laboratory

[persianprep08]

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I posted this in Medical students as well b/c i wanted to get everyone's take on it.

I was wondering what the difference between laboratory work and research is. I am currently doing research but it is at a community college so I don’t know how prestige it will be for my application. So I looked at my transfer university and they have a internship for pre-med/health students and it provides laboratory work, but no research. Is there a significant difference?

Also, I am getting my bachelor of science in Clinical Laboratory Sciences. Will this be enough as far as laboratory work goes since my whole degree is in that? Pretty much all my classes the last 2 years are to pre-pare me for lab work. After getting this degree I am a certification test away from actually being able to work in a lab (though I‘m not planning to take it).

Thank you in advance.

 

[RevMD]

I would assume that laboratory work and research are interchangeable terms unless otherwise specifically stated in the job description. Sometimes labs just look for students who can do the grunt work like dishes, chemical stock management, and basic preps. But in most cases, if they are looking for a someone to work in the lab, then it means they want you to hands-on involved in a project, keep a lab notebook, and all that.

Doing research at a community college does not make it any less significant than doing research at a university or corporation. It is how well you perform the research tasks that determine whether the experience is meaningful.

Lab courses are not a substitute for actual research in a real lab. In almost all cases, you should not need any certification to even get into a lab. Simply approaching a research professor or applying to a summer research program is usually that it takes to get started.

 

[persianprep08]

I didn't mean to get a certificate to work in any lab. i meant as a clinical laboratory scientist. they are the ones that test the bloods for different things.

Anyways, thanks for the responce. this is a volunteer program, there isn't a stipen provided, but there is mentoring. so i'm gussing they want people to actually work in the lab not just dirty work.

 

[futureboy]

I didn't mean to get a certificate to work in any lab. i meant as a clinical laboratory scientist. they are the ones that test the bloods for different things.

Why not take the certification test? It may be an interesting/useful credential.

 

[persianprep08]

because my dad will freak out, lol. he would think that i have given up on medicine or have concidered the idea that i may not get accepted. he won't even let me concider not getting accepted.
but the only reason i'm doing this degree is because its at a graduate school that has a medical school as well. and i have been told by the representetive that the chances of my acceptance in their school goes up if i get my degree from there because they know we have been thought well and all that.
i guess if i don't get in anywhere i will take the test...but i am currently not allowed to think like that 🙂

also, since i'm applying junior year i won't have the certificate by the then. so it won't really be a useful credential as you put it, cuz they won't know if i am or am not going to take it. also i won't get to work or anything b4 my application so it won't be work experience ether.

 

[willen101383]

I didn't mean to get a certificate to work in any lab. i meant as a clinical laboratory scientist. they are the ones that test the bloods for different things.

Anyways, thanks for the responce. this is a volunteer program, there isn't a stipen provided, but there is mentoring. so i'm gussing they want people to actually work in the lab not just dirty work.

I posted about this in another thread. I am a MT (older version of CLS). I have been doing this for years now and "used" it as clinical experience as opposed to research stuff. MT/CLS duties are nothing like research in any way.

 

[willen101383]

because my dad will freak out, lol. he would think that i have given up on medicine or have concidered the idea that i may not get accepted. he won't even let me concider not getting accepted.
but the only reason i'm doing this degree is because its at a graduate school that has a medical school as well. and i have been told by the representetive that the chances of my acceptance in their school goes up if i get my degree from there because they know we have been thought well and all that.
i guess if i don't get in anywhere i will take the test...but i am currently not allowed to think like that 🙂

also, since i'm applying junior year i won't have the certificate by the then. so it won't really be a useful credential as you put it, cuz they won't know if i am or am not going to take it. also i won't get to work or anything b4 my application so it won't be work experience ether.

Hey now.......I dont think too many MTs/CLSs (myself included) would appreciate you hinting that their MT credential to be "not useful." It is incredibly useful. Dont count your eggs before they hatch. You MAY NOT get into med school and have to work after you graduate...and your dad has no control over that, unless he has unloaded millions on a med school, is faculty. MTs are in short supply and it is reasonably easy to get a job. An MT gets you pretty good pay relative to many people right out of undergrad with a BS. And on the side....arent you a bit old to be ushered around by your dad about YOUR future? Your post bleeds immaturity.

 

[persianprep08]

I didn't mean it was useless in life. i meant it wouldn't make my medical application look better since i'll be taking the test after i apply and i wouldn't have had worked as an CLS before i apply. so i can't use that as clinical experience ether since classes don't count.
I didn't mean to bash anyone.
I'm Iranian...we are never to old for parental control 🙂
Besides its good cuz it shows howmuch faith he has in me getting accepted. makes me more confident. and i WANT to be a doctor so he isn't one of those dads telling me to do something even if i have other dreams.

Sorry if i offended you.

 

[scapermoya]

my mom recently told me about a persian patient of hers.

she informed the patient that his condition was dire, and he had little time left. he refused to tell his family this, something about not wanting to spread bad news.

ever heard something like that?

 

[mvenus929]

I'm guessing your lab work won't be research work, because it'll be in a clinical laboratory. Generally, the med techs don't do research (we have some people drop off specimens for their research, but the med techs just run the tests or send them out, not participate in the research itself).

Working in a research lab may involve the same time of lab work, but in a different setting. Rather than figuring out what's up with a patient, you'll be trying to figure out the effectiveness of x, or something of the sort.

 

[persianprep08]

my mom recently told me about a persian patient of hers.

she informed the patient that his condition was dire, and he had little time left. he refused to tell his family this, something about not wanting to spread bad news.

ever heard something like that?

No i have never heard anything like that. it was prob just personal. maybe he doesn't like seeing his parents sad or thinks they are to emotionally weak to handle it. i don't think its anything cultural though

 

[persianprep08]

I'm guessing your lab work won't be research work, because it'll be in a clinical laboratory. Generally, the med techs don't do research (we have some people drop off specimens for their research, but the med techs just run the tests or send them out, not participate in the research itself).

Working in a research lab may involve the same time of lab work, but in a different setting. Rather than figuring out what's up with a patient, you'll be trying to figure out the effectiveness of x, or something of the sort.

Thanks. that sounds right. i knew it counted towards something just not what. i will def get certified if i don't get accepted. just hope i don't have to 🙂

 

[BlueElmo]

When I did research, it was mostly grunt work, and laboratory coursework was almost no different. But those two are different, and I don't think you can put down lab class as research experience.

 

[willen101383]

Thanks. that sounds right. i knew it counted towards something just not what. i will def get certified if i don't get accepted. just hope i don't have to 🙂

Do you have to do the internship as part of your CLS program? If so..why wouldnt you just sit for the CLS exam??? Its only a few hundred bucks. You only get to live once...why would you give up the chance to have that credential even if you are planning on med school. 😕 Just my 02

 

[persianprep08]

Do you have to do the internship as part of your CLS program? If so..why wouldnt you just sit for the CLS exam??? Its only a few hundred bucks. You only get to live once...why would you give up the chance to have that credential even if you are planning on med school. 😕 Just my 02

No the internship is for med school. i'm part of a two year research/mentorship program at my comunity college but i'm transferring in the fall and was looking for something for the next two years. wasn't sure what "laboratory work" was (that's what the website called it). i may go ahead and take the test, its two years away anyways. way to early to be thinking about all that.

 

[willen101383]

No the internship is for med school. i'm part of a two year research/mentorship program at my comunity college but i'm transferring in the fall and was looking for something for the next two years. wasn't sure what "laboratory work" was (that's what the website called it). i may go ahead and take the test, its two years away anyways. way to early to be thinking about all that.

Gotcha. I didnt know if you were in a formal CLS program. When I was your age my father (a doc) drilled into my head that it is important to have a backup plan. So I always had a backup until I finally got into med school. I became a MT after my bachelors bc my GPA wasnt high enough....then I did my masters in forensics...again for a backup....then finally got in. I just feel that its important to have something you like to fall back on....since med school is a crap shoot and you never know what will happen. If you have any real questions about clinical lab medicine feel free to PM me.

 

[persianprep08]

this actually seems like a pretty good back up. by brother has a biology degree and it took him a while to get into med school (he finally went to the carrabians this semester). if he had needed to work there isn't much out there for him with just a bacholar. so as you said this is a pretty good paying job for a BS.
i was going to get a BS in biology too, but now that i have changed plans i am saddened by all the chemistry classes i still have to take 🙁

Thank you for the offer. i will keep that in mind if i come across any problems or questions.

 

[mvenus929]

this actually seems like a pretty good back up. by brother has a biology degree and it took him a while to get into med school (he finally went to the carrabians this semester). if he had needed to work there isn't much out there for him with just a bacholar. so as you said this is a pretty good paying job for a BS.
i was going to get a BS in biology too, but now that i have changed plans i am saddened by all the chemistry classes i still have to take 🙁

Thank you for the offer. i will keep that in mind if i come across any problems or questions.

Depending on the program, you could, in theory, do both. I have a BS in biology and applied for a year-long internship to become a med tech. I got accepted into the program, but ultimately decided that I didn't want to go that route. Mostly because medical school was still my goal and I didn't want to do the year internship (which I've heard is pretty hard) just to turn around and go to medical school right after (which I know is going to be hard. Plus, I like my patient interaction.