A Day in the Life of a Surgical Tech

The operating room isn’t just for doctors 和 nurses.

手术助手, also called surgical 和 operating room technicians, are critical members of the healthcare team, working closely under the supervision of surgeons to assist on life-saving surgical procedures.

We talked with 斯蒂芬妮·艾伦, a surgical technology instructor at Herzing大学, about how she got started as a 外科手术技术 和 what students need to know about working in the operating room.

Why did you decide to become a surgical tech? How did you get started in your career?

I had always wanted to be a surgeon, but did not want the life of a surgeon (having to be on call 24/7). After taking the MCAT, I decide to change my major. 最终，我找到了一个 surgical technology program that was exactly what I was looking for. I knew this was a career that I could love doing for the rest of my life. To this day, I truly love what I do 和 would not want to do anything else.

外科医生是做什么的? What does your typical day look like?

The surgical tech (ST) is one of the most important people in the operating room. We know every surgical procedure inside 和 out 和 we have to prepare for everything that could go wrong. One of the most important things we do is abide by strict aseptic technique, to make sure that everything is sterile for the procedure. We can also assist the surgeon with different tasks during the procedure, 比如抽吸, 切割和收缩.

A typical day for an ST usually starts early in the morning or late at night. 在每个程序之前, the ST is responsible for making sure that all the equipment, instruments 和 supplies are set up. After the patient 和 surgeon arrive, the procedure can begin. This is the part that all STs love because we can help with certain tasks during the surgery. After the procedure is over, we help with the closure of the wound. The patient is then taken to the recovery area while we clean up the room 和 get ready to repeat the same steps for the next patient.

What is most rewarding about your career?

The most rewarding part about being an ST is being able to help the 病人 和 not getting the recognition. Patients do not know who we are or what we do, but they trust everyone in the room to take care of them. 作为一名ST, I take pride in knowing that a patient trusts me to do my job well 和 to be their advocate. I do not need the recognition of helping to save someone’s life. I only need the sense of trust from the 病人 to keep me doing what I love to do.

What are some challenges you’ve faced in your career 和 how have you overcome them?

Working in the operating room can be challenging. You might encounter a mean surgeon that demeans the other people in the room. Sometimes, you have to deal with the loss of a patient. That happens very rarely, but it does happen. Both can be hard to overcome. You really just have to keep telling yourself that you did everything that you could, but not everyone is perfect. Learn from your mistakes 和 work harder the next time.

What skills are essential for success in this field?

When it comes to surgery, the ST is an expert. We are expected to know everything – the anatomy 和 physiology of the body, how the procedure is to be performed, 和 multiple different variations of the procedure. We need to be prepared for the unexpected 和 be able to critically think about how to solve any problem. The most two important skills for any ST to demonstrate is the ability to remain calm under pressure 和 to anticipate the surgeon’s needs before he or she even knows what’s next.

What advice do you have for students interested in a career in this field?

The greatest advice that I have for students that are interested in surgical technology is to have fun 和 be open to learning every day. The human body is such an amazing wonder of the world. You are going to see, smell 和 hear things that are not normal. 接受它并从中学习. This is such a great career with so many growth opportunities. Never give up 和 strive for more.