If you’re someone who enjoys traveling and has an interest in the medical field, being a travel histotechnician may be the ideal job for you. Histotechnicians are medical laboratory professionals who prepare tissue samples for examination under a microscope. The tissues could be from patients undergoing surgery, biopsies or autopsies. As a travel histotechnician, you would have the opportunity to work in different parts of the country and experience different hospital environments.
What Does a Travel Histotechnician Do?
A travel histotechnician performs the same duties as a regular histotechnician, but in different locations. Their responsibilities include:
- Receiving tissue samples from the operating room
- Preparing the samples for testing by embedding them in paraffin wax blocks
- Sectioning the samples into thin slices
- Staining the slices with dyes to make the tissues visible under a microscope
- Examining the tissue samples under a microscope to identify any abnormalities
- Documenting the findings and preparing reports for the pathologist
Education and Training
To become a travel histotechnician, you need to have at least an associate degree in histotechnology or a related field. You can obtain a degree from a community college or a four-year university. In addition, you need to complete a clinical rotations program, which is usually offered by a hospital or a medical laboratory.
You also need to have certification from the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP). The ASCP offers certification for histotechnicians who have completed their associate degree and clinical rotations program, and have passed an exam.
Salary and Job Outlook
The salary of a travel histotechnician varies depending on their level of experience, location, and the hospital or medical laboratory they work for. On average, a histotechnician makes around $50,000 per year. As a travel histotechnician, your salary may be higher due to the additional travel expenses and the demand for your services.
The job outlook for histotechnicians is positive, with a projected growth rate of 13% from 2016 to 2026. This growth is attributed to the aging population and the increasing need for medical laboratory services.
The Benefits of Being a Travel Histotechnician
Being a travel histotechnician offers many benefits:
- You get to travel to different parts of the country and experience different healthcare environments
- You can gain valuable experience in your field and enhance your skills
- You can network with other healthcare professionals
- You can earn a higher salary due to the additional travel expenses
FAQ
Question | Answer |
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What is a travel histotechnician? | A travel histotechnician is a medical laboratory professional who prepares tissue samples for examination under a microscope in different locations. |
What are the responsibilities of a travel histotechnician? | The responsibilities of a travel histotechnician include receiving tissue samples from the operating room, preparing the samples for testing, sectioning the samples into thin slices, staining the slices with dyes, examining the tissue samples under a microscope, and preparing reports for the pathologist. |
What education and training do you need to become a travel histotechnician? | You need at least an associate degree in histotechnology or a related field, completion of a clinical rotations program, and certification from the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP). |
What is the salary of a travel histotechnician? | The salary of a travel histotechnician varies depending on their level of experience, location, and the hospital or medical laboratory they work for. On average, a histotechnician makes around $50,000 per year. |
What are the benefits of being a travel histotechnician? | The benefits of being a travel histotechnician include traveling to different parts of the country, gaining valuable experience, networking with other healthcare professionals, and earning a higher salary. |