Topic Change and what to come.

Hello readers so i have some exciting news so my senior topic going into the year was "Clinical Laboratory Technician" and I was experiencing some problems with that topic. The first of many was that it was super hard for me to find a mentor, my dad knew someone at Quest Diagnostics but due to legal reasons and confidentially issues i couldn't mentor at their lab. Then the next problem was research for the topic was hard to find and due to most lab processes and techniques being not available for the general public.

So what is my new topic If you couldn't tell from the change of scenery and a new header on top of my page that my topic is " Teaching Biology at a High School Level." I chose this topic because I love biology and i wonder how is teaching Biology different from learning Biology. An Added bonus with this topic is that i knew many people who are Biology teachers and could help me find research and possibly mentor me. Speaking of Mentor I actually already have a mentor his name is Anthony Pittman. I met him during the hike  on Big bear and by the last name most people can deduct that he is Mrs. Pittman husband. He teaches AP Biology at Ayala High School in Chino Hills. I plan to mentor him twice a week for about an 1 and half a day.

So whats next simple research I have Three topics that i would like to go more in depth on. The first is how to teach teenagers and how their brains work. The second topic is Teaching Techniques and the last topic i want to research is common core standards and how are schools integrating to fit these standards.

Blog 8: Research and Working EQ

1.  What is your working EQ?

How can a lab scientist still work diligently but still produce efficient data?

2.  What is a possible answer to your working EQ?

     1) Have them follow the analysis steps properly: this process is the common process that all lab specimens            undergo misuse or not following them may lead to insignificant data

     2) Transcribe the raw data into a short narrative statement so the Doctors may be able to read it                              more correctly  

3.  What is the most important source you have used that has helped you come up with an answer to your working EQ? 

The two most important sources I used to help me come up with n EQ were source #7 " Good laboratory practices for Molecular genetic testing"  and source #9 . "Physician survey of a laboratory medicine interpretive service and evaluation of the influence of interpretations on laboratory test ordering".

4.  Who is your mentor, or where are you volunteering, and how does what you are doing relate to your working EQ?

At the moment i am looking for a new mentor, my original mentor worked at Quest Diagnostics but due to liability issue he couldn't mentor me

Blog 7 : Independent Component 1 Aprroval

1. Describe in details what you plan to do for your 30 hours need for independent component.

I actually have two things i plan to do for this component  The first is what i really would like to do and my second is a fallback option. I have signed up for a college course online certification class for a medical laboratory assistant. Then if I don't get accepted then i plan just to do an addition hours with my mentor.

2. Discuss how or what you will do to meet the exceptions of showing 30 hours of research.  

If I get into the online class i plan to keep all work like essays and other materials if the class can give me credit or have some way of keeping track of what i did in the class i would use that as credit. Then if i do extra mentorship i could take many pictures of me in the lab and then post them on my blog.

3.And explain how what you are doing will explore your topic more in depth

If i get the class the class will show me what a lab assistant must do to become certified but it also give me more textual research to add to my research book like lab techniques and basic testing procedures.
Then if i do extra mentorship that will get hands on experience with lab equipment and have a person to ask questions who could answer in a quick manner.

Medical Laboratory Importance and Roles

What is the first thing you think of a medical lab well for me it was a place were blood and other biological samples are analyse. Now from this first month of senior project behind me I have gained knowledge that I will like to share with you. So back to the first question I ask at the beginning of this post but let me add to my answer the month of research i have done. I have learned that a lab is an amazing place were the lab workers have an equal  role of importance compared to a Doctor. In a lab the workers analyse samples ordered from a clients doctor they file their findings in a lab report then finally send the results back to the doctors to decide what should be done to help client.

The nest question I will like you to ponder on is, What are the many different roles do you think people in a lab will have. There are many different specialty roles like a phlebotomist specialist or a microbiology specialist but in every labs there are three main important roles that each have their own individual roles in a sense like the group roles given for projects at iPoly. The roles are stated below.

Lab Director - A lab director responsibility is that they must direct orders given to all workers of a lab. they must keep the lab in task and make sure everyone in the lab understands what they need and give help to anyone who needs it. A lab director must make sure the lab is running its full potential. This role is similar to the Facilitator role in class in a sense both roles make sure that their co-workers understands what they are analyzing

Lab Scientist - A lab scientist responsibility is they must analyse the analyst and write reports to give to the doctor. This role is similar to the Reporter role in that both roles look at the data given and organize the groups report.

Lab Technician - A lab technician  responsibility is that they must make sure all lab devices work and then us the devices to gather information for the lab scientist to write their lab report. They are responsibility is also they must make sure the lab scientist understands what he is giving them to analyse. This role is similar to the Research Manager both roles get data for the group to look over and draw the details to write a good report.

Lab Assistant - A lab assistant responsibility is to listen to the need of all other lab workers and make sure that everybody in the lab is working at their full potential. The lab assistant also is the person who get specimens from clients they must have good people skills and must be able to report everything important in the client's record to better help the client later. Their role is similar to the Harmonizer role both must make sure the lab gets consensus an be an active listener to the other workers of the lab

So now you know how each role learned at iPoly has been preparing us for the real world in which we must take up one of these roles for actual pay. You have also learned the importance of a lab tech and the process in which specimens are processed



  

Blog 6: Second Interview Questions

1 Who is your mentor and where do they work.

I am still waiting for a response from quest diagnostics so i my by paid with a Clinical Lab Scientist. If they don't reply then i am going to ask the person i mentor with during the summer if there is a possibility i could mentor with her or someone in the lab for my senior project 

2 What five questions would you ask them about their background?

What college majors or degrees do you have?
Where did you acquire those majors or degrees?
What do you like about your job and why? 
What is your average day here at______?
How many years have you been in this medical field?
Why did you decide to become what you are?
Who inspired you or made you think that a job as a clinical lab tech is what you want to do in your life?
Were you always interested in a medical field when you were younger?
On a scaled of 1-10, 1 being i really don't care for about my job and 10 being i love my job i wouldn't want to work any where else, what would you rank you love( or hatred) for this career?

  

Blog 5 Project Reflection and Working EQ

The Pentagon

1 What positive thing happen as a result of what you have completed so far?

The most positive skill that have came out of the first few weeks of my senior project is that thanks to my summer mentorship i have been able to manage my time more efficiently and learn how to prioritize certain task that i need to do.

2 Pick a piece of research or your interview.  How has it helped you improve your understanding of your topic? 

I think source number 4 " Medical Laboratory Technology", This article breaks down the term Lab Technician into its many sub positions and talks about what individual tasks each position have and their importance in the lab. The article also give traits on what kind of people fit each position

3 What has worked for you so far in the senior project?

The interview worked perfectly for me the person I interview was so nice and gave me a lot of useful information and things i could do within the year to help me answer my EQ  

4 What hasn't worked so far?

I still cant find a mentor due to most medical volunteer programs starting in the spring. Also I haven't been able to find a lot of  good quality research that also is including my time limited amount of time on the library's database on Friday.

5A What is a potential question you would like to study this year? 

My potential question i would like to use is " How can a lab tech work diligently and still have efficient data"

5B What do you plan to do for mentorship?  

I plan to try to get into one of the main processing lab over at quest diagnostics. I am talking to one of my dad's old high school friend who is the regional director in charge of all the Quest Diagnostics in the LA country. 

Blog 4: Interview Preparation

1. Who do you plan to Interview, why?

I plan to interview phlembotomist Lab Assistant. My topic is a Clinical Laboratory Technician they mostly analyses specimens but they do not gather and prepare. Her job at Lab department at the Kaiser Permanente in San Dimas is she draws blood and prepare blood and other specimens that she then sends to the main lab. I think she is a reliable interviewee because she could tell me how it is to work in a lab and help me find connections to a CLT.

2. What additional questions do you plan to ask? 

How would you describe a medical lab in Laymen's terms ?
What part of your job do you find most interesting or enjoyable?
How much does your job depend on the completion of task by other workers?