Back to school...or not?

by Lilme04, ADN, RN
  1,476 Views   4 Comments

  1. I graduated from an ADN program in 2011. Got a job at a surgery center and an endoscopy center about 6 months later, and that's where I've been. Mostly I work in recovery, and mostly phase II patients, with some phase I thrown into the mix.

    I'd really like to be a scrub or circulator, but my boss won't train an RN to scrub so he doesn't have to pay an RN's wages (we have an LVN scrub, and an unlicensed person training now, I think). I'm considering going back to school to get a surg tech degree and then possibly looking for another job. I already have 3 other associate's degrees (not health care related).

    Your thoughts?
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  2. 4 Comments

    Comment
  3. by ORoxyO
    Jul 20, '13
    Find a place that will hire you in the OR. Going to surg tech school would be a waste of time and money, and be a step down job-wise. You are much more limited in both pay and function as a tech.
  4. by lth1123
    Jul 20, '13
    Quote from ORoxyO
    Find a place that will hire you in the OR. Going to surg tech school would be a waste of time and money, and be a step down job-wise. You are much more limited in both pay and function as a tech.
    I agree!!
  5. by springchick1
    Jul 24, '13
    Quote from ORoxyO
    Find a place that will hire you in the OR. Going to surg tech school would be a waste of time and money, and be a step down job-wise. You are much more limited in both pay and function as a tech.
    A step-down job? You make it sound like the scrubs are beneath you.
  6. by kguill975
    Jul 25, '13
    Quote from aubgurl

    A step-down job? You make it sound like the scrubs are beneath you.
    I think she meant, going to an unlicensed position from a licensed position would not be equivalent to a lateral move.

    To the OP: Find a larger OR, preferably a teaching facility, and they'll offer you the opportunity to learn both roles. You're more marketable knowing both roles, and it helps to break up the monotony of circulating every day. Good Luck!

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