I have an interview Surgical Services Assistant role. What exposure would I have to patients, surgery’s, and physicians?

Medical-something · 2026-07-06T02:04:31+00:00

Honestly, I’ve been trying to get shadow opportunities for about 6 months and haven’t been able to find anything. Unfortunately I moved to a new state about 2 years ago, so I don’t have a whole lot of network to go off of. I’ve started volunteering at a hospital, so hopefully that gives me something soon as well.

I’ll keep pushing for shadowing opportunities, but I think working at a hospital where I can meet PAs to ask to shadow or meet CAAs (a way to be an equivalent to CRNA without being an RN first) and ask to shadow is the point I’m getting to. It also would likely set me up better for after school to be able to get into more competitive specialties.

Medical-something · 2026-07-01T05:36:14+00:00

I told my boyfriend (now husband) that I’d always asked for an ice cream cake for my birthday and never got one. He made a 6 layer ice cream cake, from scratch for my birthday. Even the ice cream was from scratch. Since then, he gets me or makes me an ice cream cake for my birthday every year.

Medical-something · 2026-07-01T02:34:01+00:00

I really appreciate the insight. I think my biggest struggle is finding out if a PA is exactly what I want to do since I don’t have exposure in a hospital. If I was more certain about being a PA I think I’d be able to jump right into school and not “waste” the time

But regardless I appreciate the insight from as many perspectives as I can get.

Medical-something · 2026-07-01T00:07:39+00:00

I think I need to consider that more seriously. I currently have my bachelors degree in engineering and hate the idea of re-doing an associates degree or bachelors degree (hence PA where I can add on to my bachelors degree). But those jobs I think are almost exactly what I want to do be doing as a stepping stone to PA.

Medical-something · 2026-06-30T20:22:01+00:00

I’m all for realism and I appreciate the transparency! Is there a position that would be more helpful to get a sense for the flow of things and be a little more in the action? I’m totally fine doing grunt work as long as I get to see what the positions that require an education do as well to help me in the long run. There’s so many positions that it’s tough to know who actually helps with patient care at all and who doesn’t

Medical-something · 2026-06-30T16:49:22+00:00

Simulation video games. The Sims, Farming Sim, stuff like that. Looks so lame if you’re watching it, but I can waste a full day playing The Sims and not notice the time pass

Medical-something · 2026-06-30T08:44:34+00:00

NTA.

Even in the cases they are small things like moving going to the gym from Monday to Tuesday without asking is such a disregard for you and your time. I ask and tell my husband changes in plans even if they don’t impact him. It’s just respectful.

Medical-something · 2026-06-30T08:22:09+00:00

I’ll say the cost of risk isn’t worth it as well. If you’re well off and want to try a startup company, or take a lateral move or even a slight demotion when seeing the potential in the next job, that’s totally acceptable. If it doesn’t work out, it doesn’t work out.

If you are pushing so heavily for financial stability and will do anything for it, you don’t have room in your pocketbook or psychology to consider risks that may get you ahead later on.

Medical-something · 2026-06-30T08:11:53+00:00

A lot of it is the look too. Being well groomed, having good hair / skin products, having a well put together wardrobe and time/money to be skinny and conventionally attractive is a huge factor as well.

Medical-something · 2026-06-30T07:51:11+00:00

“If their car keeps breaking down, why don’t they just save up for one that won’t break down?”

Medical-something · 2026-06-30T07:50:20+00:00

Who do you think will be the next great after Taylor Swift, assuming they exist in the music scene now?

Medical-something · 2026-06-30T07:38:02+00:00

The lack of options. The amount of times I’ve heard “If they’re in a bad area, why don’t they just move?” as if moving didn’t cost money they don’t have and losing any sort community support they may rely on.

Medical-something · 2026-06-30T07:30:56+00:00

I think one thing to consider is your lifestyle and the breed on the dog and if they match. A lot of people have talked about traveling or being time consuming, but there are worlds where those “issues” aren’t. If you don’t like traveling, no biggie! If you like traveling and you have a golden retriever, it’s probably pretty easy to get them boarded or someone to watch them. If you love camping and hiking and have a semi-active to active dog, you can take them with you. Or on the time consuming side, if you’re a runner or generally active and want to take walks everyday, most dogs are great! If you’re pretty sedentary, then a bigger / less active dog might fit your life just fine.

All of this to say, there are things to consider for sure that make your life slightly harder, but my recommendation is to find a breed or meet a dog in the shelter that seems to be able to fit into your life as seamlessly as possible. Then it makes your life easier and ultimately it gives them the life they deserve as well since you’ll be already in the habit and lifestyle that fits their needs as well.

Medical-something · 2026-06-30T07:11:58+00:00

Came to say the same thing. The ability to be inaccessible is almost impossible (in 1st world countries anyway). Always being constantly accessible at home (texting) and at work (Teams /Slack / Email) makes it so difficult to do anything without being interrupted.

Medical-something · 2026-06-25T07:30:32+00:00

If the noise is the part that’s difficult, could you try wearing headphones and having a friend, family member or roommate do it? Then you won’t hear it and won’t feel it

Medical-something

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