I get by with a little help from my friends

Somehow, my life has evolved to having categories of friends. This was brought to my attention the other day when I had to explain to someone what an “STBFF” was. An “STBFF” is your “surgical tech best friend forever.” I feel fortunate to have an STBFF and a standard BFF who is a nurse (who is willing and able to tolerate stories about colorectal surgery during our regular pizza and/or ice cream dates.) But most techs, I think, aren’t lucky enough to have a regular BFF who can relate to being covered in blood every day and laughing about it, so finding an STBFF is crucial to maintaining your sanity during tech school and beyond. It could be (like in my case) a friend from school. It could be a coworker or another medical professional you share a connection with. Whoever it is, your STBFF is an important player in your life as a surgical tech.

I met my STBFF, Liza on the first day of tech school. She must have had some weird Spidey-sense alerting her to the presence of a neurotic, over-achieving, sarcastic, potty-mouth that she could totally relate to sitting in the second row. (Either that, or she just made really bad life choices that day when it came to seating options.) However it happened, we hit it off immediately and were inseparable from that day forward. We studied together. We talked each other off the ledge when we felt like quitting. We sat up drinking, watching Rocky Horror Picture Show, and laughing our asses off. When clinicals went completely to hell in a hand basket, we had each other on speed dial-always ready to offer encouragement, empathy, and Rice Krispy bars.

You might be a natural introvert (like me). You might think, “I don’t need support. I’m a Beyoncé-level Independent Woman who can make it on her own.” You also might think, “I’ve got great friends and family. Why do I need anyone else?” Well, let me tell ya… Working in the OR is tough. There are awesome days and there are horrendously bad days and no one, and I mean NO ONE, in your non-surgical circle who will comprehend the pains or appreciate the rewards of working in the OR. You may not need them now, but there will come a day when you absolutely need someone to understand what you are going through. Trust me on this.

Since graduation, Liza and I have taken different paths in our careers. I work in small hospital specializing in ortho and she works in a large hospital doing a little bit of everything (and would be perfectly happy if she never saw another total joint for the rest of her life). Despite our professional differences, we still commiserate about crappy cases and crabby surgeons and celebrate the successful cases and compliments received. Even with an hour drive between us, we are still incredibly close and I can’t imagine my life without her in it.

Tech school was one of the most harrowing experiences of my life and Liza was my lifeline from start to finish. There was no doubt in my mind that our friendship would last far beyond graduation, and it has. We took huge life-changing steps together in our journey to become surgical techs so last month, when Liza came to me to announce her engagement and ask me to be in her wedding, I was thrilled to know I could support her in her next big step in life.

This post goes out to my STBFF, Liza whom I love dearly. I hope all the other surgical techs and tech students out there are lucky enough to have an STBFF like you in their lives.

Until next time, stay sterile.