Hey everyone! My name is Nikki and I have recently been hired in the Blood Bank laboratory of a large city hospital. I will be starting in a few days. Some background on myself: I graduated in 2005 with an AS in Clinical Laboratory Technology. After I graduated I took a job in Quality Assurance and for the past 6 years I have been working at that job for a non profit organization (not a lab environment). I decided I wanted to find a job in a lab, applied, and got the interview for Blood Bank Technician. I was honest and said I did not have any recent lab experience and I am not certified. They decided to hire me despite these things and I start next week! My question: how difficult is it going to be for me to learn the blood bank functions since it has been so long since I learned Blood Bank in college?? I will not be doing patient testing but things like Irradiating blood, fulfilling orders for blood, delivering blood to the OR, etc. Any advice for me?? Any recommendations on websites I can go to to review the basics? I am super excited about this opportunity but very nervous! Thanks for listening and for any information you can provide me Nikki
Thank you all for your advice! I have completed my orientation today and will be starting in the lab tomorrow for training. I will take all of what was said here and apply that advice to my new job as I learn. I am happy to hear that some of you started in the blood bank after experience in other labs and were able to learn BB. Thank you again. I feel a little less nervous in starting tomorrow!