OR ergonomics from the scrub technologist perspective with Ms. Jeannette Wagner

This episode of the podcast is sponsored by Smart Step Surgical LLC. You can learn about them and schedule a demo via https://www.smartstepsurgical.com/blogs/news/surgical-ergonomic-podcast-promotional-discount

Disclosure: 

Smart Step Surgical is a paid sponsor and the affiliate link above supports the podcast at no cost to you. They also provide our podcast listeners with a discount (20%), so we hope that it is a win-win!

Episode details:

Ms. Jeannette Wagner is a Surgical Technologist and is  Team Lead in the operating rooms at University of Iowa Health Care, Stead Family Children’s Hospital. She oversees multiple services along with scrubbing a large variety of surgeries. Her true passion is scrubbing pediatric cardiac and takes pride in being a part of the surgical team. An important part of her role as Team Lead is education for staff and training Surgical Technologists, as well as nurses to the scrub role. She is a dedicated and motivated professional with a passion for lifelong learning and personal growth.  She is a member of the Scheduling Committee in her department and in the past was a member and chair of the UPC council for SFCH surgical department.  Her personal interests include spending time with her family and 3 granddaughters, being out in nature and always willing to take on new challenges and expand her skills. 

 In this episode Ms. Wagner:

- Shares the MSK issues she has faced over her almost 30-year career as a scrub technologist, including needing surgery for carpal tunnel syndrome and a shoulder injury

- Emphasized that there is a lack of education around ergonomics in the training of scrub technologists

-Discusses data that shows OR nurses have high rates of MSK injuries when compared to nurses working in other hospital environments and that back injuries are the most common MSK issue

-  Describes some of the barriers to implementing ergonomic best practices among OR scrub staff

- Provides tips on  handling the power differential in the OR when it comes to utilizing ergonomic aids

- Emphasizes how communication between surgeons and techs can ease access to the field and improve ergonomics for everyone

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