Expert: Kathleen RN - 12/23/2011

Question
QUESTION: What are the primary differences between nurses and lab techs? I mean obviously patients will see the nurses and not the techs, and I assume the techs do more tests than nurses do, and the nurses draw the samples that are to be tested. But there must be some degree of overlap? When it comes to lab work maybe? All I know is I wanted to get into the lab tech program and it bothers me that a 4 year degree in lab technologies will still pay less than a 2 year degree in nursing.


I had a second question, but there were no experts in the general surgery section. I was wondering if people tend to be depressed after surgery? When I had my appendix out in April I felt euphoric at first for a day or two, but than I started to have some dark philosophic feelings. I still haven't quite felt the same and my stomach tissues still feel weird.

ANSWER: Hello James,
thanks for the questions. You are right, lab techs do make less than nurses. But, I can say in my experience in my ER the nurses draw all our own labs, and those samples are sent to the lab. However coming in march we will be getting "IStats" which will allow us to run our own blood, getting results that much quicker. As for your surgical question, I don't know what the statistics are regarding depression. I can speculate that you still had some of the anasthesia on board the first couple of days. It can take 48 hours or longer, depending on how quick you metabolized the drugs. Coming "down" off of it you might have experienced some down type feelings. As far as your "tissues" feeling weird, it is the most likely that it is scar tissue that can be in there that is causing that feeling. If you have pain I urge you to speak with the surgeon who performed the surgery and discuss what you have written. Hope this helps. Happy holidays!          Sincerely, KathleenY2

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: So would you say nurses are paid more than lab techs because they do a lot of lab tech work, or more because they work directly with the patients and in that way represent the hospital? A better union?

Answer
Hello James,
I would say that nurses make more than lab techs, related to our training, spending more time with patients, having to have the best assessment skills. We start IV's, lab techs do not, we administer life saving medications and are the eyes and ears for the doctors. Most people believe it is the doctor that saves lives when in fact it is the nurse who notifies the doctor when something is wrong, then carry out the doctors orders. If the doctor orders are wrong or questionable it is the nurses responsibilty to catch it. We work very long hours, weekends and holidays, we are on the front line. In the ER it is a team effort, but a nurse has to be on her game. A lab tech draws the labs, brings them back to the lab and runs them. If a lab is critical the lab tech will call and notify the nurse, not the doctor. It is the nurses responsibilty to monitor the patient for all adverse effects of medication, it is a huge amount of responsibilty that nurses have. I won't take anything away from any member of a hospital as I cannot do my job without my lab techs, docotrs and even my house keepers who have to get those rooms ready for the next patient without compromising patient safety. That's what I meant that it is a team effort. I hope this answers your questions James. Good luck, and again safe a happy holidays.          KathleenY2