Summary: The following guest post describes the responsibilities of a surgical first assistant. It is also referred to as a surgical assistant or simply a first assist who works in the operating room during a surgical procedure. It is a professional in the healthcare industry which acts as a lead assistant to a surgeon.
Every profession requires specific skills and knowledge, but they’re also specific personality traits that anyone pursuing a successful career in that field is recommended. So, if surgical technology is a point of interest, make sure you know what skills you are expected to have to become a highly appreciated surgical technologist.
Surgical Technologist Professional Skills
One can become a surgical technologist with only a few years of education. During this training, a surgical technologist aspiring to work in an operating room must obtain many skills. They will get knowledge in medical terminology, human anatomy, anesthesia techniques, surgical instrumentation, patient safety, ethical standard, and many other medical areas, and they will be expected to implement this knowledge on the job. For example, a surgical tech should take care of patients. It includes communication with the patient, checking vital signs, transporting the patient to the operating room, positioning them before the surgery, and providing postoperative care for the patient after the surgery. Also, the surgical technician is expected to know how to prepare and sterilize instruments, assist during surgery with some knowledge of surgical procedures, operate equipment, etc.
Psycho-physical Characteristics of a Surgical Technologist
Besides the things you could learn from training, you must possess many psycho physical skills to be a surgical tech. First of all, a surgical technologist is expected to communicate and have excellent people skills. They are supposed to communicate closely with the patients, the surgeons, and the rest of the operating room team. They must respect authority, follow instructions and accept constructive criticism since they will be working under the supervision of surgeons. In addition, a surgical technician must be a patient, reliable and responsible person with an excellent eye for detail. A stable character and successful coping with tense and stressful situations and unpleasant sights and scents are also essential.
A surgical technologist must be precise and tactile. They must work quickly and accurately. Mobility, excellent motor skills, manual dexterity, and physical stamina are essential. Also, a surgical technologist must be an organized person with good cognitive abilities. A surgical technician must have excellent vision and hearing to successfully react to the surgeon’s demands and follow the operation. A surgical tech must stay fully concentrated and remain standing for many hours during surgery. In some types of surgery, it is even necessary for the surgical tech to remain sitting still for an extended period.
Preparing Operating Room
Surgical first assists Prince William Virginia help in preparing the operating room by assembling and organizing surgical tools and sterile solutions. They not only set out the equipment for use, but they ensure that they are in proper working condition. Other than the preparation of tools, technologists also prepare patients by cleansing and shaving them as well as sterilizing incision areas. They move patients to the operating room and aid with situating them. They also check for patients’ vital signs and help with putting on gowns and gloves on the surgical team. When an operation is completed, the surgical technologist may assist with moving the patient to the recovery room and sanitizing and replenishing the operating room.
Medical Assistants perform routine clerical and clinical tasks at any physician’s clinic. A Medical Assistant is a multifaceted healthcare practitioner capable of performing a variety of laboratory and clinical procedures, along with specific administrative responsibilities. They are multi-skilled and versatile professionals. Their formal education occurs in community colleges, junior colleges, vocational or technical institutes, or proprietary schools. The curriculum has to be accredited if graduates plan on getting registered or certified. Accreditation requires that the school curriculum offer classroom lectures and well-equipped laboratories.
Salary & Training
If this seems like a job that you could handle, then this career field may be right for you. It offers an attractive salary with minimal training. It is also a growing field, so the employment prospects are high. Also, with a career as a surgical technologist, the opportunity to expand one’s role and grow professionally is advantageous. Persons who have decided to advance their career with additional specialized education or training can work as surgical first assistants. Surgical first assistants help to control blood flow and avert patients from hemorrhaging. They also assist the surgeon in performing a successful operation. They interview patients before surgery and get them ready for the surgery by assisting with anesthesia. Surgical first assistants are also expected to take sterile instruments from packaging during operations and track surgical procedures.
Work Environment
The work environment of surgical technologists is clean and sterile, well-lit with cool temperatures. As some surgeries will last for hours at a time, they are expected to stand for long periods. They must also have the ability to stay alert and sharp during these operations. An unpleasant aspect of the job includes exposure to communicable diseases and sights and smells that may be deemed repulsive to some.
The job outlook for surgical technicians seems promising. Jobs are expected to increase by 25% between now and 2018 as surgeries increase. It is due to the population’s growth and the aging population. In addition, hospitals will maintain the position of surgical technologists’ leading employer since they lower expenses by replacing nurses in the operating room. Nevertheless, it is still expected that the increase of surgical technicians in physicians’ offices and outpatient centers will be on the rise since they offer better salary opportunities.
If you think you have what it takes to become a surgical technologist, you should certainly do your best and build your career in this beautiful and rapidly developing field.
