Volume 39 Number 1 | February 2025
Heather R. Parks, MS, MLS(ASCP)CM, ASCLS Today Volunteer Contributor
Since my kids were babies, we’ve been reading But Not the Hippopotamus, by Sandra Boynton. It’s a small, green board book about a shy hippopotamus who feels left out. The moose and goose drink juice at a cafe. The cat and the rats go running. The bear and hare return from a fair with ice cream and balloons. Finally, the animals invite the hippopotamus to join their fun.
How does this relate to the lab, or any workplace? We’ve all been the new person, whether in a different department or an entirely new facility. Have you ever felt left out like the hippopotamus and didn’t know how to fit in? How have you helped someone feel part of the team?
My first hospital lab job was as a lab assistant in Cheyenne, Wyoming. I was given a lot of responsibility, and it was a great learning experience. But I was busy all day, on my feet, often ignored, and left out of the scientific conversations. I had just finished a second bachelor’s degree in microbiology at the University of Wyoming. The lab science program there had recently closed. We were in Wyoming on a military assignment, so my options were limited.
Over time, when I worked hard and continued to show interest in their work, people started to show me things. I saw bacteria and cells in a urinalysis. A supervisor called me over to look at a cell (a neutrophil that looked like a rabbit’s face, ears and all.) Shawna taught me about hemolysis, icterus, and lipemia. Our supervisor handed me chemistry proficiency surveys and told me to handle them just like patient samples. And sweet Darlene never failed to ask me how my day off was.
As a medical laboratory scientist, I’ve also felt excluded when trying to focus on a heavy, complex workload when people around me are seemingly having a party. Sound familiar? If we are lucky, a simple communication of, “Can you help me with this?” or, “Sorry, but I need quiet to concentrate on this antibody/culture/body fluid,” will get the point across. Sometimes we don’t realize how busy our colleagues are and how much we are distracting them with loud conversations. Especially when we are new in a department, plowing through the workload requires extra concentration and help. Helping a new person is a great way to include and support them. I will list some other ideas for fostering inclusion.
- Point out interesting specimens. Show interesting blood smears, gram stains, or urine sediments to your lab assistants. Speaking from experience, they may never forget that you shared a teaching moment with them. They will appreciate the respect.
- Ask for your co-worker’s opinion. Doesn’t it feel good when someone wants your opinion on a cell or difficult specimen? You can still disagree or seek more opinions and expertise, but your co-worker will appreciate that you value their input.
- Help new people settle in. Ask if they have chosen a locker. If not, help them pick one and label it for them. Do they have a mailbox? Show them where to find supplies. Have they had a chance to enroll for benefits, read policies, and complete online training? Do they have a training folder with checklists? I’ve learned that just because someone did those things for me, it may not happen for everyone.
- Include your students. Be patient and kind. Ask for their help. Explain that a heavy workload might mean less talking and you do not mean to be rude. Be receptive to what they can teach us. I like to quiz students and ask them to quiz us. We can all use a review.
- Remember your pathologists. Where I work, our hematology pathologists use an office next to our core lab. The pathologists (who can be quiet and shy) come into our lab to gather slides for review. They have a steady influx of new residents, fellows, and medical students. When we make an effort to meet these new people and encourage communication, it helps them feel like part of our team. I like to ask them how they chose pathology and what subjects interest them most.
Sandra Boynton’s masterpiece, But Not the Hippopotamus, is a quick read. The simple plot and cute cartoon animals lull babies to sleep. I think Ms. Boynton’s message to adults is clear: be nice and include people. We may not realize they are feeling left out.
Reference
- Boynton, S. (2012). But not the hippopotamus, Little Simon.
Heather R. Parks is a Medical Laboratory Scientist in the Core Lab at the University Hospital in San Antonio, Texas.