No Images? Click here A Patient’s GiftWhen you’re out, do you ever randomly begin talking to people around you? That happens to me frequently. My daughters often joke about how I will talk to random people everywhere I go, but I find it always makes for good conversation. I was privileged recently to talk to the Maine State Assembly about our organization, certification and our profession in general. That’s easy for me since I feel passionate about our profession, promoting it and the NBSTSA. This was my first time to visit Maine and I found the state beautiful and the people hospitable. I flew into Portland and drove up to Waterville where the meeting was to be held. On my way to Waterville, I took a short detour to see the historic Portland Head Lighthouse. From a young age, I have enjoyed the history of lighthouses and Portland Head was on my bucket list of lighthouses that I wanted to see. Portland Head was beautiful but chilly. I met an older couple near the lighthouse and they were there taking pictures, as I was, and enjoying the beauty and cool breeze as the wind was blowing over the water toward us. They took my picture and then asked what the NBSTSA on my vest stood for. After explaining to them, the gentleman said, “Keep doing what you are doing." I thanked him, told him that I appreciated the encouragement and that he represented the most important person that we represent, the patient. As I finished my presentation to the Maine State Assembly I shared that story with them and asked that they also be encouraged by it as they work hard toward legislation in their state. I have never met a patient that didn’t agree that formal training and credentialing of someone working in surgery is a good idea. The patient places a significant amount of trust in those that are providing their surgical care. All that we do to improve our knowledge, skills, and professionalism demonstrates our commitment to the patients that we serve and the value that we place on their trust in us. Never underestimate the value of the little things that you do throughout each day, as you make your journey over time, the little things accumulate and you will see the value of your contribution and the difference that you make. I want all of you to be proud of the profession you have chosen and the certification you hold. Because we are dedicated professionals we promote patient safety and save lives every day. I know of no other group that is as committed as CSTs and CSFAs. My personal thanks to all of you for your support of the NBSTSA. Please know that we are all here to serve you as you serve the patients you care for. Be proud and continue the hard work that you do. Be strong and encouraged and “Keep doing what you are doing.” Grant Wilson, CST, FAST CST StoriesThis month, Tiffany Hemingway, CST from Raleigh, North Carolina shares her story. We at the NBSTSA love her passion and the encouragement she shares!Hello, my name is Tiffany Hemingway. I am a Certified Surgical Technologist working as the educator at UNC Rex Healthcare. I have enjoyed being a surgical technologist for over 15 years. I didn’t start as an educator; my interactions with those placed in my path lead me here. My journey began in the United States Army. I knew from the very beginning that I wanted to be in the operating room somehow some way. I was trained up to be a soldier first and an operating room specialist (68D- surgical tech) second. For me, there wasn’t a first or second, in the field we are to protect and look out for our battle buddies no matter what, and I had an extra special talent to patch them up in ways they didn’t think were possible. Nine years in the army disciplined me in a way that could only prepare me for what the civilian side had to offer. You will not survive in the OR if you are not strong, and I was Army strong. You will not survive in the OR if you don’t like change, and I adapt well in all conditions. You will not survive in the OR if you are not focused at all times, and I am aware of my surroundings and who is in it. I will never forget Drill Sergeant Daniel; he was a silent but true motivator for me. He was the one that you did not want to disappoint, not because of fear of having to drop and give him 20, but because you knew that he only wanted the very best from you and nothing less. That type of disappointment hurts worse than muscle failure from 100 push-ups. He pushed me to be 10 times better than the next person because the odds would always be against me. After victory over a hard core 19 week 68D course, I was given the privilege to work at some of the best and top military medical centers here in the U.S. Walter Reed would have to be one of my best experiences. This is where I was given the chance to take care of my battle buddies first hand. I may not have known them by face, but I knew that we were family and that’s how I would treat everyone that rolled into my operating room, military or civilian. The amazing thing is that most of the time they don’t remember us, but what they do remember is their experience and that is more than enough for me. Very long story short, I absolutely love with a passion what I do. Even though I cannot teach passion to the new surgical tech students that come in and out of my hospital, I at least hope that when they are in the OR they see why I am so passionate about this OR world I live in and that they fall in love as I did. We all know that not one OR is the same, but at the same time, we are very much alike. We all have the same problems, issues, concerns, stage, and characters; however, the one thing that stands out the most is the unique individual actors playing each of these roles. In my world there can only be one Dr. Mark Farber—who is an outstanding vascular doctor, with one goal in mind and that is to only do better than what was done last time. He is a character that many fear, and tremble when they see they have to work with him only because they fear correction from him. If you do better than what you did last time then that fear would not live there. Dr. Mark Farber and Dr. O. Bobby Mendez are just 2 of the doctors that taught me everything that I know and love about endovascular procedures. Every hospital has this character, but they don’t have a Dr. Farber. I believe we all have a little bit of our teachers in us. We have used what they gave us, put it in a pot, mixed it up and made it our own and it works well for us. That’s why it’s important not to forget how we got where we are today. It is because of every single teacher, preceptor, instructor, and or doctor that we have come in contact with. We were not born a surgical tech we were molded and shaped into one. Tiffany Hemingway, CST
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