SOCALDAN

Yes, as a surgical tech, you do (work) for free. BUT in other terms, you are being taught (for free), by someone who is probably not being paid by a school, NOR is not being compensated by the hospital, to take you under their wing, and give you their knowledge. We are having a bad time right now with, NOT ENOUGH Clinical sites for our surg tech students, and if you are a Nurse, and you live in the so cal area, (50 miles radius of OCEANSIDE CA) contact me if you and your staff are willing to take on a surg tech student. Thanks Dan

Thanks, I too am currently teaching in the private post secondary education system. I think my O.R. years are truly behind me... Teaching is a great way to stay employed and to mould the future of WHAT SHOULD BE in the surg tech profession.

And you can co-ordinate with the circulator, to write it on an erase board how many blue towels are inside. and drop them in a kick bucket when pulled out.

This might help this argument. NBSTSA - LCC-ST – Certification in Surgical Assisting OJT personell can take an exam, but they cannot label themselves CST..YOU must go to an accredited program to get that tagline. I am a retired Navy corpsman 20 yrs active duty and 15 yrs as certified surgical tech. I've been on both side of the coin here, I've circulated many, many case in my days, and yes a tech with the right training can circulate cases. Techs can find out lab values and can even understand them, and act if the values are not in the normal ranges/values. Thats easy with the right training. Really how many people NURSES or techs can go to an O.R. without some type of training. Nurses are valuable in the O.R. not all want to scrub, and not all tech want to circulate. I've known many really bad techs, and many really great techs, and the same goes for nurses. Truly what it all boils down to is the root of all evil...MONEY. Techs believe they should be making more money. IMHO Both professions are unique. A nursing job in the O.R. is stressful and the tech is right ther with HER/HIM. I believe the nurses job in the O.R. is more stressful, with all the paperwork and limb holding, scrub prepping, running around ,suture finding, instrument flashing....I CAN GO ON FOREVER. We all value our professions, and want to stick up for what we do. I'll bet even a ditch digger can say their job is more important, because without ditch diggers their would be no foundations laid for any hospitals, and without hospitals, this makes us UNEMPLOYED.. rant over.