Rachel Heugly

Interview Project; Part 1

Comm 1010

Background information:
My interviewee:
Im planning to interview Lynae Sorensen. She is a friend of my sisterin-law Brianna. Brianna was able to help me get in contact with her via
phone. Lynae is a Surgical Technologist, but is currently not working, because
she is going to nursing school. She also volunteers at the Hope Clinic, and is
the specialty clinic coordinator. The interview will be conducted Friday; March
20, 2015 at 8:30 PM in Lynaes home, by her request. I chose to interview
Lynae because I love medicine and have always been interested in surgery,
and I think being a surgical tech would fit well with my family desires and
responsibilities, and my desire to work in medicine.
Career Research:
I have a deep interest in all things Medical, and have since I was a
child. I was diagnosed with cancer at age 11, and became very well
acquainted with hospitals, procedures, surgeries, doctors, nurses, and techs
of all sorts. I know personally the impact that a reassuring gesture or tactful
joke, or simply taking the time to explain what is happening can make when
you are unsure and scared. I want to help people in this way. And of course,
satisfy my medical curiosity.
In this interview, I want to better understand how a career in Surgical
Tech will affect my family; I have two young children, and my first priority
and duty is to them. I want to learn more about the shifts, and if it is realistic
to try to attain a position that would take me away from them for only short
periods of time.
According to http://www.surgicaltechsuccess.com the education for
becoming a surgical tech varies, from a few months, to two years. These
timelines are based on only surgical tech programs. If other college courses
are required for your specific program, those must be completed first, prior
to entry into the surgical tech program. Every school has a slightly different
program, and I will just need to look around and decide what school is right
for me and make sure I comply with all program requirements prior to
application.
As of February 2013, http://salarybystate.org states that surgical techs
in Utah make about $37,000 annually. http://www1.salary.com/UT says that
pay range in Utah varies a lot by location, hospital, and other factors. As of
March 2015, it shows that the average salary of a surgical Tech West Jordan
is $39,807 annually. It also states that the rate of needed techs is increasing
by 11% (faster than the national average) which means both job availability
and salary will continue to increase in this career.
Surgical techs have a very important job. They are the ones who keep
the surgery running smoothly. It is their job to assist the surgeon and
maintain the Operation Room (OR). They set up the OR, hang sterile drapes,
set up the tools for the procedure, help the surgeon by handing him/her

Rachel Heugly
Interview Project; Part 1
Comm 1010

instruments and medication, and according to Lori Groinus, Rasmussen

Colleges surgical technology program coordinator and instructor, Very often
we have an opportunity to assist the surgeon by holding retractors and
manipulating tissue. After surgery they help to sterilize the room again.
Although surgical assistants are not able to actually perform any portion of
the surgery, they play a vital role to the success of the operation.
The National Surgical Technologist Week Model Proclamation states:
The surgical technologists motto Aeger Primo, the patient first reflects
total commitment to patient safety and advocacy;
I love this statement, because it embodies all that medicine should be.
Serving others and working for the greater good.

Rachel Heugly
Interview Project; Part 1
Comm 1010

Interview Schedule
Opening:
Hi Lynae, thank you so much for making time to meet with me. I am
very excited to be able to talk with you about being a Surgical Tech! I was
diagnosed with cancer as a child and being around hospitals and having so
many procedures and surgeries performed it rapidly geared my love of
science towards medicine!
Today Id like to ask some questions about the schooling and
experience it takes to get started, what its really like to be a surgical tech,
your schedule and how it affects your home life, and the workforce and perks
of being a surgical tech.
This shouldnt take longer than 30 minutes. So that I can focus on our
conversation, and not worried about notes, would you mind if I recorded this
interview?
Thank you.
Alright, are you ready to begin?
Body:
Topic 1: Education & Experience
1. Is there a difference between a Surgical Technologist and a Surgical
Technician?
a. If yes, what is the difference?
2. Why did you want to become a surgical Tech? (Primary, open)
a. Do you enjoy it like you thought you would? (Secondary, closed)
b. Why? (Secondary, open)
3. What education did you have to acquire? (Primary, open)
a. Where did you go to school? (Secondary, closed)
b. Can you tell me a little about their surgical tech program?
(Secondary, open)
c. What aspects did you like about the program? (Secondary, open)
d. What aspects were difficult about the program? (Secondary,
open)
e. How long did it take you to complete? (Secondary, closed)
4. What kind of training did you have other than school? (Primary, open)
a. Did you have to do an internship? (Secondary, closed)
b. Is a license required? (Secondary, closed)
5. What would you say the most important part of your training/ schooling
was? (primary, open)
a. Why do you think this portion was so important? (secondary,
open)
Topic 2: A day in the life of a Surgical Tech

Rachel Heugly
Interview Project; Part 1
Comm 1010

1. Can you give me a quick run through of a typical workday? (primary,

open)
a. What is the most difficult part of your job? (secondary, open)
b. What is the easiest part of your job? (secondary, open)
c. What is your favorite part of your job? (secondary, open)
d. What do you dislike about your job? (secondary, open)
e. Do you have much interaction with patients? (secondary, closed)
Topic 3: Family matters & schedule
Id like to ask a few questions about how this career and your schedule
affects your family, would that be alright with you? If at any point you feel
Im getting too personal, dont hesitate to let me know and well move on to
other questions.
1. What is your schedule like? (primary, open)
a. Do you work holidays, weekends, or nights? (secondary, closed)
b. Do you have any control over it, or is it fairly demanding?
(secondary, closed)
c. What do you do if youre scheduled to work and your child gets
ill? (secondary, open)
2. I have two young children, so Im a little concerned about being able to
be a present mom can you tell me about some of the struggles youve
faced having children, and how you handled them? (primary, open)
a. Is it realistic for me to try to find a position while my kids are at
school, so I dont have to be away from them? (secondary,
bipolar)
Topic 4: Workforce & perks
1. Is it a stable field? (primary, closed)
a. Is there a lot of turnover in this field or is it fairly stable?
(secondary, closed)
2. Ive heard that when you work in the medical field, you get great
insurance, what do you think? (primary, bipolar)
3. Is it true surgical fields are predominately male? (primary, closed)
a. Have you encountered any feelings of sexism or degradation
spurring from this? (secondary, bipolar)
b. If so, how have you dealt with it? (secondary, open)
4. What other perks do you enjoy about your job? (primary, open)
a. What are the disadvantages?(secondary, open)
Clearing house:
1. Are there other topics we havent discussed that might help me?
(primary, open)
2. If you could give me one piece of advice about being a surgical tech,
what would it be? (primary, bipolar)

Rachel Heugly
Interview Project; Part 1
Comm 1010

Closing:
I think weve covered all the questions I had. Thank you again for your
time, Ive learned a lot.
(Review an interesting point)
I have here a simple evaluation form, if you could please fill it out
within the next day or two and mail it to my teacher. Heres an envelope.
Please be honest and forward with your responses. This doesnt affect my
grade at all, but my teacher does need to receive it for me to be able to get
credit for the assignment.
Thank you so much! I appreciate your knowledge and willingness to
help me out. Its been a pleasure!