Mia
Surgeons have many responsibilities but they usually treat health conditions that need surgery or physically changing some parts of the body. As simple as this might sound, this career is not ideal for the faint-hearted. This career requires precision and care when handling patients because every health condition that requires surgery is sensitive.
The right person to pursue this career should embrace and solve challenges. They should improve their skills day by day and deeply care for patients to solve their health problems. Therefore, those who consider this career should understand what surgeons do and what it takes to explore the opportunities for growth in this career. This article will highlight the role of a surgeon and what it takes to become one.
Technical Knowledge and Skills
Why do surgeons spend years in school studying before they start to practice? Their work requires technical knowledge to understand how the human body functions and to treat the affected parts. Therefore, surgeons learn many ways of solving different health problems.
Additionally, surgeons should know how to use different instruments and approaches because treating a broken bone differs from removing a tumor in the same body part. That is why people who need to hire a surgeon usually ask about their experience level. Since new diseases and surgical technologies emerge, surgeons keep learning to acquire more surgical techniques.
Precision
Precision could save lives when performing surgical operations. Therefore, surgeons should always be careful to ensure they cut or stitch in the right place for the safety of the patient. Also, the surgeon should control hand movement to ensure a smooth and effective operation and minimize the impact of the surgery on the adjacent tissues or organs.
These qualities are usually more important when operating on the brain, heart, and sensitive organs where the surgeon has to cut tight spots. Accuracy and precision increase the chances of successful surgery and reduce the risk and recovery time. Without these skills, the patient might develop complications or take longer to recover after treatment.
Critical Decision-Making Skills
Life-saving decisions require the surgeon to assess the situation rapidly and think critically. The decision made by the surgeon could be the difference between life and death in some situations.
When a patient is taken to hospital in a critical condition that requires surgery, the surgeon does not have the luxury of time. Therefore, the surgeon should assess the situation and spot potential problems quickly for timely intervention.
However, every patient must undergo a preoperative evaluation to help the surgeon identify the vital signs to pay attention to during the operation. Quick and effective decision-making skills help the surgeon when changes occur unexpectedly when operating a patient.
Communication Skills
Surgeons usually work with doctors, caregivers, nurses, support teams, and other surgeons. Therefore, they should be good communicators to avoid confusion or human error due to misunderstanding. They should also understand the role of every person during treatment and offer a listening ear to the team members to understand their opinions or concerns.
Many patients want to understand their health condition situation and what a planned surgical operation entails. This means that the surgeon and the patient should discuss the treatment option to ensure informed consent. Effective doctor-patient communication foresters trust and confidence during treatment.
These skills and personal attributes can help one understand what surgeons do and why they undertake extensive training before they start working. It is also crucial to understand their work environment and how their decisions impact the outcome of treatments. With this in mind, those aspiring to become surgeons can evaluate themselves and determine if this is the right career.
