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Hope McMillian
Hope McMillian
00:41

Hope McMillian

Loma Linda University Medical Center

Rancho Cucamonga, CA USA

"If I have made a parent smile, that makes a difference."

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Hope's work combines: Medicine, Science, and Helping People

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Day In The Life

Surgical Technician

I assist in delivering babies and focus on keeping the expecting mother calm and comfortable.

01:49

Day In The Life Of An Obstetrics Surgical Technician

My Day to Day

My days are unpredictable but dedicated to one purpose: safely delivering newborns. I prepare our instruments and operating rooms, which always need to be ready since mothers could arrive needing emergency care at any time. When that call comes, we swiftly get scrubbed in to assist the obstetrician, carefully supplying each tool to gently bring the baby into the world. My role is supporting the doctor so the baby can enter whole and healthy.

Skills & Education

Advice for getting started

When I first got hired as a surgical technician for the OB department, I experienced a lot of self-doubt. I wasn't sure if I could handle it and I was afraid of doing something wrong. To overcome that, I weighed the positives against the negatives. I essentially took a breather, reminded myself of the other things I've accomplished, and talked myself up. There will always be hiccups during a learning process but once you learn to do something, you'll gain more confidence in your abilities.

Here's the path I took:

  • High School

  • Certification

    EKG Program

    San Bernardino County Workforce Program

Life & Career Milestones

My path in life has been direct

  • 1.

    I started my healthcare career as a certified nursing assistant before transitioning to become a certified mental health worker for nine years.

  • 2.

    I got hired at a local hospital which led to a promotion in the obstetrics department in just eight months thanks to positively impacting my supervisors.

  • 3.

    After a workplace injury forced me to take three years off, I found the drive to upskill by completing an EKG program and getting surgical tech training.

  • 4.

    I was able to get a job at Loma Linda University Medical Center as a surgical technician in the obstetrics department and have been here for six years now.

  • 5.

    Despite initial nervousness about my capabilities, encouragement from colleagues empowered me to excel in delivering babies.

Defining Moments

How I responded to discouragement

  • THE NOISE

    Messages from Myself:

    I don't think I can do this. What if I call for the wrong instrument or do something else wrong?

  • How I responded:

    When I first got hired as a surgical technician for the OB department, I experienced a lot of self-doubt. I wasn't sure if I could handle it and I was afraid of doing something wrong. To overcome that, I weighed the positives against the negatives. I essentially took a breather, reminded myself of the other things I've accomplished, and talked myself up. There will always be hiccups during a learning process but once you learn to do something, you'll gain more confidence in your abilities.