Jen Smith started her working life in the NHS and then transitioned to MedTech as a Medical Skills Trainer working with hospitals and field service engineers. Most recently she has been providing the training for surgical robotics and has educated and trained over a thousand people in the last eight years.

Spotlight on a Medical Skills Trainer for surgical robotics

Background

Can you remember when you first became interested in medical things? And why?

As far back as I can recall I had an interest in all things medical.

It probably started at age three when I was in an accident where I was knocked down by a car and broke my left femur. It remains a vivid memory all these years later. I was on the old style gallows traction where your legs are strung up on a frame above the bed – this gave me the freedom to move around while stretching of the legs meant the femur healed straight. I loved the nurses swinging me when they made the bed each morning. Oh, and I got totally spoilt by other visitors.

A few years later my dad had an injury at work and had a dressing on his shin which needed changing and the wound cleaning – I think I was about six years old. My mum who is beyond squeamish stood in the kitchen while I cleaned the wound and changed the dressing and that was it – I was hooked into science, biology and chemistry.

Has helping others always been important to you?

Following on from my first attempt at being the nurse for my dad, I was given a book about Edith Louisa Cavell a nurse who treated soldiers in the First World War. She cared not which side they were on and showed no discrimination. She helped Allied soldiers escape from German occupied Belgium enabling them to return to duty. Unfortunately, she was arrested and then court-martialled before facing the firing squad for her efforts. Edith became my heroine and role model; all I have ever wanted to do is help others however I can.

Was there a teacher who influenced your career choice of working in a hospital?

I had a teacher Mrs Womersley who taught me from age ten.

One of her subjects was biology which I loved. I had been diagnosed with ulcerative colitis during this year at school and Mrs Womersley was a huge support. I had to have a barium enema (pleasant – not!) and a few days later at school Mrs Womersley asked me about it. I recall telling her I could see it all on a TV screen and was fascinated as the doctors explained the anatomy to me. They must have thought I was a strange child.

We were at the stage of dissecting hearts and other things during the lessons, I couldn’t wait to get my hands in and find out how things worked.

Hospital career

How did working as an Operating Department Practitioner (ODP) develop your education and training skills?

I had been working as an auxiliary nurse in theatres which meant cleaning the instruments by hand and making up the instrument trays for the next case. I had been doing this for a few weeks and had seen the anaesthetic team doing their part of the procedure and wanted to know what was going on. I got an opportunity to assist in the anaesthetic room and was totally taken in and knew that was what I wanted to do.

A year later I was on the course; I can be quite determined when I have a goal in my mind. I worked and studied for two years until I qualified as an operating department assistant. I thoroughly enjoyed my training and loved learning about the different systems within the body and how they worked both independently and together. It was like a switch had been turned on and I flourished, grew in confidence and felt proud of what I was doing. I was offered a job once the course ended.

I worked my way through the nine theatres, building on my experience and knowledge until I settled in the vascular theatre. It was an exciting theatre to be in as it was high risk, lots of infusion pumps, drips and invasive lines to be used. I loved every second of it and then I was asked to mentor new students coming in. I did a teaching course through Hull University and then my career really started in teaching.

There are a lot of field engineers with a service (healthcare, military) background. Why do you think this is the case?

I think like my own work history, learning from the bottom up is a good foundation to any career. I know having a good foundation supports a strong future. It is important for field engineers to understand the workings of the department they enter. The etiquette of theatres in particular, is there to protect the vulnerable. Having experience of the department and knowing the staff are both so important for the engineers to gain access to and space to work in.

Move to B Braun Medical Medical Skills Trainer

How did you make the transition from the public to private sector and working as a Medical Skills trainer for B Braun?

I had applied for a senior role in theatres but was unsuccessful. However, one of the interviewers who was the deputy chief nurse asked me to apply for a role in education which I did, was interviewed and was successful.

I began this role teaching the cannulation and venepuncture course which was supported by the B Braun rep. We immediately hit it off and have been friends ever since. In 2014 after 20 years of working in the NHS I was made redundant. This was a total shock, and I was devastated as I had always thought I would work there forever. The B Braun rep said come and work for me, she was the UK North manager for professional education so that is what happened. I finished my NHS job on the Friday and went out teaching cannulation to other hospital staff on the Monday.

For you, what was the biggest adjustment?

I travelled the country, I went as far north as Dundee, down to London, over to Bristol, across to Southport and everywhere in-between. Living out of a suitcase was a different lifestyle but I soon got to grips with it.

How important was it that you could understand how medical equipment was used from your own experience?

The most important thing to have with any medical equipment is confidence with it. The only way you have that is to understand how it works. More importantly what to do when it isn’t working. I always want to know how something works from the back end not just the front. I have always preferred to be self-reliant. There always comes the day when you’re it and people come to you to ask what they should do.

Can you give an example of one of your most successful projects as an Educator and Medical Skills Trainer?

One of my proudest projects was developing a train the trainer course for nurses to educate their own staff.

One of the nurses was extremely nervous and said I won’t be able to do it. I said if your manager thinks you can then I know you can. She was fabulous, she asked the right questions, did the right things, made the correct checks etc. I was there supporting her first few sessions, she said she wouldn’t remember everything. I gave her an out by saying if you get stuck just say Jen will go through this next section and pick it up when you’re ready.

Pressure off, she didn’t ask once for help. After the session her whole posture changed and she walked out a different person, full of confidence and pride. That to me is success, to see someone else develop and grow.

Typical week as a Medical Skills Trainer

What’s your typical week like as a Technical Skills Trainer?

Monday

I always start a Monday by travelling somewhere to deliver training, so suitcase and laptop in the car and away we go. Once in the training venue I start checking and setting up the equipment. For robotic training there is a lot to be checked and tested. Once everything is laid out as it needs to be and the checks are made – sometimes an engineer will be on site, it’s always nice to see an engineer on site.
Then preparing any last-minute paperwork and checking the trainees have completed all of their pre learning.

Tuesday

The next day, Day 1 of training, begins at 08.30 with introductions and then straight to setting up the robot while checking understanding all the way. My style of teaching is giving an overview and then letting them get on with plugging in. I make sure all in the room are involved and all know exactly how everything fits together and what to look for. After lunch the team is split, the nurses take on the roles they will do while the surgeons’ complete skills tasks.

Wednesday

Day 2 of training, they get to work with the robot until they are confidently setting it up independently. I do a lot of asking why do you think that will work – why do you think it isn’t working. My job is to allow them the room to learn, and understand why something does or doesn’t work, and how to change it.

How much of your time is spent training and how much handling other aspects of your role?

I spend 60% of my time training and the rest is admin, other tasks, and travel.

Which other parts of the organisation do you interact with on a regular basis?

I work a lot with curriculum development and logistics.

What is the divide between providing training for customers and end users and providing ‘train the trainer’ training to field engineers?

I haven’t really done any train the trainer for engineers, but we do work closely together on things such as alarms training and fault finding. I honestly learn more from them than they do from me.

How many people have you trained to date? (approx.😊)

In this job I would say at least eight per week for the last five years so well over a thousand people.

In your opinion, what are the qualities which make an excellent trainer/educator?

A trainer needs to be mentor, good cop, bad cop, encourager, believer in them, adaptable, a listener, resilient, rewarder have the patience of a saint resourceful and friendly.

Most challenging part of the job as a Medical Skills Trainer

What are the main challenges in your training role?

Getting people to complete the pre learning, they underestimate how long it will take them.

How do you keep people’s attention throughout the session? Can you give an example?

I send them for coffee as soon as I notice anyone flagging, a bit of sugar (biscuits) always helps. I get them doing different tasks at the same time, ask them a question to bring them back in. I have asked someone to help me with a secret task to get them engaged – we all like to be naughty even in training.

What are some ‘tools’ you use for when things are not being understood? Can you give an example?

I think of other ways to get the message across which might be a drawing or me holding their hands to assist them until they understand. I have asked a colleague to try as sometimes it is a personality thing. I try to make learning fun and if I can get them laughing, I know we have made it. I ask them to teach the next person too, that is always conformation of understanding.

How much do you learn from the people you are training?

I always learn from others especially cultural things. I think if you are as interested in the learner as they are in the learning you will always have their attention.

How do you keep up to date as the product and technology changes?

We have regular updates by internal trainers or whoever has introduced the change. We have to complete eLearning and pass the quiz at the end in order to comply.

Moving from a medical NHS career to working for a MedTech company as a Medical Skills Trainer

What advice would you give to someone who is considering transitioning from the NHS to a MedTech company?

Talk to a rep and find out what it’s really like. Maybe look for an associate role so you can try it on your days off. Look at what it really involves – travel isn’t for everyone. If it is for you then go for it.

Apart from strong medical knowledge, what are the three most important skills to have?

The three things I feel are important to have are as follows.

Resilience

You have to be able to perform regardless of what is going on in the background, the show must go on!

Patience

Training takes more patience than you will ever have, people sometimes just don’t get it.

Passion

Do what you are passionate about, and you will do it well.

Further reading

Life as a Medical Field Service Technical Instructor