The Surgical Team
The surgical team:
When a patient undergoes surgery, a team of medical staff assists the surgeon in the procedure. The number of team members differs depending on the type of surgery performed. Among others, most teams include:
The surgeon:
A surgeon has completed four years of medical school and has received further specialized training after medical school. Most surgeons have passed exams given by a national board of surgeons for "board certification." In addition, some surgeons have the letters F.A.C.S. behind their name. This means they passed review by the Fellows of the American College of Surgeons (FACS).
The anesthesiologist:
An anesthesiologist has completed four years of postmedical school training in anesthesia, in addition to the required four years of medical school. Anesthesiologists usually further specialize in certain surgery specialties, such as neurosurgical anesthesia. The anesthesiologist is involved in all three phases of surgery: preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative management.
The certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA):
The nurse anesthetist takes care of the patient before, during, and after surgical or obstetrical procedures. The nurse constantly monitors every important function of the patient's body and can modify the anesthetic to ensure maximum safety and comfort. A nurse anesthetist has a bachelor degree in nursing, followed by specialized training in anesthesia. Nurse anesthetists are required to pass a national certification examination to become CRNAs.
The operating room nurse/circulating nurse:
Registered nurses are registered and licensed by the state to care for patients. Some nurses concentrate in a specialized field, such as surgery. The operating room nurse assists the surgeon during surgery. Operating room nurses are certified in various surgical areas.