Researching About MT

Hello, I'm currently a junior in high school and I'm researching about careers in medical field. Medical Technology specifically captured my interest. But I have a few questions. (I've tried searching for the answers, but I never found any, so please don't tell me to google it.)

1. What's the difference between a Clinical Laboratory Scientist, Clinical Laboratory Technologist, and a Medical Technologist? I read somewhere that "Medical Technologist" was just an older name for it. (Btw, I got the difference between Technologist and Technician figured out already)

2. I'm planning to attend UW-Madison, and take Clinical Laboratory Science. After graduating, would this put me in a laboratory? (Preferably in a hospital?) The only thing I'm worried about is if I will be having direct contact with patients, such as drawing blood and gathering specimen samples. I also read that RN's are the ones designated to perform these "risky" tasks. Is this true?

3. Which branch is the most "exciting"? (Hematology, Bacteriology, Clinical chemistry/Clinical Pathology, Chemistry, Immunohematology, Immunology, Microbiology, Urinalysis)

4. Clinical Laboratory Science: Medical Technology vs. Cytotechnology?

AND 5. Would you consider this as a "rewarding career"? And would you recommend it?

Thanks a bunch. :]

Medical Technologists generally have more training/go to school for longer periods, have what is considered a more advanced degree and more decision making allowed in the field..so med technologists are considered to be higher on the totem pole in the organizational structure than either technicians or clincal lab scientists.Plus medical technologists make more money.
So I would suggest, if you are determined to do this, that you go through an approved/certified medical technologist program.
Generally that requires you go to some sort of undergrad college system for a year or two followed by clinicals at an approved program or hospital.
In a lot of cases you do have to draw blood/perform phlebotomies..It's also a part of the training.When I went through my clinicals we had to be at the VA hospital at 6am to draw blood for the morning workups from the vets hospitalized there..and it wasn't fun but we all had to do it.
As you will soon learn some people are understanding that you have to draw blood and some aren't.Some are rude, some are uncooperative because the doctors and nurses rarely ever tell the patients they have blood work ordered.Some patients regard their hospital stay as as a sort of vacation and are not realistic about being there and the doctors don't bother to educate them about what is required during their stay..also that can make it difficult on the various techs that have to come and deal with them.
As for phlebotomies, some people are excellent at doing them, some are ok/tolerable, some are terrible.I am not a good phlebotomist.I am not afraid to acknowledge it.I am ok if someone has good veins but I have problems with people with poor veins...and you will see a lot of people with poor veins, elderly people, fat people and yes you may have to draw blood from children and even infants/newborns for PKUs, bilirubins and similar tests and that has never been easy for me.
So when you graduate you might want to avoid those situations.

To continue.....

I prefer bacteriology/microbiology.

I believe blood banking is thw worst because of all the potential liability isssues it has.

I believe medical technology is superior to cytotechnology because of lack of technical advancement in the cytotech field.

Do I consider it a rewarding carrer ?
No.
I think for a young person while it is ok as a stepping stone it shouldn't be the be all and end all.It doesn't pay well enough and there's too much lack of respect from higher ups.
So I would recommend anyone cosidering it to become one if you want, work and it for few years, avoid major committments like getting married, buying a new car, house, etc, and use your money and knowledge/experience to return to school in a few years for your master degree/PHD, or if your grades are good enough, try for pharmacy school/pharm d, or medical school.
Good luck.

1. They are all the same and medical technologist is the older term. On the west coast, clinical lab scientist is mostly used.

2. You will have to learn how to draw blood. As a licensed CLS, you are supposed to know. However, once you start working, almost all CLS jobs do not require you to draw blood, nurses and phlebotomists do that. After doing your rotations and passing your licensing exam, you can work in a hospital lab.

3. I like Hematology and Coagulation because it combines microscopic work with running automated instruments.

4. Cytotechs look at slides through microscopes all day, mostly pap smears. However, this may be a dying field as the pap vaccine came out. If you had to choose, CLS is better as there are more options for you in your career.

5. I feel it is rewarding enough. I also would recommend it as it's not that stressful and pays decently.

What about the certification process. I have friends who have had hard times finding hospitals that would accept them for the internship for certification. Would it be wise to maybe go back and get a nursing degree if one doesn't find an internship?

The university I went to has a MT program. Your senior year ( clinicals) is consist of rotating through all the MT departments. Upon completion of the MT Program, you can take ASCP certification exam and NCA. ASCP is a must because majority of hospitals and laboratories only hire someone with that certification.
cons with MT: hard to get a 1st shift position, no advancement unless you put in the years or has a post graduate degree, lack of advancements, unless you work for the CDC or in a major metropolitan hospital you see the same cases everyday.
pros: can't think of any because after graduation I went into medical sales.

Nick, I would not recommend to get a certificate for med tech. Practically, it's like a technician and you only take a few more classes to be a Clinical Laboratory Scientist in sort, Medical Technologist. Go to school, get in the program, get the licence and your salary is way cooler than a technician. Seriously

www.csudh.edu/hhs/dhs/cs/cs.htm

is medical laboratory technologist and clinical laboratory scientist same?

bullet hairuka in Madras, India said: is medical laboratory technologist and clinical laboratory scientist same?

Yes

Nick you will always have a job as a MT, this is a great BS degree. With the implementation of the DCLS you have other options for the field rather than going for a pharmD or MD if you want to advance in your career.

what are the future scope for medical technologist