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I'm a Biomedical Scientist, AMA!

Reply 20

SongBird2020

20

Probably not the best question but is your salary adequate for you and is it hard to get a job after graduating with a degree in Biomedical Science?

Reply 21

RegisteredBMS

OP

16

Original post

by Random_Student

How do you go from graduating with an IBMS accredited degree to working towards being a Biomedical scientist? What are the steps and are there anyways you can fast track that aka by finding
work in a lab in your third year? (which is harddd!)

By doing the Healthcare Science (Life Science) course. After a 3 year degree I already had HCPC registration.

Reply 22

artful_lounger

Universities Forum Helper

21

I meant to ask before, and I think I've seen you say elsewhere, but what banding do BMSs (normally?) start on in the NHS, assuming you've done a Healthcare Science (Life Science) course?

Reply 23

RegisteredBMS

OP

16

Original post

by artful_lounger

I meant to ask before, and I think I've seen you say elsewhere, but what banding do BMSs (normally?) start on in the NHS, assuming you've done a Healthcare Science (Life Science) course?

I did. BMS's start on Band 5. Progression to 6 is pretty much a given as nearly all will complete the Specialist Portfolio. Progression to 7 requires an MSc (or equivalent experience, which is a bit of a loophole/grey area)

Reply 24

gw07mcgheerachel

18

I am studying BSc Hons Biomedical science with HCPC and IBMS accreditation. I am planning on doing the applied route so therefore doing placements in years 3 and 4. Do you believe once I have this I could find a job in Biomedical Science field or would I have to say do a masters and specialise?

Reply 25

Ellie1718

7

Hi, I am a year 13 student and considering whether to take a biological sciences, biomedical sciences or healthcare sciences undergraduate degree. What degree(s) have you taken in order to become a Biomedical Scientist within the NHS? I am also interested in doing the NHS Scientist Training Programme and wonder what your information/thoughts are on the programme. Any help would be appreciated as I am trying to work out what the best pathway would be for me. Thank you :smile:

Reply 26

RegisteredBMS

OP

16

Original post

by gw07mcgheerachel

I am studying BSc Hons Biomedical science with HCPC and IBMS accreditation. I am planning on doing the applied route so therefore doing placements in years 3 and 4. Do you believe once I have this I could find a job in Biomedical Science field or would I have to say do a masters and specialise?

Firstly, no course offers placements in Year 3 AND 4. The version of your course isn't one guarantees HCPC registration. The HCPC do not accredit courses, but University providers use their logo to indicate that IF you complete the registration portfolio that their degree can go with that and eventually lead to HCPC registration.

The NHS placements are often competitive, so it's an if, but IF you complete your registration portfolio then you are eligible to work in the NHS as a Biomedical Scientist.

Reply 27

RegisteredBMS

OP

16

Original post

by Ellie1718

Hi, I am a year 13 student and considering whether to take a biological sciences, biomedical sciences or healthcare sciences undergraduate degree. What degree(s) have you taken in order to become a Biomedical Scientist within the NHS? I am also interested in doing the NHS Scientist Training Programme and wonder what your information/thoughts are on the programme. Any help would be appreciated as I am trying to work out what the best pathway would be for me. Thank you :smile:

It's worth noting, BSc Healthcare Science (Life Science) IS the Practitioner's Training Program. It leads to being a Biomedical Scientist in the NHS. You mention the Scientist Training Program. This is something different, it is postgraduate and leads to being a Clinical Scientist in the NHS. You do not have to do one to do the other, they are different careers.

If you want to be a Biomedical Scientist then BSc Healthcare Science (Life Science) is the best route.

Reply 28

Lostx

20

How can I go about researching schizophrenia to find cures? Would I need to study biomed/neuroscience/some other degree?

Reply 29

RegisteredBMS

OP

16

Original post

by Lostx

How can I go about researching schizophrenia to find cures? Would I need to study biomed/neuroscience/some other degree?

I'm a Biomedical Scientist, I'm not involved in research.

Reply 30

Madoohaa

2

could you perhaps explain the work life balance, is your job very demanding? does it ever get boring? or do you find going into work everyday a joy
what is an average day like as a biomedical scientist and what skills/traits do you think are required to be suited to this job?

Reply 31

SongBird2020

20

How did you revise for your First Year uni exams?

Reply 32

harris358

13

Was it easy to find a biomedical scientist job cause my friend found it really hard

Reply 33

mintchocchip

20

Hi,If i apply for a non accredited Biomedical science degree, how much of a struggle is it to get it IBMS and HCPC approved? If I was hcpc registered and approved by ibms, could I apply for the STP and do, say clinical immunology, and still apply for those BMS specialised in immunology posts?I need to apply for uni next year and I want to study some sort of biological science and go into microbiology or clinical immunology. At the moment I’d like to do the nhs stp but the only jobs relating to those 2 are specialist BMS jobs so I don’t understand what all the people who graduate from the STP do...? How do they find jobs?If you don’t mind me asking, what’s the career progression like? And how much (roughly) do you earn? (You don’t need to answer if you would prefer not to).

Reply 34

RegisteredBMS

OP

16

Original post

by pinkbacon1437

Hi,If i apply for a non accredited Biomedical science degree, how much of a struggle is it to get it IBMS and HCPC approved? If I was hcpc registered and approved by ibms, could I apply for the STP and do, say clinical immunology, and still apply for those BMS specialised in immunology posts?I need to apply for uni next year and I want to study some sort of biological science and go into microbiology or clinical immunology. At the moment I’d like to do the nhs stp but the only jobs relating to those 2 are specialist BMS jobs so I don’t understand what all the people who graduate from the STP do...? How do they find jobs?If you don’t mind me asking, what’s the career progression like? And how much (roughly) do you earn? (You don’t need to answer if you would prefer not to).

If you have a non-accredited Biomedical Science course you're going to have to pay some money to do top-up modules at the very least. The IBMS may even turn around and say your course is that different you need a whole new degree.

Firstly of all, courses aren't HCPC registered, YOU get HCPC registered. But yeah, if you got HCPC registered you could apply for the STP, but you could also even if you weren't registered, so why waste the time and effort?

Jobs come up on the NHS Jobs website.

Your questions seem more related to becoming a Clinical Scientist. I think that's the route you need to do a bit of research around.

Reply 35

Apachecow

19

Does it concern you when test results are reported as positive or negative with little concern given to false negatives etc?

The question popped into my head discussing sexual health screening, but relevant to a lot of tests.

Reply 36

RegisteredBMS

OP

16

Original post

by Apachecow

Does it concern you when test results are reported as positive or negative with little concern given to false negatives etc?

The question popped into my head discussing sexual health screening, but relevant to a lot of tests.

Obviously they do occur, error is a part of everything, but such a significant part of my job as a BMS is Quality Management and that's a massive part of managements role to ensure that we reduce it. I would say it is very rare.

Equally, if it did occur then Medics can often spot erroneous results such as if a result is negative but clinically the patient is presenting with such a strong case.

Equally, the result is only as strong as the sample. There are many reasons a false result can occur but it is not always down to error. It could be simply due to the target organism not being collected during sample taking.

On the topic of Sexual Health screening, I would like to say that a lot of it is done via PCR nowadays due to the sheer volume. This will detect very low quantities of genetic material.