I'm in the Surgical tech program at my school and I can't say I'm really happy. I didn't realize it would be so much attention to detail. Everything has to remain sterile. Even if you drop your hands, you're contaminated. Instructor makes everyone regown and close glove over the simplest of errors. Besides, the instructor is a very arrogant and have a proud spirit. Listening to him speak, he sounds as if he's a neurosurgeon or something. He always tells stories about how he was working in the OR and some surgeon or first asst. messed something up and wah lah, he to the rescue.
I kind of wish now that I would have gone into either the ultrasound or radiation therapy because it would've been so much easier. We have to sit in class all day long, instead of them having the schedule broken up in sections a little more especially for those of us who work. Instead of keeping students in class 8 hours straight, why not do 3 hours today, 3 tomorrow and 2 the next day. I looked at the schedule in the soft cover catalogue the schools gives out, but the teacher changed the schedule.
Then there is so much to learn in such a short period of time. I feel like I'm in medical school. Not only do you have the lab component, but you have to learn more than 100 different instruments, 100 different types of surgical procedures and the foundations of surgical technology for a total of 4 components. You stand on your feet all day when you start working, and worse yet all the jobs available where I live are part time and must have 5+ years of exp. which I have no experience.
Then I had to go thru all this rigamarole to get in. I had to have all my vaccines done again as I had no immunity to them despite having hundreds of shots as a kid. I have to have a $150 background check done, $200 for books, $$ for profession membership, $$ for student malpractice insurance etc all for a total of around $1500.
Plus I have to drive so far to the campus, which wouldn't be so bad if construction was not going on all the time that I have to get there. I was stuck in traffic really bad one day and got yelled at in class for being 2 minutes late. I have myself 1.5 hours to get there where it normally takes 40 minutes if traffic is not that busy. Then he says, I must give myself more time, when I had. Others come in late to class and he says nothing to them. Geez. I don't know what i'm going to do other than stick it out and get my $1500 worth. btw, surgical tech at this school does not even have it's own lab or room, we have to share with other health departments. I figure, this school has had this program in existence for ages and yet have no room for them. They treat it like an after thought program whereas nursing, ultrasound, resp. therapy and such get treated better with better equipment and facilities.
I know I'm venting, but maybe this will help someone out there contemplating going into surgical tech. I wouldn't do it again. I have to wake up early to get there, and I'm not getting any sleep. The pay only starts at $16-$19 an hour for all the sacrifice and hard work. I wish I had made other plans.
Oh dude, if you are not happy NOW, you most certainly won't be happy when you actually start working in the OR. YES, sterility is king in the OR, YES, you have to drop scrub if you contaminate yourself, and YES, you have to learn all of the instruments. Your instructor is being hard on you now so that you will understand the importance of maintaining sterility in the OR.
What do you think will happen if you contaminate yourself or your back table during a total joint procedure and that pt gets an infection in the joint? The hardware will have to be removed (2nd surgery for the pt), a new antibiotic spacer will be put in place, the pt will have to heal from that along with having to take oral abx, then new hardware will have to be put in (3rd surgery for the pt), and then the surgeon must only HOPE that the joint is stable enough to heal properly. This is only one example that comes to mind. There are countless others.
If attention to detail is not something you are good at, then quit the program. It sounds like you are unhappy about several components of the program. Go into something else. To do ST, you MUST be vigilant, you MUST have the pt's well being at the front of your mind, and you MUST stand on your feet in order to help the surgeons, who are also standing on their feet all day.
i totally understand what you are saying. i think what it boils down to really is the lack of sleep i'm getting making me cranky, and the boot camp style way he is teaching the material. but i do understand that fomites and patients in surgery do not mix. i do not want a patient sick over my negligence that's for sure. i think i will try to stick it out. when i do start working in OR, if i ever get there, i think i will know the material by then like the back of my hand and so it shouldn't be a problem. as a matter of fact, teacher said that most surgeons not only do not know, but do not practice sterility. so maybe we gotta watch them more closely too. once i start working, i'll be getting better rest, and all will be better i hope.
Just out of curiosity how much research did you do before applying for this program? If you just listened to what the school told you (This career has excellent growth potential! You'll make so much money!) then I can see how you're in this mess.
The first thing I did before applying for the program at my local hospital was call all the hospitals and surgical centers in the area and find out if they use surgical techs, what the pay rate was, the hours and what school they would favor hiring from.
Another thing that worries me is you say you can't tolerate being in class for such a long time then how would you be able to stand being in the OR for 10-12 hours doing a tense but tedious surgery?
And last but, not least what makes you think radiation therapy or ultrasound tech would be any easier? Those programs are just as long and just as intense if not more than surg tech.
Hi, actually i first started studying this or the prereqs for this in like 1996, but I dropped out due to uncertainty of what i wanted to study. i am a person with a terrible lack of direction and proper support. though i've been working jobs that pay the rent, i wanted to finally go back to school (jr. college for tuition cost reasons) and get a degree in the health care field since the economy was so bad and i figured it would be a great way to pick back up again from '96. but it goes back to this, being on the outside is different from being on the inside. on the outside of things, i can look at something and say to myself; i can do that. however, once i get into it and see all it entails, i can then realize that this is not for me, much better because i'm in it and can see more clearly. i can do all the research i can, but until you actually get into something, you may not quite realize it's not for you. this explains why alot of ppl go into nursing and drop out. they think it's something they can do and make good money, but when they see all they have to do, they back out.
btw, i think being in a quiet classroom listening to a monotone voice (when he's not upset) is sooo much different than being in an OR, where it's more exciting. I'm an excellent worker at all my jobs over the years, with employee of the month, and consecutively yearly perfect attendance rates. standing on my feet all day will be hard at first, but i'll get used to it. i used to work the nokia phone assembly line for a few years where we stood on our feet all day. i had severe charley horses then, that used to wake me in the middle of the night, but eventually i got used to it.
Wrong kiddo. Ultrasound nor Radiation would be easier. They would be equally difficult, if not more difficult. Tons of Chem knowledge is needed for Radiation and let me tell you, the Ultrasound program is WAY more strict than the Surgical Tech program here at my school.
It sounds like more of issues with the teacher than anything. Definitely agree that bad or rude teacher can make your education experience terrible. Such a shame too. Don't let this cruddy teacher control how you feel about a program.
yes, he is a "" teacher. the boot camp, and talking down to adults like they are 10 years old is uncalled for. but i'm curious when you said ultrasound and radiation is harder and more strict because you did not give examples of why you think that. maintaining a sterile field is very tricky and challenging. if i'm an ultrasound tech. i am working at the console, not constantly worrying about contaminating anything, or donning and gloving a hundred million times or even standing for long periods. heck, the ultrasound lady that did my thyroid ultrasound wasn't even wearing gloves or a gown and she was sitting up at the desk reading a magazine waiting on me to get ready.
Specializes in Trauma Surgery, Nursing Management.
Johnny, it seems that you might simply have too many negative factors in your way. We have all had "boot camp" instructors, and that is mainly because errors in our field are not tolerated. It sounds harsh, but the reality of the OR is that we as staff must be 100% vigilant and 100% error-proof 100% of the time. This demands some strong training, and I am guessing that is what your instructor is trying to teach you. He may mean well, but it sounds like he has a bit of an arrogant side to him. Sheesh!
The surgeons that I work with are MOST ASSUREDLY paying attention to sterility. If your jackhole instructor is saying otherwise, he is only trying to beef up the "hero image" that he is so desperately trying to convey. Meh! Get thru his course, then when you get to clinicals, you will see how it really is.
My suggestion to you as far as standing all day is to:
1. Eat a high protein breakfast. It sounds totally gross, but I mix salmon and walnuts together and have that for breakfast. It is a protein rich meal, and proteins of course, delay gastric emptying, so you will feel less hungry as the day goes on.
2. Wear knee high TED hose. Ok, ok, so you will feel a bit silly putting them on, but let me tell ya dude, they MAKE A DIFFERENCE! I would also suggest investing in a pair of Dansko shoes. These are GREAT shoes, and well worth the cost. When I was deployed to Katrina, I even played soccer in mine!
3. I see that you have sleep apnea. Do you wear your CPAP? Do you have trouble falling asleep? Try using white noise, such as a fan at your bedside. This can make a big difference.
4. Try as hard as you can to keep a positive attitude. If this is really what you want, then OWN it, BE it, and don't let anything get in your way. You mentioned that in the past you had a hard time picking a direction. If this is still the case, then take a personal inventory of what is important to you. Really do some soul searching. Go to a quiet place where you are not going to be bothered. Getting your mind centered and balanced is KEY no matter what line of work you are in. Ask yourself what you are good at, what you gain the most benefit from, what time in your life were you most proud, what are others saying about you that makes you feel good? These are some deep questions that require an honest response from yourself and will lead you to an honest answer regarding what you want to pursue.
5. Pick a day of the week and have some FUN! Exercise if that is what you enjoy, watch a great NFL game with some buds, go on a hike/walk, watch a movie, go to a concert, etc. You get what I am saying. Take ONE day and just be free. It helps to keep things in perspective. If you don't take some time to relax, you will ONLY see the negative in this high pressured field.
I wish you only the best, and I apologize for my lengthy post!
yes, he is a "" teacher. the boot camp, and talking down to adults like they are 10 years old is uncalled for. but i'm curious when you said ultrasound and radiation is harder and more strict because you did not give examples of why you think that. maintaining a sterile field is very tricky and challenging. if i'm an ultrasound tech. i am working at the console, not constantly worrying about contaminating anything, or donning and gloving a hundred million times or even standing for long periods. heck, the ultrasound lady that did my thyroid ultrasound wasn't even wearing gloves or a gown and she was sitting up at the desk reading a magazine waiting on me to get ready.
It's the reading of the ultrasounds that is difficult. At my school, it is harder to get into the sonographer program and they have higher grade requirements over the nursing program and the surg tech program. They also have to take more difficult classes.
While you may have to keep a strict sterile field, Sonographers have to learn the body in a very detailed manner. They have to have great eyes and pick out the tiniest little abnormality on an ultrasound, one of which includes a very tiny sac of fluid above a fetus' nose.
Radiation Therapy is full of Physics (the one by me has like 6 or 7 semesters of Physics, yuck) and Chemistry, which, at least for me, are both very difficult classes.
If you're good at all of those science courses, then maybe it would be easier for you.
And please don't think I'm not saying Surg Tech is hard, I'm sure it is. I'm just saying I don't think the other degrees are going to be any less difficult.
Once you get into a routine with the sterilizing, you'll be fine. It's a lot because you're in school. It's overwhelming because you are learning.
If you didn't have this instructor, would you feel differently ? That's what you need to think about.
Specializes in ICU, PICU, School Nursing, Case Mgt.
(i just have to get in the groove of things, and I have health problems like high testosterone levels, sleep apnea, depression, low cortisol, super high crp levels, porphyria, and hypertension, and i require a certain amt of sleep everyday. and like i stated earlier, the teacher had changed the schedule from what the catalog showed the hours would be. thanks for understanding though.)
(don't we all? do we get it? NO)
My goodness,
I really am at a loss for words.
While I can understand your frustration, this post and the original (where you complain about the traffic etc) sound to me like Excuses for not applying yourself and doing some hard work--not vents.
THe health care field is not for the faint of heart...it is very hard work, grueling hours and can be a daily challange. If you can't hack the school, HOW on earth will you be able to work??? THe hours, call time, I just don't know.
When I went to nursing school, I worked 3 days a week (as a Dental Hygienist), had an 8 year old daughter to care for, a house I had just bought, had just gone through a messy divorce and moved to a new town, and I had to take 19 credit hours...(and I also had several Drill sargent instructors along the way)
and I also have health problems..Rheumatoid Arthritis ( I have had both knees and hips replaced)
It wasn't easy, GOD knows, but I strapped on my "big girl" boots and did it.
It flew by.
It was also very good training for the "real world" of hospital work/health care.
I would advise that you really take a long hard look at this and get honest with yourself. If it really is too much, fine, find something else you can do...you are very young. (I was 38 when I started nursing school)
But don't blame everyone ( your instructor) and everything (like construction) for your unhappiness.
Well, frustration is inevitable in any healthcare program. Your instructor changing the class schedule..not so cool. However, having you re-gown b/c you dropped your hands...a definite yes. You breaking the sterile can lead to the patient getting sepsis (major life threatening infection) and dying...they'll trace it back to you and fire your butt and someone's death will be on your hands. And it can definitely happen. So like the previous pp said, sterility is king in the OR. All those instruments..you have to know them. When the physicians says he wants an instrument, he wants it right then and there...and he'll chew your head off if you don't know what you're doing. Your instructor is going to seem like your fairy godmother or father in this case after you've met some of these doctors. I do feel for you. However, if you're unhappy doing this program, chances are you'll be unhappy when you start working. You might want to look into a different field. Healthcare isn't for the faint of heart. Best of luck to you.
PS. You're a grown up which means you can show up on time for class despite construction...leave early.
Sorry for interupting here, gymnut said, "The first thing I did before applying for the program at my local hospital was call all the hospitals and surgical centers in the area and find out if they use surgical techs, what the pay rate was, the hours and what school they would favor hiring from."
Did they answer graciously? I've been tempted to do this or to make an appointment and go in to talk to them. I can't decide if it would be a normal part of their job or if it would be a bothersome interuption for them.
Specializes in PACU, CARDIAC ICU, TRAUMA, SICU, LTC.
Hi, actually i first started studying this or the prereqs for this in like 1996, but I dropped out due to uncertainty of what i wanted to study. i am a person with a terrible lack of direction and proper support. though i've been working jobs that pay the rent, i wanted to finally go back to school (jr. college for tuition cost reasons) and get a degree in the health care field since the economy was so bad and i figured it would be a great way to pick back up again from '96. but it goes back to this, being on the outside is different from being on the inside. on the outside of things, i can look at something and say to myself; i can do that. however, once i get into it and see all it entails, i can then realize that this is not for me, much better because i'm in it and can see more clearly. i can do all the research i can, but until you actually get into something, you may not quite realize it's not for you. this explains why alot of ppl go into nursing and drop out. they think it's something they can do and make good money, but when they see all they have to do, they back out.
btw, i think being in a quiet classroom listening to a monotone voice (when he's not upset) is sooo much different than being in an OR, where it's more exciting. I'm an excellent worker at all my jobs over the years, with employee
of the month, and consecutively yearly perfect attendance rates. standing on my feet all day will be hard at first, but i'll get used to it. i used to work the nokia phone assembly line for a few years where we stood on our feet all day. i had severe charley horses then, that used to wake me in the middle of the night, but eventually i got used to it.
JohnnyDoGood,
I looked @ your profile and you stated you were born December 1984. How did you take prereqs in 1996; you would have been 12 years old! Please, straighten out your life before other people entrust their lives with you...
it sounds like you're in it now because you've already invested $$ and time. like you said, you wouldn't do it if you can do it all over. BUT.... wait you didnt even start working yet! if you're complaining this much, it can make your life a living hell later on when you actually start working. What makes you think you won't have a surgeon/ manager that will be "on you" all the time. writing you up for tedious things, giving you boot camp orders?
Ask those who love their profession. I LOVE nursing. I have so many stressors, but i never say the negatives when people ask me about my career. I always focus on the positives. because by the end of the day, no matter how hard it is, I always look at the good stuff and it makes my day worthwhile. Nurses have to remember 100s of diseases, medications, remain sterile all the time. we work in conditions that are long and hard and a lot of us have health problems. the difference between those who make it and those who don't-- their genuine passion for what they do, determination, good work ethics.
Specializes in Trauma Surgery, Nursing Management.
Ask those who love their profession. I LOVE nursing. I have so many stressors, but i never say the negatives when people ask me about my career. I always focus on the positives. because by the end of the day, no matter how hard it is, I always look at the good stuff and it makes my day worthwhile. Nurses have to remember 100s of diseases, medications, remain sterile all the time. we work in conditions that are long and hard and a lot of us have health problems. the difference between those who make it and those who don't-- their genuine passion for what they do, determination, good work ethics.
Amen! I totally and completely agree. It IS worthwhile. We make a difference.
johnnyDoGood
121 Posts
i totally understand what you are saying. i think what it boils down to really is the lack of sleep i'm getting making me cranky, and the boot camp style way he is teaching the material. but i do understand that fomites and patients in surgery do not mix. i do not want a patient sick over my negligence that's for sure. i think i will try to stick it out. when i do start working in OR, if i ever get there, i think i will know the material by then like the back of my hand and so it shouldn't be a problem. as a matter of fact, teacher said that most surgeons not only do not know, but do not practice sterility. so maybe we gotta watch them more closely too. once i start working, i'll be getting better rest, and all will be better i hope.