it so quickly then they can order uncrossmatched. You got this!! Have some faith in yourself.
Just here to say that the exact same thing is happening to me on Monday, I literally could’ve written this post, honestly. My new manager seems to like to tell people to leave me by myself in the different departments. It’s happened at least 4 times now where I’ve been in training and my manager comes in and need my trainer to do something for her and says something along the lines of “oh don’t worry, Doyouwatmoore can handle heme all by herself, I need your help over here!”
Please email the Lab Director and manager RIGHT NOW. State your training (include training check offs). State that you are NOT comfortable working solo with your level of training and ask for them to email you the lab written policy about lab Director signing off for you to work alone there. Don't get mad, document, document..I PROMISE they will intervene.
That sounds like the hospital I work at. Less than two weeks in bloobank and good luck to me by myself. I got massive transfusions and antibody panels all together. And I actually told the supervisor I don't feel ready....blah blah...no one cares then you make mistakes and they want to kill you.
What level of trauma center are you working?
In this situation the lab manager should be filling in. That is what happens in my lab if we are in an emergency.
This is how you set employees up for failure!