"Clamp that vessel" is your very first order from a surgeon during a real non-training surgery, and the enormity of it hits you. The pass-off of the clamp from the surgical technician to you is not seamless. You drop the clamp, effectively rendering the sterile field unsterile. You later find out that the surgeon has requested not to work with you again.

Your confidence and steadiness of hand over the past five years has grown stronger. Your surgery cases are varied, and you think that you might want to specialize in robotic surgery. Plus, you scored big time at the mall last Saturday and found the ultimate comfort shoe. The next time you stand for a ten-hour surgery, you won't even feel an ounce of soreness.

You've gained a reputation as a stellar surgical assistant, and now surgical teams are glad to see you at the table. You deftly perform all intra-operative tasks and have had more opportunities to assist in robotic surgeries. The surgical team gives you extra kudos because you stay to help clean up.

After fifteen years at Memorial General, you decide to go independent, and you're now working regularly with several physicians at their private offices. You still work with Memorial General, though, and even have cases at their brand-new surgical facility that uses robotics more than any other hospital in the state.

All of your assisting in robotic surgeries has paid off. Twenty years in, you're now one of the go-to CSAs for this type of surgery. You're even paid to speak about it at your old surgical tech alma mater. The future for your specialty is bright and growing. Microbots can't be far off.