Beyond technical: training future lab leaders in professionalism.Teaching future laboratorians the technical skills required to excel in their profession is a crucial component present in all clinical laboratory curriculums. Developing students' abilities beyond this, however, is handled in varying ways among higher education higher education Study beyond the level of secondary education. Institutions of higher education include not only colleges and universities but also professional schools in such fields as law, theology, medicine, business, music, and art. institutions. Recent exchanges among educators on Austin Peay This article is about the 20th century Governor of Tennessee. For the public university in Clarksville, Tennessee, see Austin Peay State University. Austin Peay was born June 1, 1876 and died October 2,1927. State University's CLS/MT Educator's Listserve reveal vastly different approaches to teaching, as well as what constitutes "professionalism." The absence of a unified approach and definition may hinder hin·der 1 v. hin·dered, hin·der·ing, hin·ders v.tr. 1. To be or get in the way of. 2. To obstruct or delay the progress of. v.intr. the evolution of the profession into a collaborative role within the healthcare industry. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] "The curriculum for teaching students about the technology in the lab is relatively uniform, while professionalism, advocacy, and leadership training is not," explains Paul Epner, director, Healthcare Improvement Initiatives, Abbott Diagnostics and leader of Abbott's U.S. Labs are Vital program. "Standardization standardization In industry, the development and application of standards that make it possible to manufacture a large volume of interchangeable parts. Standardization may focus on engineering standards, such as properties of materials, fits and tolerances, and drafting of these elements of the curriculum could better equip e·quip tr.v. e·quipped, e·quip·ping, e·quips 1. a. To supply with necessities such as tools or provisions. b. students to transform the role of the laboratorian into a more consultative one." Many factors facilitate expanding the role of the lab professional--including owning the total testing process inside and outside of the lab, assuming a more patient-centered collaborative role with clinicians, and mining data from laboratory information systems to identify variability in the practice of medicine. Developing a standard curriculum that encompasses these activities, as well as the soft skills needed to be successful with these new roles, helps improve the professional profile of the laboratorian. This aligns with the strategic imperatives of the Coordinating Council on the Clinical Laboratory Workforce (CCCLW), which were identified in January. Additionally, cultivating such leadership and professional skills can also increase the visibility and awareness of the lab's importance among medical peers and hospital administrators--a key challenge facing the profession. "To achieve the goals outlined by CCCLW and Labs Are Vital, it is essential for students entering the field to truly understand the ritual of professionalism, which extends beyond basic principles such as timeliness and proper dress to include a personal commitment to lifelong learning Lifelong learning is the concept that "It's never too soon or too late for learning", a philosophy that has taken root in a whole host of different organisations. Lifelong learning is attitudinal; that one can and should be open to new ideas, decisions, skills or behaviors. and professional development," describes Elissa Passiment, executive vice president of the American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science. "Such goals are achieved through professional association membership." Passiment points out that membership in laboratory-professional associations is much lower than in similar physician-focused organizations. This is cause for concern as such associations enable laboratorians to stay abreast of developments in their field. "With several associations from which to choose, laboratorians can select one they really identify with that is an extension of themselves," Passiment adds. The following tips are helpful for laboratorians at any stage of their careers: * Join a laboratory-professional association. Membership helps a lab pro stay abreast of the latest developments in the field. Visit www.labsarevital.com, and click the "Explore and Interact" tab for links to multiple laboratory societies. * Attend professional association's meetings. This valuable time with peers helps fosters continued learning and professional development. * Make a personal commitment to keep lab skills and knowledge current through continuing education continuing education: see adult education. continuing education or adult education Any form of learning provided for adults. In the U.S. the University of Wisconsin was the first academic institution to offer such programs (1904). opportunities. * Understand and adhere to adhere to verb 1. follow, keep, maintain, respect, observe, be true, fulfil, obey, heed, keep to, abide by, be loyal, mind, be constant, be faithful 2. the scope of practice and code of ethics ethics, in philosophy, the study and evaluation of human conduct in the light of moral principles. Moral principles may be viewed either as the standard of conduct that individuals have constructed for themselves or as the body of obligations and duties that a of lab scientists and technicians. * Strive to be a collaborative partner in patient care with clinicians * Be conscious of personal presentation to fellow healthcare workers. "The laboratorians of the future will require soft skills in leadership, advocacy, and professionalism as well as technical competency COMPETENCY, evidence. The legal fitness or ability of a witness to be heard on the trial of a cause. This term is also applied to written or other evidence which may be legally given on such trial, as, depositions, letters, account-books, and the like. 2. ," Epner adds. "We encourage educators to join together in an effort to address this important issue through a standardized standardized pertaining to data that have been submitted to standardization procedures. standardized morbidity rate see morbidity rate. standardized mortality rate see mortality rate. curriculum that will enable future lab leaders to become consultative partners in patient care." While a standardized curriculum provides a solid foundation, professionalism and leadership development should be continued after graduation Graduation is the action of receiving or conferring an academic degree or the associated ceremony. The date of event is often called degree day. The event itself is also called commencement, convocation or invocation. ; professional associations are an excellent resource. LABS ARE VITAL.COM. |
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