Professional development activities of medical technologists: management implications for allied health.

Professional development activities enable individuals to develop beyond the fundamental skills, competencies, knowledge, and attitudes required for their present jobs. The process focuses on improving organizational efficiency while relying on the development of the individual employee. This study tracked a sample of 392 early-career medical technologists (MTs) to investigate antecedents of professional development. Results suggested that there were two related but distinct types of professional development, scholarship and administrative. Data from 1994 and 1997 repeat respondents indicated that both types of professional development increased. A differential pattern of significant correlates to each type of professional development emerged. The link between professional development and employees' occupational commitment may provide guidance to the allied health professions.

CLS advanced degrees and career enhancement. Part 1--Comparison of career data.

OBJECTIVE: Determine whether recipients of clinical laboratory science (CLS) advanced degrees (MS) experience greater career achievements than their baccalaureate level (BS) colleagues. DESIGN: Two similar questionnaires were used-one for certified or licensed CLS professionals who had earned advanced CLS degrees (MS); the other for matched BS CLS colleagues. SETTING: Five academic programs that conduct both National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences accredited CLS education and CLS MS degree programs participated. PARTICIPANTS: The number of survey respondents was 220, 117 with advanced CLS degrees and 103 BS level controls. There were 99 matched pairs, i.e., 198 individuals were matched for gender, residence region, and years of experience. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Careers of BS vs. MS respondents were statistically compared, e.g., fractions with managerial level jobs, relative earnings increases per year, numbers of publications and reports, and other professional contributions. RESULTS: Compared to their BS degree controls, MS degree respondents had more managerial level jobs (62% MS; 36% BS), a higher frequency of job change (once per 4.3 years MS; once per 5.9 years BS), and a higher increase per year of earnings (9.1% MS; 8.1% BS). A greater percentage of the MS degree graduates (77%) than the BS level controls (33%) had authored external publications; the responses related to authorship of institutional reports and procedures were less different-84% MS and 64% BS. Professional contributions to their institutions or profession were cited slightly more frequently by the MS graduates (65%) than by the BS level controls (55%). CONCLUSION: Compared to their matched BS level CLS colleagues, CLS MS degree recipients had greater job mobility, greater management authority, higher salary, and more numerous professional contributions.

CLS advanced degrees and career enhancement. Part 2--A comparison of perceptions.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether recipients of clinical laboratory science (CLS) advanced degrees (MS) perceive greater career enhancement value related to earning an advanced degree than is perceived by their baccalaureate level (BS) colleagues. DESIGN: Two questionnaires were used-one for certified or licensed CLS professionals who had earned MS CLS degrees; the other for matched BS CLS colleagues. SETTING: Five academic programs that conduct both National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences accredited CLS education and CLS MS degree programs participated. PARTICIPANTS: The number of survey respondents was 220 (117-MS; 103-BS level controls). The groups were matched for gender, residence region, and years of experience. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary outcome measurements were the perceived benefits of having a CLS MS degree, the reasons for and against obtaining a CLS MS degree, and the overall evaluation of CLS degree programs at both levels. RESULTS: The highest perceived benefit of having a CLS MS degree was the same in both groups, "enhanced self esteem and confidence". The highest priority motivation of MS degree recipients for obtaining a CLS advanced degree was "personal satisfaction". The highest priority reason of the BS group for not obtaining a CLS advanced degree was "family obligation". In both levels of degree programs the subject most commonly cited as needing modification was laboratory management. CONCLUSION: The results indicate that CLS professionals who have CLS MS degrees perceive a greater career enhancement value of advanced CLS degrees than their BS level colleagues.

Comparison of hemagglutination and solid phase titration methods for determination of critical prenatal antibody titers.

The hemagglutination (HA) tube method is the standard method for determination of antibody titer in prenatal samples. Most facilities use a titer between 8 and 32 as their definition of a critical value when amniocentesis may be considered. This study determined if there is a relationship between the results of HA tube and solid phase (SP) titers performed on the same sample. Forty-six paired samples containing known antibody were titrated by both HA tube and SP methods and the results subjected to data analysis. We conclude that there is a strong correlation between HA tube and SP methods in titer end points; i.e., SP was greater than or equal to HA in every case. In addition, the appropriate critical SP titer is 64, which is at least equivalent to an HA critical titer of 16.