Histotechnologist Trainee

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Join Team Tidelands and help people live better lives through better health!

Histotechnologist - Trainee (2318)
Are you passionate about quality and committed to excellence? Consider joining our Tidelands Health team. As our region's largest health care provider, we are also one of our area's largest employers. More than 2,500 team members at more than 70 Tidelands Health locations bring our healing mission to life each day.

A Brief Overview
The Histotechnologist Trainee will participate in a structured training program designed to develop competency in routine histology procedures under the guidance and supervision of qualified laboratory staff. The trainee gains hands-on experience in tissue fixation, processing, embedding, microtomy, and staining of human tissue specimens using Hematoxylin and Eosin (H&E) and special staining techniques for diagnostic evaluation. Training also includes exposure to advanced histologic procedures, such as immunohistochemistry (IHC). Upon successful completion of the six-month training program and demonstration of required competencies, the trainee will be signed off and advanced to the Histotechnologist I position.

What you will do

• Develop embedding skills by recognizing tissue type, orientation requirements, mold selection, paraffin handling, and block quality; submit work for review until competency is demonstrated.

• Develop microtomy skills by safely operating the microtome, facing blocks, cutting routine paraffin sections at approved thickness, using the water bath, placing sections on slides, and recognizing artifacts or sectioning issues.

• Complete structured histology trainee orientation and competency-based training under direct supervision, including department workflow, policies, standard operating procedures, quality expectations, and trainer feedback.

• Assist with routine H&E staining, coverslipping, slide drying, reagent preparation, solution changes, automated stainer operation, and basic stain quality review according to established procedures.

• Learn tissue fixation and processing principles and, once trained, assist with loading and unloading tissue processors, selecting approved processing schedules, documenting runs, and escalating discrepancies or instrument concerns.

• Assist with specimen receipt, accession verification, labeling, cassette and slide preparation, specimen tracking, and documentation while maintaining patient identification, specimen integrity, and chain-of-custody requirements.

• Observe and assist with special stains, immunohistochemistry, control slide use, non-gyn/cell block support, frozen section or FNA-related support, and other advanced histology functions only as assigned and under appropriate supervision.

• Perform basic quality control activities within trainee scope, including checking slide/block labels, recognizing unacceptable sections or stains, documenting corrective actions, and submitting work for review before release.

• Maintain instruments, workstations, reagents, supplies, and storage areas by assisting with daily cleaning, preventive maintenance logs, inventory checks, chemical labeling, and supply restocking.

• Follow laboratory safety, infection control, PPE, chemical hygiene, hazardous waste, sharps safety, and confidentiality requirements; promptly communicate errors, delays, equipment issues, or safety concerns to the trainer, lead, or supervisor.

Education Qualifications

• High School Diploma or GED Required

Experience Qualifications

• Previous experience in a clinical laboratory, healthcare setting, or science-related environment Preferred

Skills and Abilities

• Demonstrated excellence in core value customer skills required.

• Strong PC skills required.

• Strong Analytical skills required.

• EPIC Experience preferred.

Physical Demand
Light-Medium Physical Demand
The intent of this job description is to provide a representative and level of the types of duties and responsibilities that will be required of positions given this title and shall not be construed as a contract for employment nor a declaration of the total of the specific duties and responsibilities of any particular position. Employees may be directed to perform tasks other than those specifically presented in this description.

Tidelands Health is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to providing employment opportunity without regard to an individual's age, color, disability, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or veteran status.

Tidelands Health is an equal opportunity employer (EOE). Tidelands Health does not discriminate against employees or applicants for employment on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, age, national origin, disability, marital status, veteran status, gender, genetic information, familial status, or any other legally protected status.