Top 7 Traits You Need to Become a Successful Embryology Technologist

September 25, 2014


Practice empathyOne of the most important traits you must have to be successful in an embryology career is the ability to have empathy for your patients. Being able to identify and understand the emotions your patients are having is key to gaining their trust. Often you may work closely with patients that are struggling to conceive and would do anything for a child. This is a stressful and highly emotional situation for couples. The ability to empathize with them makes you part of their “team” and helps to ease their stress and reassure them of the work you are doing on their behalf.

Actively listening is a skill that can be learned very quickly. You might be thinking that you know how to listen, but amazingly, many people are not skilled at listening. Active listening involves turning off your internal dialogue (that voice in your head that says “I’m going to say ‘this’ if she says ‘that…”) and make a conscious effort to let the other person speak, while you try to fully understand what they are saying. An important part of active listening is to face the person when they are speaking, make eye contact, and repeat back to them what they are saying or ask questions like, “What did you do next?” This shows the person you are hearing what they are saying and are focused on them.

The other side of listening is the ability to effectively communicate your own ideas to your patients. This can mean communicating information, details about procedures, things the patient can expect to happen, and also to give encouragement or reassurance to stressed-out families. Excellent embryologists take the time to listen and answer the questions and concerns their patients may have.
Being very attentive to small details is another key aspect of an embryologist's job. You will be working in the lab for a major part of your day, and you will be collecting data and performing delicate procedures designed to help couples conceive. The patients and doctors you work for, as well as your colleagues, rely on you to pay attention to the smallest details of the task at hand, or else there can be serious consequences (even legal ones). Remember to check and re-check your work and never deviate from any set protocols your lab has.

Everyone who works in the healthcare career field needs to have patience, but when you are working in a highly-detailed and scientific field like embryology, where there is a great chance of eggs and sperm failing to lead to reproduction, your ability to remain calm and patient is a great trait to have. People who lack patience and get frustrated easily are often highly emotional and can burn out, even if they're working a job they love.

This ties in with having patience. As an embryologist, you will certainly have to deal with cases where no matter what you, the doctors, or your patients do, the family just cannot conceive. This leads to an emotional roller coaster – this is obviously distressing for the patients, but it can also adversely affect caregivers as well. Learning to accept the ups and downs of this career field, and being mindful of all of the positives and joy you help bring to families in the long run is critical to maintaining your own emotional well-being.

Although you will often work in a lab or clinic setting with set hours, there will be times when you may have to be open to flexible hours and adapt to new situations that can arise in the lab. You may be asked to step in to work with a family that a co-worker has to pass on to someone else, or to take on additional roles when colleagues are out on vacation or leave. Being flexible and open to adapting to any changes in your work environment will make you a valued member of any embryology team.

Expecting
Embryology technologists are an integral part of the journey a family takes to have a baby when they turn to in-vitro fertilization (IVF). This a great career choice for people who enjoy science-based work, but also love to work personally with patients.

The best embryology technologists have the ability to switch between their analytical mind when working in the lab and their emotional heart when dealing with their patients.

Here are the 7 key traits all successful embryology technologists must have.

1. Empathy

2. Actively Listening

3. Communication Skills

4. Attention to Detail

5. Patience

6. Emotional Strength

7. Flexibility and Adaptability

Is Embryology the Right Career Choice for You?

A career as an embryology technologist is rewarding in many ways. From the challenges you face in lab work and data collection to the highly emotional service you provide to families, it's a career filled with satisfaction. The great thing is that the skills needed are attainable by anyone with a little practice and a strong desire. Those that are able to master the traits of highly successful embryologists can go on to have rewarding and enjoyable careers.

If you’re looking for a new career and want to help families grow, then contact AIMS Education today to get started on your path to becoming an embryology technologist.