An event titled 'What is Operating Room Technology?' was held by Üsküdar University Vocational School of Health Services. Operating Room Technician Yasin Altın and Üsküdar University Vocational School of Health Services (SHMYO) Operating Room Services Program Lecturer Nelis Bosnalı participated as guests in the online event. Important and essential topics regarding the profession were discussed at the event.
“There are many things you can learn even before entering surgery”
Operating Room Technician Yasin Altın gave advice to those starting their career and internships. Yasin Altın; “My advice to those who will intern is to try to learn many things about this field. At least learn how to open materials, scrub, put on your own gloves, meaning have a good grasp of sterilization. After graduating and starting a job in the public or private sector, everyone there will observe what you can and cannot do. There are many things you can learn even before entering surgery. First and foremost, be a very good circulating operating room technician so you can reflect this in your operating room technology skills. Because circulating staff are very important. 'What will be used in surgery? What will be opened?' - these need to be known. First, patient identity, what surgery will be performed, whether there are any illnesses, and identity verification steps are very important before entering surgery. Therefore, nothing should be overlooked. The patient might require isolation or be a hepatitis patient. That's why informing the team is important,” he said.
“The operating room is a team effort”
Altın, referring to who constitutes the operating room team and their duties; “The operating room is a team effort. It consists of the surgeon, anesthesiologist, anesthesia technician, scrub nurse, circulating nurse, and room staff. These are the people responsible for patient safety once the patient enters the room. Everyone has separate duties. For example, if the patient is to be positioned, the anesthesia team needs to tell the room staff that a position will be given. To prevent any issues regarding anesthesia, the staff must loudly ask, ‘Is it good? Is it enough?’ Patient safety is paramount the moment the patient enters the operating room door,” he said.
“One must constantly learn and also love the profession”
Üsküdar University Vocational School of Health Services (SHMYO) Operating Room Services Program Lecturer Nelis Bosnalı, speaking about the qualities of the profession and the field; “Operating room technology is a profession that requires patience, effort, and dedication. When we cover surgical instruments in class, this field has no end, it's like a vast ocean. Even though I have 12 years of operating room experience, I am not familiar with eye operating rooms; this profession and this field are like that. You learn something new every day; you can't say, 'I've learned this, it's enough now.' Even though I've been in academia for 5 years, many new things have been developed, such as new technological instruments, microscopic instruments, and robotic surgery. Therefore, one must constantly learn and also love the profession,” she stated.
The event ended after a question and answer session.