Thursday, October 29, 2009

Can Anyone else be Pregnant?

Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

I work in the blood bank of a large metropolitan medical center. It is also a Level I Trauma Center. We get all the types of traumas you read about, stabbings, shootings, car accidents, falls and any number of accidents. We have have an active bone marrow transplant unit, perform liver transplants, along with a cancer center and any number of clinics. All of which could require transfusion services. Oh yeah and an OR and patients in beds upstairs...

When someone who doesn't know learns I work at night in a hospital the first reaction is "are you a nurse?" Now I respect nurses, but they aren't the only people who work in a hospital. The next assumption when I tell people I work in a blood bank is "do you draw blood?" Again, I have respect for phlebotomists as well, I have been one myself, but four years of college is not required to draw blood. I am a Medical Technologist [Immunohematology]. Even with an active hospital we still work for outside clinics and medical groups... why not, gun shots don't happen everyday.

Ok now for the pregnant part....those samples you see in the picture are from the various clinics we service. Each one is probably a pregnant woman getting her prenatal work done. A few of that batch are patients or pre ops....we get piles of samples like this every day! Which brings me back to the title question... how many more people can be pregnant?


-------

edit to add: I didn't mean to post the blog yesterday, Instead of hitting save I hit publish..when I noticed there were 5 comments, so I left it. I wanted to find more uses..thanks for the ones you all added.

Also... more exciting news, maybe only to me, but my Indiana friend is coming to Boston next weekend and we are going to see Rob Thomas and hang out in the city...

20 Comments and Reactions:

WhisperingWriter said...

Oh man. I remember getting maybe 4 vials of blood taken when I was pregnant.

I passed out the first time I had it done.

Nikki said...

Thats so cool you work in a hospital! Is it kinda like Greys Anatomy? (sorry but I love love that show and am obsessed with it so I think everyone who works in a hospital has a job like them:)) Sounds like you have a cool job too!

MiMi said...

I love Rob Thomas. LOVE love.

Ekanthapadhikan said...

You find out whether all those women are pregnant? I mean, is that what your job profile is? Finding out how many of them are pregnant?

Joanne said...

I posted a picture on my FB page. My friend was at the Vancouver Rob Thomas concert and saw him walking down the street -- Rob was very obliging about having his picture taken.

I wanted to be a med lab person many many years ago but didn't want to work with poop so ventured elsewhere on my career path.

Joanne said...

PS at this exact moment Smooth is playing on my work radio - my friend said the concert rendition of Smooth was AWESOME!!!

Tamela said...

I swear everyone I know, but me is preggers. Thank goodness! Not realy for kids!

Cathy said...

I have a friend who works in Boston at a hospital...I think at BMC, but I always say the wrong hospital so don't quote me on that.

Anyway, I'm glad other people are pregnant....less pressure on me!

Stephanie Faris said...

I have an observation. It's SO rare that I see a pregnant person in my daily travels, I've noticed. Yet there are kids everywhere. Where are all the pregnant women? Oh, I'll see one occasionally but it's just not as common as it should be, considering all the kids that are out there.

Betty Manousos:cutand-dry.blogspot.com said...

Interesting job you have!
Hope you're having a great time!
hugs hugs

plainolebob said...

VL,
we know them little vampire critters hang out at them blood banks too, have you ever seen any of them vampires up close?
Do they get pregnant too?
BIG HUGS

The Good Cook said...

Um... you work nights? With blood? Is there anything else you want to tell us???

Steven Anthony said...

preggers.....I think pregnant women are so beautiful;)

adrienzgirl said...

That pic you posted, probably only one pregnant woman. They take like a gazillion vials of blood when you find out your pregnant. I hate having blood drawn.

S3XinthePantry said...

love the pic & learning more about your work. I have the opposite experience of S.F. Where I am it does feel like everyone is pregnant (or in the process of adopting)

Stacy (the Random Cool Chick) said...

Love hearing more about what you do!

And LOL!! on The Good Cook's comment!! :)

Melissa B. said...

Wow...do you have Hospital Drama like on Grey's Anatomy? And the night shift, too. I admire you even more, now...

blueviolet said...

It keeps you employed, right? :)

plainolebob said...

VL, I love the comments on here, I come back just to read them, you have a fabulous group of followers.
BIG HUGS

Deb Thaxton said...

-->I work for a hospital as a web manager...you can't get much further from a nurse than that!

www.WebSavyMom.com