CST License? RN Thoughts?

Nurses Activism

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As a current CST Student I am starting to realize how much negativity there is towards CST's. At my school the CST program is actually harder to get into then Nursing so it was news to me. However, I seem to have one gripe that many CST's seem to have, we only can get certificication, not a License. There are many instances where I think a Scrub Tech who went to school the same amount of time as a Associates Degree RN (3 years here in MI) should have some additional privileges as long as they can pass the CST exam. Right now we can't administer any drugs yet as a CFA and even some times as a CST, we are suturing and tying off bleeders.

As more and more states are requiring that Scrub Tech's be certified, should we not push for greater responsibility? After all it should be about the patient. If the CST needs a break the RN Circulator can take over, but the the CST can't take over for the RN!

I had the grades for Nursing or Surgical Technology, but chose Surgical Technology because that is what I have a greater interest in. If I went the Nursing route I would have trouble even getting into the OR and yet I would be stuck in the Circulator role, nothing wrong with it, but it doesn't carry the same requirements.

Thoughts/Ideas?

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