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email us at: cst@azsa-ast.org
ACTIVISM
Activism, as defined by Merriam-Webster, is “a doctrine or practice that emphasizes direct vigorous action especially in support of or opposition to one side of a controversial issue.”
For many people “activism” is associated with protests. That is not our goal here. We chose the more sublime definition, however, in which “activism” is used to promote an issue or organization. In this case, the organization is the Arizona State Assembly (AZSA) of the Association of Surgical Technologists (AST). For the purpose of this organization, “activism” could simply mean “involvement.”
What does “involvement” entail?
Not much, in actuality; at least not at the basic level. It could mean more, should the person deem so, but in the simplest sense, it means just a little bit of enthusiasm. It means taking the time to be interested in the goings on of the organization. It could mean attending the Board of Directors meetings. It could mean supporting the workshops presented by the State Assembly. It could mean becoming an active part of the assembly. For some, it may be the submission of an article for publication on the site.
The Arizona Assembly works for YOU. Not a single person on the Board of Directors is paid one dime for their efforts. We do so voluntarily, and ask only one thing in return for the tasks we attempt to accomplish, that being YOUR support. We not only give up our time to accomplish projects for the AZSA, but also conduct the board meetings in various locations throughout the State, in the hopes of appealing to you, the members of the AST. For some of us, that is traveling as far as from Lake Havasu to Tucson, as all of us live in differing locales around Arizona. For most, the meeting is shorter than the travel time.
The dates, times and location of these meetings are being posted on the AZSA web site. Speaking of the site, if you visited here before and now view the different areas, you will find that the site has been totally reconstructed and is being continually updated, keeping up with the current activities of the AZSA and the AST as well. This too, due to the efforts of a lady who volunteers many hours in doing so. Please feel free to visit here often for updated information.
The Arizona State Assembly is planning on sponsoring a workshop in October, very possibly in the Phoenix area. Within the realm of this endeavor, we do anticipate a location central to many people. Although in its preliminary stages, we ask that you keep this in mind and consider attending this seminar, based upon your availability. Your input into such is also welcomed.
This is where your “activism” fits in. It may seem like a little thing, but your attendance at the workshop is a form of being active. Doing so is a verification of your desire to promulgate the Arizona State Assembly as a viable entity; one in which you can be proud and know that your interests are tantamount to the everyday endeavor. We try to present speakers of interest in varying fields, while keeping the cost to a reasonable amount. We need your support, as this is also the time for officer elections. Maybe you would consider volunteering your time as a member of the board or running for an office. Maybe you could just consider volunteering to help set up the meeting area, and take it down afterward. we are a limited number of people, and help is certainly appreciated.
Please, join us in the upcoming events. It is through your support and enthusiasm that we can progress in our endeavors. Consider making a decision to invest some “activism” into the Assembly. If you wish to attend a Board of Directors meeting, simply check for the date, time and location on this site. We would appreciate it if you would just let us know of your intent to attend. Simply go to “About Us” and click on the link for e-mail to the various officers. Our next meeting will be in June, after the 41st national conference in Dallas. Check back to get more details
Thank you for your consideration toward the organization.
Ed Kircher, CST/CFA
Vice-President, AZSA
Professionalism and What it Means.
On January 15th of this year, U.S. Airways Flight 1549 did what was considered to be the impossible; it maneuvered, without engines, and landed in a river. All 155 people aboard were able to walk away from the disaster. The reason all aboard flight 1549 were saved was because of a common denominator found between the intrinsics of the cockpit, and the details of the cabin crew. This denominator is called “Professionalism.”
For years, the cockpit crew endured the flight physicals and the check-out flights by the FAA inspectors; in the same respect, the cabin crew attended and participated in the training sessions, regardless how mundane they may have seemed to be at the time. Perhaps, neither of these crews ever thought that those sessions would ever be tested on their watch. How wrong they were. The fact that everything turned out the way it did, and that 155 lives were saved is a tribute, not only to the training programs, but to the application of principles learned during those sessions.
So, what does Flight 1549 have to do with you, in the operating room? Very simply this: Professionalism does not know bounds or borders in a workplace. This entity is something which sets apart a person with a career from a person with a job. It is very easy to go through life without exerting much effort, but it does take effort to go the extra mile and set yourself above others in any profession. But choosing to go that extra distance can be the difference between incremental increases in pay, or whether you are even still on the payroll at all next year. If you are assisting independently, it could be the difference between being called for cases, or sitting at home wondering where the money is going to come from, while your peers are in surgery, working.
Professionalism means taking advantage of the educational opportunities available through the AST Journal, inservice programs and outside sources. It means making suggestions for betterment of patient care. It is taking time to ensure that everything needed for the case is, on hand, rather than waiting while your circulator has to run and fetch what should have been available. It means respecting your associates, surgeons and other physicians. Mostly, however, it means applying your basic moral beliefs to the enhancement of care rendered to the surgical patient.
Part of Professionalism involves morality. Morality is not necessarily religious in context, but can signify the basics in the precept of how you or your family members should be treated in the surgical theater. If you are not willing to take these measures to care for others, why would you expect others to take the same consideration toward you or your family?
There are many aspects to professionalism, some simple, some more complex. But, in the long run, it is something which, when applied, can set you apart and make yourself more valuable and respected by everyone around you.
Being professional enhances your personna; it reflects favorably on the facility, and is noticed by the surgeons. It does not take much to accomplish this either. When you are facing a case for which you have no prior experience, go to your peers, or to the internet. Search the case, and at least learn some factors relevant to the procedure.
Total time, perhaps 30 minutes;
knowledge base- enhanced;
gain in respect- priceless, as the ad says.
Education does not end once you are finished with your clinical training, or when you are hired into an organization. Don’t ever let yourself be fooled into thinking this is so. Education, particularly in this career field, should be tantamount to your desire for progression. Even though you clock out at 3 PM, 11 PM, or 7 AM, your desire to succeed should be forever on the clock.
Being a professional is seen in many ways. It can be found in the complexity of knowing the intricacies and instrumentation of a procedure, participating in the educational process of your facility by training others or presenting educational programs. It can also be in something as simple as the securing of warm blankets for a cold and frightened patient, or taking the time to hold their hand as they drift to sleep. Professionalism is defined in many ways but, trust me, every aspect of quality patient care is an act of professionalism.
Take the time to differentiate yourself. Set a goal and accomplish it. Be (or become) a professional. You have nothing to lose, and everything to gain. Being a professional is not as complex as it may seem. It is simply mind over matter. If you wish to be a professional, everything needed to accomplish that is readily available to you. If you choose to sit back and let the world go by, that too, would be your decision.
As with many things in life, the decision to succeed, or to fail, is yours, and nobody else’s. I have set one goal for myself in this career. I am determined to deliver, to the unknown surgical patient, the same degree of care which I would want delivered to myself or my family members. IF I can succeed at this, then I am a success. So far, I have held my promise and I intend that to continue for as long as I am able to function in this field of endeavor.
Make the right decision for yourself and make professionalism a part of your everyday life. There is absolutely no down side. There is only a positive result.
Aeger Primo.
Ed Kircher, CST/CFA
Certified Surgical Technologist
Certified First Assistant
Member, Board of Directors
Arizona State Assembly of AST