Dissecting the Differences:  Surgical Technologists vs Surgical Assistants

The operating room is one of the most fast-paced environments in healthcare, encompassing a variety of impactful positions that all play vital roles in surgical success. 如果你对亲身实践的医疗事业感兴趣, 但时间太长了, money 和 energy resources it may take to become a surgeon, consider familiarizing yourself with alternative career paths that are equally as influential, 但可能需要更少的时间来开始.

外科医疗队由外科医生组成, 是的, but also surgical technologists 和 手术助手 — both of whom are key players in the operating room. While these two rewarding careers share some similarities, identifying the differences between them will help you to select the best path to your ideal career.

什么是外科技师?

外科手术技术 在外科护理团队中扮演重要角色, 与外科医生一起工作, 手术助手, 护士, 和麻醉医师. 他们有责任 for preparing the patient, circulating nurse 和 the operating room for a successful surgery. This involves providing the necessary surgical tools to be used 在 the procedure. They also contribute to postoperative patient care by dressing wounds

成功的外科技术人员的特点

因为手术室的节奏太快了, 高风险的环境, surgical technologists must be detail-oriented 和 diligent with their work. 他们经常 与病人互动, which requires strong soft skills, including communication, organization, 和 empathy. 

外科手术技术 在外科护理团队中扮演重要角色. 这包括确保所有设备, 仪器, 和 supplies are accounted for in the specific procedure 和 setting up the sterile field. 术中, 他们协助传递乐器, 拿着相机, 吸, 收回, 还有其他任务. 手术后, 他们帮助包扎伤口, 清理无菌田地, 和 helping to clean the room in preparation for the next procedure. 

什么是外科助理?

Another key player in surgical teams is a surgical assistant. While some of their responsibilities mirror those of a surgical technologist, there are some important distinctions between these two rewarding careers. At a glance, 手术助手 have more responsibility 在 surgery, compared to the pre-和 post-operative responsibilities of surgical technologists. 例如, assistants help surgeons perform successful surgeries by making incisions, 把夹子, 关闭手术部位, 使用订书机, 确保排水管的安全, 在病人处于麻醉状态时. 

Since most of a surgical assistant’s responsibilities occur 在 the surgery, 它们必须保持凉爽, calm 和 collected to ensure that everything goes smoothly for both the patient 和 the head surgeon. With very little room for error, strong attention to detail is another 必备软技能 对于那些在高风险环境中工作的人来说. 

教育 需求 

Another key difference between surgical technologists 和 手术助手 is the 教育需求 为你在手术室的工作做准备.

成为外科医生助理, 你需要大专和学士学位, while prospective surgical technologists can join the workforce immediately after earning their associate degree. 学生 enrolled in these programs will develop the necessary skills 和 knowledge to become an advanced part of the surgical team, 学习基本的病人护理实践, 无菌技术, 外科解剖学, 还有外科手术, 以及如何使用手术用品和器械.

虽然角色可能有所不同, both are rewarding careers that allow you to make a difference in the lives of others. Herzing大学 offers a comprehensive surgical technologist program that can jumpstart your career in as little as two years. 了解更多关于 Herzing的外科技术专家幸运28计划 和 get one step closer to becoming the difference-maker you were destined to be.