Is $28,000 worth it becoming a Surgical Tec

Nurses General Nursing

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I am highly interested in becoming a RN nurse but I don't have the luxury to be on waiting lists and I don't want to go to a private school and pay that much money for nursing school. In the mean time I am looking at short programs like Surigcal Tech which is about 9 months. The one program, I am looking at costs $28,000 for the Tech program. Is $28,000 worth becoming a Surigcal Tech.

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Specializes in ICU.

So you would pay $28k for a surg tech, then down the road pay more money to become a nurse? You do realize you will have to pay most of that back even with grants.

In one word? No.

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NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Just wait, thats more than a BSN would cost. I doubt you would net a higher income than McDonald's employee after you account for student loan payments.

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It sounds like the kind of price a for-profit school would give. They give out loans like candy and you are permanently on the hook to pay off a loan for an education that could be bought cheaper in a community college. Compare prices and look at how much starting pay is for surgical techs.

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
Is $28,000 worth becoming a Surigcal Tech.
In one word...NO.

There are few surgical tech job openings in most employment markets. The positions that are available do not always pay well and require experience.

In addition, many new grad surgical techs from investor-owned schools must relocate to faraway backwater areas to secure their first jobs in the field.

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Specializes in Oncology.

No. Find a nursing home that will pay you while they train you to become a CNA. Join a waiting list for an RN program while you do that. If you're working as a CNA and comfortable with that job and still not moved up on the RN program wait list, go on to an LPN program part time while still working as a CNA. The aforementioned nursing home will likely keep you on as an LPN. Then move to RN. CNA and LPN will both help you to become a better RN.

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Don't do it. That sounds like a for-profit school (I very, very briefly worked for one) and many are overpriced, provide no job search assistance, and aren't even accredited.

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Before I was a nurse, I was a surgical technologist. I went to a local community college, and got my certification for under $5,000. I couldn't imagine paying the amount you quoted. I would encourage you to research the starting salary for a surg tech before you sign up. When I started out, it was like $16 an hour. Best of luck, whatever you decide.

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Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.

Blue Robin, what happened to your BSN/military goals?

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No. Find a nursing home that will pay you while they train you to become a CNA.

Some hospitals will train you to be a patient care technician (basicly a CNA), they PAY YOU.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Ortho, ASC.
So you would pay $28k for a surg tech, then down the road pay more money to become a nurse? You do realize you will have to pay most of that back even with grants.

In one word? No.

Your initial post worried me! It made me wonder what I was missing in this equation. Glad you changed your yes to a no.

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Emergency, Trauma.

That's as much as an RN program, and you will basically blow through your federal financial aid.

Instead ad of a surgical technologist, how about a LPN? Nursing pathway, get to work as alciensed nurse, then bridge to a ADN or BSN...

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