Tessa Tester, certified surgical technologist, Parkview Hospital Randallia, has been with Parkview for 9 years.
Surgical technologists are an essential part of any operating room crew. Their duties range from preparing and sanitizing the OR before the procedure to ensuring surgical equipment works correctly and assisting surgeons during the operation. What Tessa loves most about her role is that's it's far from routine. "I may have done the same surgery four or five times before, but it's always evolving. I still learn something new every day."
A key aspect of Tessa's work and her inspiration for pursuing this role is connecting with patients and providing them comfort. "I became a surgical technologist to help patients feel better," she said. "They're very nervous when they come in. We just help them feel comfortable right before they go under, and the last thing they hear is us saying, 'We'll see you when you wake up.'"
Parkview Pride
When asked what it means to Bleed Green, Tessa shared that for her, it's the uplifting community she's found among her peers. "Wherever I go in the hospital, someone is always saying hi. I feel like I have so many friends, and they are always there if I need help."
Tessa encourages anyone interested in working in healthcare to consider becoming a surgical technologist. "The hours are great. I do 12-hour shifts, three days a week. You can do 8-hour or 10-hour shifts, too," she said. "The teamwork is also great. When we tear down the room after a procedure, everybody likes to come in tackles to clean the room together."
Join the team
We would love to speak with you about the many career opportunities available at Parkview Health. You can apply for one of our openings online, text "Parkview" to 97211 to speak to a recruiter or email [email protected].
