Mental Health and the Surgical Technologist

by Chris Blevins, CST

May is Mental Health Month. This may not mean much to some, but it gave me pause. I have to be honest, I don’t ponder on my own mental health as much as I should. This may be due to the stress that I am currently under and my fear that recognizing that I am overwhelmed, or for lack of a better term stressed out, may decrease my ability to handle it. Let’s face it, many of us wing it every single day. Instead of planning for the future and having the opportunity to work on long-term projects, we find ourselves putting out fires, all day, every day.

Of course, just like any educator, the first priority is my students and their ability to care for a patient. If I take into consideration all of the amazing people who are in my profession, I know I am not alone. Yes, there is some solace to knowing that I am not the only one feeling like this. Whether you are behind a mayo, or behind a podium, we are all feeling the tension, that, all too often unrealistic expectation to perform. Each day we have to do more with less and sometimes we are well supported, but unfortunately, often we are not. Recognizing this predicament can stop a person in their tracks. Of course, paralysis does not help anyone and only further deepens the hole we are all in. If you are not in this proverbial hole, I applaud you. I want to learn from you. At this point you can stop reading, and be grateful for your unique situation. Yet, if there is even a piece of you that relates to what I am writing, please follow along. We need each other now more than ever.

I doubt others will be surprised to learn that I found very little information during a Google search on mental health and surgical technology. I read many articles and research being conducted on that of nurses and physicians (even specific to surgeons). Much of the information was written during the COVID-19 pandemic. The lack of attention to stress and the CST speaks to how very little people know about our job in the first place. We are the unsung heroes of the OR. Unfortunately, so little recognition is given to the surgical technologist and the vital role that we play in the care of our patients within the operating room. Burnout, stress, PTSD, lack of acknowledgment, underpaid, overworked; the combination is detrimental.

The subcategory of education, in conjunction with the national shortage of Certified Surgical Technologists, should also be mentioned. The stress of educating not just capable, Certified Surgical Technologists, but also graduating cohorts large enough to cover the number of vacancies, is real. We can even speak to the subset of preceptors in the operating room who are experiencing all of the above and also responsible for mentoring our students during clinical rotations. Where are we going wrong? It is blatantly obvious that we are not united when you simply look at the different surgical technology groups on social media, such as Facebook. There are those within our profession who are bitter, resistant to change, and happy to sit in the anonymous halls of the internet to vent vehemently. Something needs to stop this disconcerting trend. Who is responsible? Who is going to be the change? Who is going to lead us into a more positive and bright future?

I truly believe the first step is recognizing that there is a problem. Is that not our approach to most things? The next requires a massive change in mindset. Before we can change the group mindset, we have to self-reflect and make the decision to change our own personal outlook. Allow ourselves to be vulnerable, to talk to each other, and admit that we are experiencing what it is that we are experiencing. We have to advocate for ourselves, and our profession, in the same manner, that we advocate for our patients every day. It is only then that we are capable of uniting, trusting each other to be authors of support and not juries of criticism. No one else will ever understand what a day in our life looks like the way that our colleagues do. It takes an entire team to care for our patients, but a circulating nurse will not truly comprehend our role just as we will never truly understand theirs and the same can be said for surgeons.

We have to unite and be vocal. It is time to voice our opposition to those who rant negatively, discouraging students from becoming CSTs. Educate people on what it is that we do, why it is important, and why we need their help in protecting our profession. Once we come together as Certified Surgical Technologists, our unified group of passionate voices will be loud. Our plight will be heard by our teammates in the OR – nurses, first assists, PAs, medical students, and surgeons. How can we expect them to speak to the importance of surgical technologists if we cannot come together as a profession?

And finally, with the unification of all who work in surgery, we can educate the general public. Are patients capable of advocating for themselves, and their care while sedated, if they do not have a firm grasp of all team members whose every move must be done perfectly? This matters! The pandemic gave us horrible challenges, but I believe there is a light at the end of this tunnel. We are talking more openly about the stress of being in healthcare and the need to move forward, using this momentum, for a positive time withstanding change.

One patient at a time, one operating room, one procedure, one CST, one surgical team one hospital, one state, one nation – all united in service to humanity. It is only by sharing our struggles; supporting each other; and loving one another, despite our individual differences that true change will occur. I implore you that now is the time because honestly if not now, then when?