I started out looking for first assistant info and ran across this info, the part I questioned I put in bold. I always thought circulators had to be RN's or does the RN requirement only come into play with medicare/medicade reimbursement? if so, I would imagine it would be hard for a hospital to run if it excluded these groups. any ideas or opinions? I have nothing against surgical techs, just wanted to make that clear.
http://www.ast.org the following info is taken from the ast website. type in first assistant in their search box & this & other info shows up.
who are surgical technologists?
surgical technologists (formerly called operating room technicians) perform many different responsibilities in the operating room. they act as the scrub person, as the circulator,
and as the first assistant on the surgical team. surgical technologists' responsibilities involve preparing the operating room and instruments, equipment, and supplies that will be needed; positioning and preparing the patient for surgery; and passing instruments, sponges, and sutures to the surgeon. surgical technologists are the surgical team's expert in aseptic technique, being constantly vigilant for any break in the technique that could endanger
the sterile field so necessary to the successful outcome of the operation. those not familiar with the profession may assume surgical technologists are nurses or nursing assistants, which they are not. surgical technologists belong to a separate non-nursing profession of highly skilled, credentialed allied health professionals that possesses specialized education and training to work specifically in the operating room.
how can you support your constituents who are surgical technologists?
carefully scrutinize any purposed regulations that could restrict the use of surgical technologists.
there have been efforts made by nursing groups in many states to regulate the role of surgical technologists and restrict their full utilization, particularly in the first assistant and circulating roles. because hospital accreditation standards do not require an RN to circulate, nursing groups are attempting in some states to make this a legal or regulatory requirement at the state level. these effort will lead to hospitals having no choice in the provider they employ and could cost csts their jobs. if nursing groups are successful in their efforts to restrict this profession, it could result in your constituents who
OJT personell can take an exam, but they cannot label themselves CST..YOU must go to an accredited program to get that tagline.
I am a retired Navy corpsman 20 yrs active duty and 15 yrs as certified surgical tech.
I've been on both side of the coin here, I've circulated many, many case in my days, and yes a tech with the right training can circulate cases.
Techs can find out lab values and can even understand them, and act if the values are not in the normal ranges/values. Thats easy with the right training. Really how many people NURSES or techs can go to an O.R. without some type of training.
Nurses are valuable in the O.R. not all want to scrub, and not all tech want to circulate. I've known many really bad techs, and many really great techs, and the same goes for nurses.
Truly what it all boils down to is the root of all evil...MONEY. Techs believe they should be making more money. IMHO
Both professions are unique. A nursing job in the O.R. is stressful and the tech is right ther with HER/HIM. I believe the nurses job in the O.R. is more stressful, with all the paperwork and limb holding, scrub prepping, running around ,suture finding, instrument flashing....I CAN GO ON FOREVER.
We all value our professions, and want to stick up for what we do.
I'll bet even a ditch digger can say their job is more important, because without ditch diggers their would be no foundations laid for any hospitals, and without hospitals, this makes us UNEMPLOYED..
rant over.
Great first post Dan.
As a Certified Surgical Tech, instructor and future nurse, I am proud of both professions.
Nurses and techs will always have to work side-by-side to assure sucessful surgical outcomes.
Thanks, I too am currently teaching in the private post secondary education system. I think my O.R. years are truly behind me... Teaching is a great way to stay employed and to mould the future of WHAT SHOULD BE in the surg tech profession.
yes they are, but the point being made is that the training is not all that different in terms of "how". it was not meant to reflect how bad it was, it was meant to show the similarity of hard work that goes into the aas in surgical technology.
Yes, as a surgical tech, you do (work) for free. BUT in other terms, you are being taught (for free), by someone who is probably not being paid by a school, NOR is not being compensated by the hospital, to take you under their wing, and give you their knowledge.
We are having a bad time right now with, NOT ENOUGH Clinical sites for our surg tech students, and if you are a Nurse, and you live in the so cal area, (50 miles radius of OCEANSIDE CA) contact me if you and your staff are willing to take on a surg tech student.
Yes, as a surgical tech, you do (work) for free. BUT in other terms, you are being taught (for free), by someone who is probably not being paid by a school, NOR is not being compensated by the hospital, to take you under their wing, and give you their knowledge.
We are having a bad time right now with, NOT ENOUGH Clinical sites for our surg tech students, and if you are a Nurse, and you live in the so cal area, (50 miles radius of OCEANSIDE CA) contact me if you and your staff are willing to take on a surg tech student.
Thanks
Dan
Dan, I feel your pain. I know how hard it is to be director of a st program searching for clinical contracts.
I had the same problem with my program... and I am no where NEAR California.
I even had a few nurses call around and tell their pals, other OR managers at other hospitals, to have nothing to do with our school Thank goodness a handful of nurses were willing to give us a chance and went to bat for us.
I called over 75 hospitals before I got just two clinical contracts for my students!
As a Certified Surgical Technologist and future nurse I wish I could make OR nurses understand that I have no intention of stealing their jobs. I am there to fill a need and assure a successful surgical outcome. Just like there are bad nurses and nursing schools, there are bad techs & surgical tech schools. They make it hard for all of us.
As healthcare professionals we need to insist that these bad schools are closed down or reworked. Potential students MUST investigate any educational program they plan on attending.
Every surgical tech should join AST and get their certification to assure the regulation of our profession.
Wow this is a very interesting thread!! I am a surgical tech with 10yrs experience. And this is not to knock any nurses. A surgeon was asked by a nurse which would you rather have, an experience surgical tech or experience nurse in your room? He said, "I rather have an experienced Tech in the room because it is more important". He said he an anesthia could handle emergencies. He also mention It was good having a RN available. This is a neurosurgeon I am speaking of. We both are needed in the OR. I wish we could all get along. I love my fellow nurse and value your education, but do not treat the Surgical tech profession as if they are below you.
Wow this is a very interesting thread!! I am a surgical tech with 10yrs experience. And this is not to knock any nurses. A surgeon was asked by a nurse which would you rather have, an experience surgical tech or experience nurse in your room? He said, "I rather have an experienced Tech in the room because it is more important". He said he an anesthia could handle emergencies. He also mention It was good having a RN available. This is a neurosurgeon I am speaking of. We both are needed in the OR. I wish we could all get along. I love my fellow nurse and value your education, but do not treat the Surgical tech profession as if they are below you.
Ask the same doc if he would rather have the nurse if she also had just as much experience scrubbing. Its not the scrub tech vs nurse thing, its a who knows how to scrub vs who doesnt.
Ask the same doc if he would rather have the nurse if she also had just as much experience scrubbing. Its not the scrub tech vs nurse thing, its a who knows how to scrub vs who doesnt.
I don't see the 'sensitive' part of the post. I haven't known a doc to choose a tech over a nurse or vice versa, They're more interested in people who know what the heck they're doing, IOW, the same thing that RNOTODAY said.
Yes, at least in my state, that is what I'm saying. The problem with tech training is that it is not consistent. There are still many techs that received OTJ training and wouldn't know a lab value if it walked up and bit them on the fanny. Techs are certified at the most, and that is not mandatory. Why the snippy attitude towards RN's by the way? Most posts on this thread have been more than respectful towards techs. Techs are needed in the OR, but they do not have the proper training to assess patients. End of story. I'm not going to bother arguing with you further-it's kind of a moot point for me to wonder if techs can circulate because it's not going to happen.(at least where I am). I wish you the best of luck though. Just remember, in order to get respect, you have to give it. Trying to pick fights among members of what is supposed to be a team is childish and self centered.Remember, patients are the focus, not your ego. Hate to point the troll finger but you have all of 2 posts on this board, and both have been antagonistic in tone. Done here, because I don't like to engage in troll feeding.
This is funny! When typing takes a tone you know you hit a nerve lol
I haven't known a doc to choose a tech over a nurse or vice versa, They're more interested in people who know what the heck they're doing, IOW, the same thing that RNOTODAY said.
You may not have heard of it happening but it happens!!! Have you asked???
Have you asked???
sunnyjohn
2,450 Posts
Great first post Dan.
As a Certified Surgical Tech, instructor and future nurse, I am proud of both professions.
Nurses and techs will always have to work side-by-side to assure sucessful surgical outcomes.