Another term for a medical technologist is a clinical laboratory scientist and these medical professionals play a vital role in the hospital’s overall operation.
A medical technologist is responsible for running a number of different tests.
One of the reasons why this role is so crucial is that doctors use laboratory test results to make choices about first diagnosing and treating various types of disease.
The medical technologist has to ensure that they give the doctor data that is both precise and accurate.
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What Are the Pros of Being a Medical Technologist?
There are a number of pros that go along with choosing to be a medical technologist.
Advancement Opportunities
One of them is the opportunities for advancement that you have when you are a medical technologist.
You can move up to a supervisory position in the hospital laboratory if you are a medical technologist and you do your job well.
Plenty of Job Opportunities
Another pro of being a medical technologist is that there are plenty of job opportunities for those who are qualified to be medical technologists.
As you likely know, many medical technologists work in a medical facility of some sort, such as a hospital.
However, medical technologists might also work in research labs, industrial labs, and clinics.
Medical technologists also might be part of the technical development, service, or sales department of a medical supply company, as well.
Field That Has Very Good Job Growth
One more pro of being a medical technologist is the fact that the job growth in this field is certainly better than average.
According to statistics from the US Bureau of Labor, the medical technologist field is expected to enjoy a total of 14% job growth between the year 2012 and the year 2022.
As a result, it is expected that you won’t have to worry about a decline in job growth if you decide to be a medical technologist.
Specialization Options
You will also find that the specialization options are one more pro of choosing to be a medical technologist.
There are a total of six primary areas that medical technologists work in if they work in a hospital laboratory.
These six primary areas are blood banking, chemistry, microbiology, urinalysis, coagulation, and hematology.
It is vital for any medical technologist that works in a blood bank to stay organized and be as accurate as possible.
Good Salary
Medical technologists also receive a fair salary, given the importance of the work that they do.
In the United States, the average salary for a medical technologist is approximately $70,000.
These salary figures are the most recent salary figures that are available and they state that the range for a medical technologist’s salary in the United States lies between $66,000 and $78,000.
Certifications, how much experience you have in the field, and your education all affect your salary as a medical technologist.
Opportunity to Help Others
You also have the opportunity to help other people if you decide to be a medical technologist.
You can do this in a number of different ways.
One way in which you can help someone else as a medical technologist is to perform complex testing that reveals certain diseases such as cancer, AIDS, and diabetes.
You might not provide them with treatment for their condition, but the testing you perform is the first step in helping them get that treatment.
Diversity of Tasks
When it comes to being a medical technologist, one pro is that you are likely to complete various tasks each day.
One common example of a task that you might do as a medical technologist is to perform a straightforward pregnancy test.
However, you might also have to monitor how someone is responding to a treatment plan involving antibiotic drug therapy.
Medical technologists use different technology and this can range from computers to complicated electronic equipment and even microscopes.
High Level of Education
One more pro of being a medical technologist is that it means that you are quite highly educated.
As a result, it is certainly possible for you to be a medical technologist for a bit, then move on to medical school.
This high level of education also means that you can also try to get other health-related jobs as well.
Opportunities to Supervise and Train Others
One final pro of being a medical technologist is that you might have the opportunity to supervise or train other staff members.
This can both prove rewarding and help the medical facility run more efficiently at the same time.
It is also possible that you might learn something from training someone else, too.
What Are the Cons of Being a Medical Technologist?
High-pressure Occupation
One con of being a medical technologist is that the position often puts you under a lot of pressure.
It is critical that you can function well even when under considerable pressure.
A medical technologist must realize when the test results are inaccurate so that they can check them again.
This is especially important since it is entirely possible that getting accurate test results may be a matter of life and death.
Long Work Hours
Medical technologists often have to work long hours and this may require them to work nights in addition to working on the weekend.
Working long hours is a con of being a medical technologist.
Medical technologists often must perform tests late at night or on the weekend, so this is important to remember.
The Possibility of Required Licensing
Some states in the US require you to be licensed to work as a medical technologist.
This is not the case for every state, but it is common enough that it should be mentioned.
You might have to get a license so that you can be a medical technologist.
Some of the states that require you to become licensed are Florida, Louisiana, Georgia, Hawaii, New York, and Rhode Island.
Exposure to Fumes Created by the Use of Certain Chemicals
One more con that goes along with being a medical technologist is that you might be exposed to fumes that are created due to the use of specific chemicals.
The types of fumes that you might be exposed to depend on the medical facility and what chemicals that facility uses regularly.
Difficult to Break Into the Field
Another con worth mentioning is that it takes quite a bit of skill or experience to get into the field of being a medical technologist.
You can also be a medical technologist if you have a significant amount of knowledge relating to medical technology.
Limited Resources
Just because you are a medical technologist does not mean that the medical facility where you work has adequate resources.
The opposite may be true.
Even if you are asked to handle a greater workload, you might find that you do not have sufficient resources to take care of all of the necessary tests.
Issues With Management
Another potential con of being a medical technologist is that you might find that it is difficult to work effectively with the management.
One problem that can contribute to such difficulties is a lack of communication or ineffective communication.
In either case, if you don’t communicate with the management frequently and effectively, it can lead to a variety of issues.
Limited Company Engagement in Training
You might find that you have to undergo training to be a medical technologist.
However, even if that is the case, that does not necessarily mean that there is a great deal of company engagement in the training.
Instead, you might see that you are expected to complete the training mostly on your own without too much involvement from the management.
Lack of Recognition
Being a medical technologist also means that you might not get the recognition that you might expect.
Of course, it is likely that your patients will recognize how you helped them.
This lack of recognition is more common between you and the upper management.
Should You Become a Medical Technologist?
Some pros of being a medical technologist are the specialization options and the opportunities to help other people.
A few cons are long work hours and the job’s high-pressure nature.
A medical technologist position may not be right for you if you want shorter hours or less pressure.
However, medical technologists have good salaries and are in high demand.
If you have the skills, being a medical technologist can be a good choice, especially if you have experience.
Pros and Cons of Being a Medical Technologist Summary Table
| Pros of Being a Medical Technologist | Cons of Being a Medical Technologist |
|---|---|
| Advancement Opportunities | High-Pressure Occupation |
| Plenty of Job Opportunities | Long Work Hours |
| Field That Has Very Good Job Growth | The Possibility of Required Licensing |
| Specialization Options | Exposure to Fumes Created By The Use of Certain Chemicals |
| Good Salary | Difficult to Break Into The Field |
| Opportunity to Help Others | Limited Resources |
| Diversity of Tasks | Issues With Management |
| High Level of Education | Limited Company Engagement in Training |
| Opportunities to Supervise and Train Others | Lack of Recognition |
