Employee Spotlight

Q. How long have you been working for SSCHS?

A. It will be six years in June.

Q. Can you describe what a typical work day is like for you?

A. Right now I'm also working as a phlebotomist so in the morning I come in and do all the phlebotomy, outpatients and inpatients, and help with swabbing. In the afternoon I go back to the lab and do technician work like maintenance on machines and various little jobs. I check ECGs, calibrate machines (get them ready for a new tester re-agent). In the afternoon, I do stat work. We process all the COVID swabs too. Honestly I do a little bit of everything! I'm also part of Joint Health and Safety Committee.

Also, right now we're doing a lab audit. Every four years lab accreditation comes in and it's very intense. Every two years we do a self audit to make sure everything is up to date. It's a lot of work so that's occupying our time right now too.

Q. Who do you interact with the most at work?

A. In the morning I have a lot of patient interaction, which is nice. Sometimes I interact with the nurses if I'm going into emerge, and front reception because they register all my patients. It's a nice change up from talking to the same people all day. Talking with all different people gives me the boost of energy to get through my day.

Q. How would your co-workers describe you?

A. They would say I'm outgoing and probably that I'm kind of weird! I'm the one who pops in and makes random funny comments. I think they'd also say I'm helpful. I help a lot of different departments.

Q. What's the best part about your job and working for SSCHS?

A. First of all, I love my co-workers. I also like the feeling that I'm helping people. At the end of the day I feel like I've accomplished something. I dabble in a little bit of everything so it never gets boring. I like working for SSCHS because they want us to flourish in our careers. They want me to go back to school for lab so they're encouraging me to further my career.

Q. What is one part of your job that might surprise people?

A. We work in a lab but because we're such a small hospital, we're actually able to go in and help nurses. I've responded and helped with CPR, for example. In a big hospital you'd probably never get that opportunity. Even the amount of blood that I run, most lab technicians in hospitals do phlebotomy and don't' even run machines. We have a smaller facility so you have to step up and help where you're needed and I love that.

Q. What made you decide to get into this field of work?

A. Honestly, I have the worst answer for this! I took a few years off after high school. My parents were pressuring me to figure out what I wanted to do so I found something that was short and sweet. My program was one year. I jumped in and got my certificate fast. I always liked science and was interested in health care. I also watched a lot of CSI growing up, and it made me want to be in a lab. This program was a really quick way to get there.

Q. What are some of your interests outside of work?

A. I'm really nerdy, I love Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings. I like a bunch of different movies and books. I like to downhill ski. I'm a bit of hermit.