I agree with you to a certain extent. We are paid poorly for the
services we provide but we can't sit on our education and experience and
wait for everyone to notice. I too work for an ENT but I made a point of
setting the stage early. I gave him a range of salary I would accept (of
course, he opted for the minimum; however I am the one who set the
range!) and I also informed him of what I expected, i.e.; 1). I was not
a secretary and would not perform in that role, 2). I am not here to
just push buttons, I have a professional opinion and expertise in my
field that I expect to utilize, and 3). I will not perform testing that
is innapropriate or unecessary. This has worked out very well and after
2 years I feel I have earned his respect and he values my opinion. He
now comes to me with patients and asks me what I feel would be the
appropriate testing protocols.
I feel that this is the manner to best deal with our image in the medical
field. Divorcing ourselves from ENT's could be potentially self-
destructive, at least until a time as the respect for our field is
improved. Most states allow for technicians to "push the buttons"; we
have to educate them that we can offer so much more than Betty Crocker
Audiology.
If we set the stage before we accept a position by defining clearly what
we expect our role to be, then we lessen the chance of confrontation
later. And, if we don't get that position, at the very least we have
implanted in that ENT's mind what audiology is all about. Don't lower
your standards to get a job, find a job and set the standards. I myself
sent out over 100 resumes and went to 20+ interviews before I landed this
position. Believe me, from the stories I have heard from other
audiologist, it was worth the wait and the work.
-
JOEL BEALER KVKY70A at prodigy.com
