OT Staff

When you have surgery, a team of medical staff helps the surgeon during the operation. Who is on the team depends on the type of surgery. Most teams include the following professionals.

OT STAFF

When you have surgery, a team of medical staff helps the surgeon during the operation. Who is on the team depends on the type of surgery. Most teams include the following professionals.

SURGEONS

A surgeon has finished 4 years of medical College and 4 or more years of special training after medical College. Most surgeons have passed exams for board certification.

ANESTHESIOLOGIST

An anesthesiologist has finished 4 years of medical College and 4 years of special training in anesthesia. Anesthesiologists may get additional training in certain surgery specialties. This might be neurosurgical anesthesia or cardiac anesthesia. The anesthesiologist takes part in all 3 phases of surgery: before, during, and after.

CERTIFIED REGISTERED NURSE ANESTHETIST (CRNA)

The nurse anesthetist gives you anesthesia care before, during, and after surgery or labor and delivery. The nurse constantly watches every important function of your body. He or she can change the anesthesia medicine to make sure you are safe and comfortable. A nurse anesthetist has a bachelor’s degree in nursing and at least one year of experience as a registered nurse in a critical-care setting. He or she also has at least a master’s degree from a nurse anesthetist program. Nurse anesthetists must pass a national certification exam to become CRNAs.

OPERATING ROOM NURSE OR CIRCULATING NURSE

Registered nurses are registered and licensed by each state to care for patients. Some nurses focus on a certain field such as surgery. The operating room nurse helps the surgeon during surgery. Operating room nurses are certified in various areas of surgery. Nurses must pass an exam to be certified.

SURGICAL TECH