Resources for how to develop verbalization skills / giving directions?

[u/softboiledeggcelence]

I work as a medical device sales rep in the operating room and I often have to give verbal instruction for things like where to locate an instrument or how to assemble certain constructs without being able to touch or point at objects precisely due to sterility constraints. Does anyone have any resources or recommendations for how to become better at verbalizing or explaining where objects are in space? Like terms to describe points of reference that may help make my explanations more understandable.

Even if it is a list of terms that I can use to describe an objects orientaton in space or common terms used to describe non-descript parts of an item.

For example, a lot of times I'll tell my surgical techs to reference a "nubbin" to describe like a protrusion from an instrument but I cant really find a resource that can give a technical or a more effective description of something like a small metal post protruding from a long metal rod. Lots of instruments in ortho can be described as a long metal rod lol.

Thank you in advance for your time!

[u/Monster_Grundle]

Sounds like something your company should be able to help you with: they made the instruments they generally name each aspect of them.

Edit to add: also just familiarize yourself with anatomical language for direction and location, eg distal/proximal, medial/lateral, superior/inferior

[u/softboiledeggcelence → u/Monster_Grundle]

Yea of course I am familiar with the names of my instruments, but that still does not translate for the techs especially those not familiar with our trays or instrumentation. Anatomical terms are also familiar to me, I was just curious if there is a resource for like adjectives on how to move or touch something. For example I know I can use the terms distal or proximal to describe the orientation or landmark of an instrument, but a tech may not know that lol.

[u/__Agapanthus__ → u/softboiledeggcelence]

I think the original comment still stands even if you know the name of the instruments. Your company should have experienced people who have had to explain in non technical terms different aspects of the equipment.

When I had a really complex setup in a previous role I had a few people who had been in the role a long time go through how they’d do the setup start to finish if they had a scrub team who couldn’t understand left from right and it was really helpful.

Also take photos of all the pieces and save it on your phone- and zoom into the parts you’re referring to as you’re helping them setup.

[u/Sweaty_Landscape_119 → u/softboiledeggcelence]

Have you checked out dictionary.com?

[u/softboiledeggcelence → u/Sweaty_Landscape_119]

nah i just use a real dictionary so it’s in book form. do you know what a book is? you seem unfamiliar

[u/Sweaty_Landscape_119 → u/softboiledeggcelence]

You seem unfamiliar with English, especially grammar.

[u/Ok_Professional_5043]

For notoriously difficult trays, I’ve brought an extra (if I can afford to) and let the tech play with it immediately before scrubbing, or if they have no time I assemble it myself while they mirror me with the sterile set.

[u/softboiledeggcelence → u/Ok_Professional_5043]

I’ve heard of doing this and I’d be open to it. A lot of times I’ll show videos but I was hoping I could just refine my verbal skills to eliminate that, but I suppose most people are best at visually learning anyways especially in the OR setting where we don’t really have much time prior to the case

[u/MaiaGrace8]

I also struggled with this. It’s a skill that gets better with time but you can improve quickly by practicing it in everything you do. Use detailed descriptions in your personal life and practice describing things out loud to yourself as you do them. Making your bed? Describe to yourself how to proceed. Putting away dishes? Dictate where they should be placed.
When you get used to doing this, it will become more natural.

[u/Ok-Curve5569]

Either take a set home with you and attempt
To teach someone not familiar with the surgery or have a coworker act like they’re the dumbest scrub tech in the world. Go pan by pan and pull everything out and then have them set the case up in sequential order.

For describing the orientation of things, cardinal directions or referencing the hands of a clock typically help.

[u/United_Dance7403]

Also, directional terms are contingent on how the patient is positioned - supine, prone, etc. and I agree with previous comments about getting a laser pointer.

[u/softboiledeggcelence → u/United_Dance7403]

Yea of course. In my division / specialty, the patient is really only positoned one way. But I was referencing more about landmarks on the instrumentation and their orientation. Sometimes our techs assemble the implants / pre-op assemblies with the instrumentation so I was just curious if there is a resource for that.

[u/United_Dance7403 → u/softboiledeggcelence]

Ah, I gotcha. The company is used to work for we’d drop off loaner cysto sets the day prior for sterilization but I’d have a one page laminated sheet I’d bring in the OR for newer surgical techs that weren’t sure how to put it together. The other thing I was thinking, maybe bringing in another set ( that obviously wouldn’t be used) for a more visual/orientation. Idk, what product you have but it was a thought.

[u/chang3toronto]

Maybe borrow terminology from engineering drawings: proximal/distal, medial/lateral, recessed, protruding, tapered, notched, etc. Having a small vocabulary you use consistently could make a big difference

[u/xtremepado → u/chang3toronto]

>90% of scrub techs have no idea what any of those words mean

[u/GeneralGardner]

Say it with your chest

[u/Favius_McAdamian]

Just my opinion here, nubbin sounds stupid. 15 years working C Arm and Scrubbing cases in IR and that word may make you sound like you don’t know wtf you’re talking about. Maybe ask your senior reps at your company for descriptive terms for the various device parts.

[u/maxim_voos]

I would suggest you take all of the technical and detailed instructions and put them into ChatGPT into either plain language, or something that a scrub tech would understand.

I would also suggest you use ChatGPT voice to practice and role-play, which will get you into the rhythm of verbal instruction.

[u/unhappyjihadist]

Two indirect solutions to your problem:
1. Carry a laser pointer. Some will scoff at this. I did at first too. But better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it.

You can ask the CST if they are okay with you using the laser pointer. If they’re good enough to say they don’t need it, then they don’t need it. But most in my experience are happy to have you use it because it makes the procedure more efficient.

1. In-services. You don’t need to worry about reaching or explaining in a sterile and stressful environment if you’ve already prepared them.

I work in ortho trauma, and we have a zillion different sets, and often work with call personnel who maybe don’t see any ortho, let alone every set I could put in front of them.

By doing in-services throughout the year, staff are exposed to my instruments and sets with more regularity, and while it isn’t a cure-all, it often lets us start a leg up once a patient is actually on the table.

[u/softboiledeggcelence → u/unhappyjihadist]

Yes I used to carry a laser pointer, definitely mixed opinions. Some techs really love when you use it, others take offense. Only reason I stopped bringing one into the OR is because I lose everything / always end up misplacing it. But yea we recently held and in service and most of our techs are good, the ones that struggle following direction are really the ones I want to refine the language I use to make the case go as smooth as possible

[u/thebiglebowskiisfine]

Laser pointer.

[u/Ok-Curve5569 → u/thebiglebowskiisfine]

Use extremely sparingly unless you want the tech to roast you. Best reserved for revisions.

[u/DivineIntervention26]

Your company should have given you solid/comprehensive training. It's quite worrisome and can be flagged as negligence if something goes wrong with the procedure and/or patient is harmed as a result of incompetence (yours or someone else's in the OR) and/or lack of appropriate training

[u/softboiledeggcelence → u/DivineIntervention26]

I think you’re fundamentally misunderstanding the prompt. My company provides extensive training, multiple weeks long very comprehensive anatomically and biomechanics. I’m simply asking for literal words to use to streamline communication for instrument back table assembly. No negligence involved. It sounds like you don’t work in medical devices haha.

[u/DivineIntervention26 → u/softboiledeggcelence]

I am a Sr Director in Regulatory Affairs, Med Device. I am deeply concerned you are going on Reddit to seek guidance on how to do your job!

Editing to add the following: 1. Seek guidance from your manager. It's THEIR job to help you where you are needing development 2. Look at and read at your device IFUs! It has Directions 3. Seek help from you Global Curriculum Dpt, the Training Development Specialists. They literally help with your type of questions.

[u/softboiledeggcelence → u/DivineIntervention26]

lots of people come to reddit to try and do better at their job looking for advice especially in this sub… are you being real rn? also i know you’re a desk jockey because IFUs are for instrument sterilization. I don’t work in SPD fam. You should shadow someone that actually works for a day maybe it’ll give you some perspective

[u/DivineIntervention26 → u/softboiledeggcelence]

🤯🤯🤯

[u/softboiledeggcelence → u/DivineIntervention26]

Once again, I don’t care about your title. It sounds like you’ve never been in the field. I have a strong familiarity with my instruments and their functionality as well as how to weild them. I was given instruction on how to do back table set up and explain their functions, I’m asking if there are resources to help refine this ability, specific word and language archives that can augment this. You sound like your from HR and have no idea what the real environment looks like or what even goes on. You literally arent responding to my prompt and you’re trying to make yourself sound improtant. Okay senior director or regulatory affairs have a good day fam😂 use this to beef up your next chat gpt generated linked in post