Heather Pich Offerdahl, CST

I am the lead surgical technologist for the Perham Health surgery department. I love my job and want others to join our fun team.

What is a surgical technologist?   

Surgery techs work alongside and assist surgeons and nurses during operations. We are like the third hand for the surgeons; we keep surgeries moving forward.  

What does a surgical tech do? 

I often get asked if I am the person that hands the surgeon instruments. Yes, but we do so much more.   

We do things like:  

• Assist the surgeons with whatever they need to do the operation safely and efficiently 
• Keep the operating room and everything in it sterile to prevent infection 
• Prep the surgery suites with supplies and equipment required for surgery 

• Hand instruments, supplies, and medications to the surgeons 

Every day brings different kinds of surgeries. We could be removing an appendix, helping a mom give birth by c-section, or replacing a knee or hip. Each surgery has different needs; I collect all the supplies, equipment, and medications needed.  

Keeping patients free from infection is the most important thing that we do. Before I enter the operating room, I scrub and put on a sterile gown and gloves. I help gown, and glove the doctor and assistant and help put on the sterile drape.  

In the operating room, I lay out all the supplies, equipment, and medications needed. I count everything before we start and again when the surgery is over to ensure everything is accounted for.

We need to be ready to react quickly. 

Things can change in an instant during surgery, and I have to be able to think and react quickly. I must be ready when the doctors decide to do things differently during surgery.  

During c-section births, we must be prepared for anything. Babies come when they want to, and sometimes they bring some excitement.   

Sometimes cases can become an emergency, and we have to act fast.  

When these things happen, I need to know what is required at a moment’s notice. It can be intense at times.   

What got me interested in being a surgery tech? 

I was a certified nursing assistant for ten years and planned to attend nursing school. While at Minnesota State Moorhead, I saw a new surgical technologist program. I liked the program description and wanted to try something new and different.  

I like anatomy and helping people; this would give me the best of both worlds. It is a fascinating job. You learn so much every day. 

Training needed to be a surgery tech. 

It takes two years to become a surgical technologist. I went to Minnesota Community and Technical College in Moorhead.   

The first year I was in the classroom and a skills lab where I practiced what it would be like in a surgical setting. The second year was in a hospital, practicing what I learned while supervised. By the end of the program, I had completed 180 cases, 60 of which were specialty surgeries.  

You do not have to be certified, but I wanted to do that for myself. I had to pass a certification test and continue taking 30 credits of classes every two years. I like learning about the latest medical advances in surgery. 

I have been a surgery tech for seven years and am still learning new things.  

What I like about my job. 

The best part of my job is knowing I can make a difference in someone’s life and help them feel better. I get to help people without them even knowing I was there because they are asleep. I also like the variety. The surgical cases are all different.  

Working at Perham Health feels like family. I like that it is a small community and hospital, and I love getting to know the doctors. They are so fun to work with. 

What makes my job challenging. 

Sometimes, being on call can be challenging. I must drop everything and go in for surgery when I’m on call. I am on call one to two days a week and every fourth weekend. Weekday call is 24 hours, and weekend call is 72 hours. 

You do have to make sacrifices, and sometimes you miss out on some of life’s activities.   

What I wish people knew about being a surgery tech. 

Being a surgery tech is much more than just standing there handing instruments to the surgeons. There is so much knowledge that I have to know to do my job. It’s an enjoyable and rewarding career. When people come in with a problem, we fix it, and they feel better.  

My advice for someone thinking about being a surgery tech at Perham Health. 

Join us. We have fun. Just because we are small does not mean we aren’t busy. There is always something to do. Small hospitals make you feel like family, and everyone knows you. The doctors get to know you and we have the best doctors!!

Heather Pich Offerdahl, CST

Surgery Technologist

Perham Health