From the Farm to the Laboratory: Stories in Retraining Technologists

Abstract

away from cancer of the kidney. Schutte was faced with a farm that was in debt, no insurance, and the responsibility of raising 5 children, ages 12 to 20 [I1]. While she had studied to be a medical technologist before getting married, she had never worked as a technologist, nor even taken her boards. More than 20 years had passed since her days as a student. During that time, Schutte was immersed in changing diapers and packing lunches, rather than pipetting samples and running assays. Twenty years also represented monumental changes in laboratory technology. Schutte needed a job to provide for her family, but she was left with the harsh reality that she was unqualified to work in the medical laboratory. However, Schutte also had a friend in Phyllis Muellenberg. Schutte and Muellenberg knew each other from Schutte’s days as a student in Yankton, SD. They had kept in touch through the years as Muellenberg had moved to Omaha, NE, and was the Program Director of the Division of Medical Technology at the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC). “I knew she would be the one to talk to,” said Schutte. “I knew she could help me, if anyone could.” Muellenberg did indeed help. In 1990, as a result of Schutte’s request, Muellenberg developed a plan where Schutte could complete all of the courses in the Student Laboratory Phase during an 11-week summer session. “The family was quite devastated when the father died unexpectedly. She (Schutte) had never worked (in a laboratory). She just came to see if she could get some help. We had done some things before, but nothing formal,” Muellenberg said. After the in-class summer session, arrangements were also made for Schutte to complete rotations at a full-service laboratory near Schutte’s home (Sacred Heart Hospital, Yankton, SD). While Yankton, SD was within daily driving distance of the Schutte farm in Dixon, NE, the trip to Omaha for the daily classes was a daunting 120 miles away. Luckily, Schutte’s children could help out. Schutte’s second oldest child, Gena, was in pharmacy school at Creighton University in Omaha. During the 11-week retraining session, Schutte would stay with her daughter Monday through Friday. Schutte’s oldest son, Stephen, was a recent graduate of Creighton. At 21, he ran the farm during the week and watched over the younger children. “We all pulled together, doing whatever was expected of us to make it.” said Schutte. From the Farm to the Laboratory: Stories in Retraining Technologists Medical Technology Programs Tailor to the Needs of Individuals