Surgical Technician Skills: Getting the Qualifications You Need
It isnt a joke to say that the ability to think and perform well under pressure is the number one asset of a good surgical technician. Weve all seen shows like E.R. and wondered how anyone could think in the midst of all that chaos. Between the noise, the blood, and the general confusion, its tough to know if one could handle such a job. The surgical technician job description is not unlike what we see on TV. There are, however, far less glamorous aspects of the job that are part of the everyday routine of the surgical tech as well. This article will give you a glimpse into the job of a surgical tech and the skills and knowledge needed to do the job well.
There is a joke about doctors and everyone else in the hospital. Doctors are the ones who swoop in and look good, but it is everyone else who does all the work to get the job done. Surgical techs, like nurses, will have the most contact with the patient. This requires surgical techs to have good communication and interpersonal skills. They will be the ones who are usually responsible for the health and safety of the patient.
The physical requirements of the job can be quite demanding. As the joke goes, hospitals are full of sick people, so surgical techs have to be on top of everything there is to know about communicable diseases, always wearing gloves and masks and being mindful of being exposed to contaminants, like blood and bodily fluids. The job is not for the squeamish. Surgical techs are exposed to health hazards every day and are typically exposed to radiation every week. It is also particularly stressing that surgical techs are usually part of a team that is on call, working evenings, weekends, and holidays, on a rotating basis. about the author
