Operating Room Technician Career Guide and Counseling

Question: What is an Operating Room Technician?

Answer: Operating Room Technician Duties and Responsibilities: Operating room technicians are also called surgical technicians or surgical technologists. They assist in preparing operating rooms for surgery. They are responsible for having surgical instruments, sterile bandages and linens, needed fluids, and other equipment ready for the operation. They may also assist doctors by handing them needed instruments during surgery and for counting sponges and needles before and after the operation. They deliver specimens to hospital laboratories for analysis, and after operations they take patients to the recovery room. Average Salary: $16,000 - $22,000 Educational Requirements: A high school diploma or GED certificate is required. Many vocational and junior colleges offer programs in operating room technology, and training may also be taken at large hospitals. Programs vary between one year to two years. Students receive training in medical terminology, physiology, and sterilization methods. At the end of the training period students must pass an examination by the Association of Surgical Technologists to become certified.

Question: Where in San Antonio, Tx. can I train to be an operating room technician?

Answer: Try the US Air force.

Question: Schools in WA state for OR Technician? I am trying to find a school in Washington state to take the Operating Room Technician course but I can't find one! Please help,I am new to Seattle. Thanks

Answer: I looked and looked on the web for you and the closest school I could find is in Oregon. I would call some of the larger hospitals and ask to speak to someone in HR then ask that person to recommend a school if possible. I recommend that you call the University of Washington hospital as that is a teaching hospital. Good luck and sorry I couldn't be of more help. Oh, and I forgot to say, "Welcome to the area! I hope you like it."

Question: i'm O.R technician..can i be surgeon...if i can...could u tell me how? i did study operating room technician speciality...and i heard that you can continue ur studying and be surgeon...i want to be sure if can do that or not...plz help me :(

Answer: Sure you can. If you have a BS, you may need to go back and take a few classes. If not, you need to go back to college to get your BS -- making sure you take all the Premed classes. After that, take the MCAT exam and apply to medical schools. That will take four years. Once you get your MD or DO, you will have to do a year as a medical intern followed by a surgical residency. I believe that is another three years. Sone you finish your residency, take an exam to become board certified.

Question: During surgery what medical staff is required in the Operating Room? My sister had a Upper GI performed, while in the operating room before going under anesthesia, she had a discussion with one of the staff. The lady advised her of her job title which we believe was a RCIS which required a 2 yr certification, with great pay. We have researched this and can not confirm what the correct job title was... I have been doing blanket searches via the internet can anyone tell me the various job titles of the people working in the operating rooms? Besides, the surgical technicians, surgeon, and anesthesiologist?

Answer: From the letters I would guess that she was some sort of Respitory/Cardiology specialist, if the surgery was for her lungs or heart this would make sense. If it was for something else she may have been there to monitor those things during the surgery depending on the anesthesia used or possible allergies. For an upper GI it was probably a Radiology contrast expert specializing in seeing the radioactive dyes used in this type of procedure.

Question: In the Operating Room, who/what is an OBT? I'm pretty sure this is some sort of Surgical Technician. If someone could fill me in, I would greatly appreciate it.

Answer: I'm sure it is an Ob Tech (obstetrics technician)

Question: Surgery Tech schools in AK? Does anybody know of any Surgery Operating Room Technician Schools in Alaska? I cant seem to locate one? Or where one could get training? Thank you!

Answer: Many Community Colleges offer this training. I don't know about the ones in Alaska. Sorry.

Question: Pressured into Tubal ligation? I had a tubal ligation when I was 21 years old due to medical complications. It is a health risk if I were to give birth to a baby. My husband and I talked about this before marriage. I already told him I am not having a baby. All of the sudden he keeps talking about all the “wonderful & fun reasons to have kids�. He wants a child that is half of each of us. He is also talking about me getting the surgery reversed. Since he brought this subject up this past weekend....I thought about the time when I got my tubes tied. My mother was the main reason I had the surgery. She was always VERY over-protective of me. (I have physical disabilities) I am allergic to general anesthesia and need to have a c-section because of my hips. I cannot have an epidural or spinal tap because of my spine. However, my mother in law told me that they use LOCAL anesthesia for c-sections. She was an Operating Room technician at the hospital. I can’t help but wonder if I was pressured into my mother decision when I was younger. Do anyone have any insight on this? I do not know if I want kids. I have gone 27 years with the idea of never having children and I've been content with that. We haven't seriously talked about this yet...but it was something that came up and got me wondering. I just wonder if maybe I was pressured into this and mis-informed by my mother all these years...she does like to be in control. We cannot afford a Surrogate. I have explored all of this. We cannot adopt, because of his criminal record. He was charged with possession of narcotics when he was 17. I have dwarfism and I'm aware of many women with dwarfism having children. The procedure is what concerned my mother! I have had over 18 surgeries, including the tubal ligation. My allergic reaction to general anesthesia is controlled with medications and other precautions. I am learning a lot here!

Answer: Well, first of all, I can't for the life of me understand what doctor would perform a tubal ligation on a 21 year old female - regardless of whether she had a physical disability or not. Did the doctor recommend that you have a tubal ligation? Or was your mother afraid of whatever disability that you have being passed on to your child? If you weren't interested in having children or it was recommended that you don't, a GOOD, responsible doctor would have discussed hormonal birth control methods first (like Depo-Provera or the implant which both have good long-term effectiveness against pregnancy). Second of all, so you'd have to have a C-section to have a baby. LOTS of women have C-sections every day. Yes, there are risks and complications, but there are risks and complications with vaginal births. Just and FYI about this: There is a woman that was born with a condition that made her legs completely useless, so when she was a child, her parents decided to have her legs and hips amputated. As an adult she gave birth to, not just one, but TWO children. People who have different forms of dwarfism (little people) get pregnant and have children (look at "Little People, Big World" on TLC - the mother on there gave birth to four kids and she had twins - she carried TWINS!!!) so it IS possible. You can have your tubal ligation reversed but there is a possibility that it won't take. Especially if they sautered off the ends when they tied them. If they used the clips, then there is a possibility that you could have no problem getting pregnant. Yes, usually they use a local anethesia (i.e. epidural or spinal block) when performing C-sections, but they can and do use general when and if needed. Especially when the situation calls for it (sometimes they have real emergencies where they have to knock the mother out completely). A C-section is so fast that the minute they anesthetize the mother and she is out they immediately open her up and get the baby out before the drugs have the ability to affect the baby. Yes, I think your mom may have had a bit too much influence on you. You should see a specialist who is experienced in your form of disability and see if physically it could be safe for you to have a child. Sometimes parents, especially those of disabled children, don't give their children enough credit or are afraid that their child will be hurt or unable to care for the baby. You should let this be your decision if, God willing, you find out that you can carry a child. Good luck and Godspeed, sweetie!

Question: Disability and Tubal Ligation I had a tubal ligation when I was 21 years old due to medical complications. It is a health risk if I were to give birth to a baby. I have dwarfism and I'm aware of many women with dwarfism having children. I am allergic to general anesthesia and need to have a c-section because of my hips and size. I cannot have an epidural or spinal tap because of my spine. I have had over 18 surgeries, including the tubal ligation. My allergic reaction to general anesthesia is controlled with medications and other precautions. However, my mother in law told me that they use LOCAL anesthesia for c-sections. She was an Operating Room technician at the hospital. All of the sudden my husband has been talking about all the “wonderful & fun reasons to have kids�. He wants a child that is half of each of us. He is also talking about me getting the surgery reversed. Since he brought this subject up this past weekend....I thought about the time when I got my tubes tied. My mother was the main reason I had the surgery. She was always VERY over-protective of me. I still don't want kids, but this weekend made me think back and really think about what happened when I was 21. In fact, when I was 17 years old my mother tried to get the doctors to tie my tubes. I can’t help but wonder if I was pressured into my mother decision when I was younger. I thought I was in full control of my decision and well informed. But now I wonder if I was manipulated into this surgery. I just wonder if maybe I was pressured into this and mis-informed by my mother all these years...she does like to be in control. Do anyone have any insight on this? I think I was "Talked Into" this surgery. My lifestyle and finances cannot support Surrogate or adoption for many reasons. I had this surgery done 6 years ago. I'm 27 now. Then I felt 100% confident on the surgery and I wasn't with a man then. Now, I'm just wondering if my disability influenced my mother to convince me to get this surgery. I'm not ready for kids and I am aware of my options if I change my mind.

Answer: At 17 you were far too young to make this decision or to be coerced into having this done. I am sure your mother thought it was for the best, but I wonder what her reasons were? I understand having it reversed can be a complicated procedure and the older the tubal the less the chances of success are. It may even be too late so dont get all hopefull just to be dissapointed. At this time I would suggest your examine your reasons for still not wanting children. And again you are allowing another person to influence your thinking on this arent you? WHAT feels good for you? What is RIGHT for you? You have to do whats best for you, not just comply with someone else's plan for your body. Lots of people cant have children for a lot of reasons and marriages survive without them even though they would like them. Maybe your hubby needs to borrow a child or two and test drive being parents. Do you have any friends or family with children you can borrow? Kind of like that show "crash test mommy" only it would be "crash test daddy". I suggest if possible you borrow a baby AND a toddler - I am sure someone would be more than happy to ship off their argumentive rebellious teen to live with you for awhile - Seriously do whats best FOR YOU. It would seem to me that once more another person isnt considering or respecting your feelings on this but trying to railroad you into doing something you really arent wanting to do - right?

Question: Manipulated into Tubal Ligation? I had a tubal ligation when I was 21 years old due to medical complications. It is a health risk if I were to give birth to a baby. I have dwarfism and I'm aware of many women with dwarfism having children. I am allergic to general anesthesia and need to have a c-section because of my hips and size. I cannot have an epidural or spinal tap because of my spine. I have had over 18 surgeries, including the tubal ligation. My allergic reaction to general anesthesia is controlled with medications and other precautions. However, my mother in law told me that they use LOCAL anesthesia for c-sections. She was an Operating Room technician at the hospital. All of the sudden my husband has been talking about all the “wonderful & fun reasons to have kids�. He wants a child that is half of each of us. He is also talking about me getting the surgery reversed. Since he brought this subject up this past weekend....I thought about the time when I got my tubes tied. My mother was the main reason I had the surgery. She was always VERY over-protective of me. I can’t help but wonder if I was pressured into my mother decision when I was younger. I thought I was in full control of my decision and well informed. But now I wonder if I was manipulated into this surgery. I just wonder if maybe I was pressured into this and mis-informed by my mother all these years...she does like to be in control. Do anyone have any insight on this? I have gone 27 years with the idea that it would not be good for me to have kids, by my mother. I am not in any position on having any children and my husband knows it. He is going to have to deal with not having any children because it was discussed before marriage. If he can't handle it...then it's his choice to find someone else.

Answer: Only you have insight and no the answer to the question about yourself...you may have been in control and thought you were making the right decision...it may have been the right decision for you @ the time...now you are feeling differently because you're husband wants kids now...I really don't think your mother is the one to blame...if your husband wasn't talking about kids would you care about any of this? Mommie can't MAKE you do anything...it was your decison ultimately...take responsiblity..and I mean that in the nicest way