Healthcare Traveler - March 2009 - (Page 22)

Rural ORs Despite a full caseload, Claire found herself adjusting to a different pace of life, both on and off the job. “I did notice a decrease in the patient population compared with my previous experiences. For example, we did not accept any traumas. Those patients were typically transferred to a larger hospital that was better equipped to care for the more critical cases,” she says. “I assisted with some joint replacements, as well as laparoscopies and general surgeries, but I 86,000 estimated surgical technologists mainly scrubbed are employed in the U.S. in for a lot of vasMedian hourly wage logs in at $18.05, or cular operations annually at $37,540 during my 10-hour The majority (60,260) practice in general shifts.” medical and surgical hospitals Although procedures are often Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2008, April 3). Occupational employment statistics: Occupational performed simiemployment and wages, May 2007, Surgical technololarly from facility gists. Retrieved February 5, 2009, from http://data.bls. gov/cgi-bin/print.pl/oes/current/oes292055.htm to facility, you are likely to encounter different sets of instruments, monitors, and other equipment at contract locales. In particular, rural hospitals might employ older models than their urban counterparts or may not have access to the same technology. “The surgeries are similar from one place to another, but it is a give and take in terms of technology, especially when comparing urban and rural hospitals,” notes Claire. “Coming from a teaching hospital environment, I was used to more high-tech devices, such as high-definition digital cameras for laparoscopic surgeries, and those were not available at this facility. On the other hand, I found the administration was willing to dedicate resources in other areas. For example, the quality of gloves we used regularly was top-notch—typically reserved for only certain critical operations in other places I’ve worked.” Perhaps the most positive difference she experienced involved the community’s residents. “New Bern is one of those small towns where strangers will call out greetings to everyone they meet.” In fact, she explains, this became a common occurrence on her walks. “Since I do not have a car, I was fortunate that my housing was near the hospital Professional Overview: Surgical Technologists Interested? Circle Career Card No. 609 or go to www.healthcaretraveler.com/readerservice 22 Healthcare Traveler March 2009 www.healthcaretraveler.com http://data.bls.gov/cgi-bin/print.pl/oes/current/oes292055.htm http://data.bls.gov/cgi-bin/print.pl/oes/current/oes292055.htm http://www.fastaff.com http://www.fastaff.com http://www.fastaff.com http://www.healthcaretraveler.com/readerservice http://www.healthcaretraveler.com

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Healthcare Traveler - March 2009 Editor’s Desk Contents Paws for Thought Field Notes Company Corner In a Flash Rural ORs Balancing Act Clinical Highlights Drug Update On Assignment Cityscape Name It Tax Facts Big Deals Advertisers’ Index Going the Distance Contest Rules Allied Corner Classifieds Tales from the Road

Healthcare Traveler - March 2009

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