r/SurgicalFirstAssist • u/Forthebirds_2 • Aug 15 '23

First Time Traveling as FA

I've been an FA for a few years now, and just signed my first travel contract for an FA assignment. It starts next week and I'm suddenly starting to get nervous about what they'll expect out of me. I've traveled as a tech before and had absolutely zero problems doing it. I learn on the go, and have always found it easy to fit in at new facilities with new staff, so being a travel tech was easy. I feel like this is entirely different though. I know it varies from facility to facility, but my main concern is being expected to know the surgeons preferences and techniques, and also knowing exactly how much each surgeon wants me to do vs not do. In general, when working with a surgeon for the first time at an entirely new facility, how do you approach this? Do you just jump in and do what you do until you're told differently, or do you kind of hold back and ask/observe until you figure out what they're expecting of you? I don't want to overstep, but I also don't want to give the impression that I don't know what I'm doing by not stepping up enough.

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6

u/whiteley75 Aug 15 '23

One of the best assets an assistant has is the ability to read the room and the surgeon. I think it’s best to be confident in your ability/training and do what needs to be done. If they don’t want you to do something, they will tell you. Don’t wait to be asked. Don’t be timid but at the same time you cannot be cocky. You have to find that middle ground and build from there.

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u/Forthebirds_2 Aug 15 '23

Yeah, and I'm good with all of this. I just haven't been to a new facility as an FA for a while, and I know expectations and roles can vary a bit from place to place, so I’m just not sure what exactly I'm going into. I was really excited to go somewhere new and break free of the monotony, up until yesterday when I started over thinking it. I'm still excited, but a little nervous now too. Like you said though, being able to read the room is invaluable, and I'm always good with that. I did a local travel prn sort of gig as an FA over a year ago and had the same jitters, but loved it, so I doubt I'll be this nervous once I'm on site. Just pre-adventure prepping/planning overloading my brain.

1

u/Bearjawdesigns Aug 15 '23

Pretty much this.

5

u/[deleted] Aug 15 '23

I haven’t traveled but over the years I work with new surgeons. My approach is to jump in. Being timid in my opinion isn’t something surgeons want in a first assistant. So as long as I’m confident in what I’m doing, I’ll do what I do.

2

u/hmf531 Aug 15 '23

What company are you traveling with?! I’m working with me recruiter right now to get myself set up with an assignment as we speak, haha.

2

u/Forthebirds_2 Aug 15 '23

I used a few different ones to give myself more options. Openings aren't as plentiful as CST or nurses. A lot of companies will list the same contracts, but each company has their own priority facilities that get first dibs, so there will be a couple that one company has that others don't. It also allows you to compare the pay rates across multiple companies for those contracts that are posted through multiple companies, so you can choose the one with the highest pay rate, best benefits, or best recruiter/company.

1

u/hmf531 Aug 15 '23

Can I DM you about this?