September 20th-26th is National Surgical Technologists Week! Surgical Technologists are vital to Windom Area Health and keeping our patients safe and healthy. To focus on our amazing team members, we asked one of our Surgical Techs, Jessica Blom, to share a bit about her role and her journey to becoming a Surgical Technologist and joining the Windom Area Health Team!
A Surgical Technologists’ role in the OR is to create and maintain a sterile field for surgical procedures. We assist the Surgeon, during surgery, by handling the surgical instruments and keeping the patient safe by adhering to Aseptic Techniques that we have learned in college. Our whole job is geared for “keeping germs away from the patient and their surgical site.”
Knowing how to clean and reprocess surgical instruments is an important part of our role in the Surgery Department. Adhering to meticulous practices keep the instruments and equipment safe for our surgical patients.
Tidbits about me:
- I went to college at Clover Park Technical College in Tacoma, WA and received my Certificate in Surgical Technology in September 2001. My classes were supposed to start the week of September 11th, but the terrorist attacks waylaid my start date by a couple of weeks. At the time, I was living on Fort Lewis WA. After the attacks, all gates on Post, except for one, were closed to incoming vehicles. The wait time to get back home at the end of the day could take anywhere from 1-2 hours.
- I was hired by Providence St. Peter Hospital in Olympia, WA right out of college; Providence was where I received my clinical training. Clinicals were usually held at 2 different sites, however, Providence asked for me back for a 2nd rotation and asked if I would consider working full time for them after graduation.
- I was asked by one of the surgeons at Providence if I would consider working for the Orthopaedic group in Tumwater, Washington; I took a position with them as a full-time Orthopaedic Surgical Tech.
- I received my National Certification and have worked as a Surgical Tech in Washington, Colorado, Kansas, and Minnesota. I’ve worked at large hospitals that have had up to 8 OR suites, and also, Surgery Centers that have had as few as 1 surgery suite.
- I have been interested in Healthcare/Surgery since I was a little girl.
Working in Surgery is very fulfilling. No two days are alike, which keeps things interesting. Learning is constant in this field; new techniques and changes in industry standards keeps us lifelong students in our practice.
Surgery can be physically taxing, so at the end of the day you are tired, but there is a sense of accomplishment and value. The surgery team is a tight group that relies on trusting each other and knowing that each person’s role is important in maintaining the health of the patient.
By Jessica Blom, Surgical Technologist
We would like to say Thank You to all of the amazing Surgical Technicians here at Windom Area Health Surgery Department and beyond! We are so grateful for all that you do.