hiotw75

I thought 'first assist' was just a general term to describe the RN who is closest to and most directly involved with helping the surgeon. Is there a law somewhere that says that such a person must have the job title 'RNFA' or have a BSN? Doesn't the hiring organization decide that? If I were doing the hiring, I'd put an experienced RN with a Phd in Physiology ahead of a new grad with a BSN. What's so magical about BSN? Isn't it just a RN with more 'administration' courses? Thanks for posting.

I need help deciding between LVN school or Surgical (scrub) tech school. Betwen the two jobs, I'd rather be a Surg Tech after comparing the job descriptions, but feel I would be limiting myself in knowledge and advancement. If I go the LVN route, the idea would be to get licensed in one year instead of the 2 yrs required for RN school, then get a job on the weekends while in an LVN/RN transition program, (assuming I can find a job and program in the same town), then look for a hospital surgery internship if that's still the area I want to get into. It seems a waste to spend a year pursuing Surg Tech, only to have to start over in nursing school anyway to get where I untimately want to be. Then we're talking 3 years total! TOO MUCH! I'm already sick of school and not interested in a BSN to become 'management material' (already have an MBA), and don't need constant patient interaction to be happy. Knowing that I saved or improved someone's life is enough satisfaction. And with all the varied surgeries going on and my interest in pediatrics, I can't envision first assist ever being boring, but could easily see how Surg Tech might be if that's all anyone ever did. Other factors to consider...many major hospitals in my area aren't even hiring LVN's, just RNs. They use more surgical techs, but they aren't hired for weekend only work (the experienced ones get that). I heard today there may be scholarship money for the Surg Tech program. Is Surg Tech training worth a year of your life if it were free, delaying nursing school a year? Money is a factor. I need a paycheck NOW. Another factor - I can't say I'd never want to move out of OR down the road. With RN, you can go anywhere in the hospital. I have no healthcare industry experience. I'm in my 40s and would only do it for 20 yrs max anyway, retiring at 65. At my age, should I just do Surg Tech, look at it as just another job instead of a career, take my meager paycheck and do something else on the side for my happiness? Should I tolerate LVN duties as a means to an end and forget Surg Tech? I have to stay interested and challenged and don't need another boring dead end job. Had plenty of those. Thanks in advance for posting. P.S. - We hear the whine of a 'nursing shortage', yet there are several times as many applicants for schools as there are seats, and no one is willing to pay for more seats....not the govt., not the hospitals. Go figure.

I need help deciding between LVN school or Surgical (scrub) tech school. Betwen the two jobs, I'd rather be a Surg Tech after comparing the job descriptions, but feel I would be limiting myself in knowledge and advancement. If I go the LVN route, the idea would be to get licensed in one year instead of the 2 yrs required for RN school, then get a job on the weekends while in an LVN/RN transition program, (assuming I can find a job and program in the same town), then look for a hospital surgery internship if that's still the area I want to get into. It seems a waste to spend a year pursuing Surg Tech, only to have to start over in nursing school anyway to get where I untimately want to be. Then we're talking 3 years total! TOO MUCH! I'm already sick of school and not interested in a BSN to become 'management material' (already have an MBA), and don't need constant patient interaction to be happy. Knowing that I saved or improved someone's life is enough satisfaction. And with all the varied surgeries going on and my interest in pediatrics, I can't envision first assist ever being boring, but could easily see how Surg Tech might be if that's all anyone ever did. Other factors to consider...many major hospitals in my area aren't even hiring LVN's, just RNs. They use more surgical techs, but they aren't hired for weekend only work (the experienced ones get that). I heard today there may be scholarship money for the Surg Tech program. Is Surg Tech training worth a year of your life if it were free, delaying nursing school a year? Money is a factor. I need a paycheck NOW. Another factor - I can't say I'd never want to move out of OR down the road. With RN, you can go anywhere in the hospital. I have no healthcare industry experience. I'm in my 40s and would only do it for 20 yrs max anyway, retiring at 65. At my age, should I just do Surg Tech, look at it as just another job instead of a career, take my meager paycheck and do something else on the side for my happiness? Should I tolerate LVN duties as a means to an end and forget Surg Tech? I have to stay interested and challenged and don't need another boring dead end job. Had plenty of those. Thanks in advance for posting. P.S. - We hear the whine of a 'nursing shortage', yet there are several times as many applicants for schools as there are seats, and no one is willing to pay for more seats....not the govt., not the hospitals. Go figure.

I need help deciding between LVN school or Surgical (scrub) tech school. Betwen the two jobs, I'd rather be a Surg Tech after comparing the job descriptions, but feel I would be limiting myself in knowledge and advancement. If I go the LVN route, the idea would be to get licensed in one year instead of the 2 yrs required for RN school, then get a job on the weekends while in an LVN/RN transition program, (assuming I can find a job and program in the same town), then look for a hospital surgery internship if that's still the area I want to get into. It seems a waste to spend a year pursuing Surg Tech, only to have to start over in nursing school anyway to get where I untimately want to be. Then we're talking 3 years total! TOO MUCH! I'm already sick of school and not interested in a BSN to become 'management material' (already have an MBA), and don't need constant patient interaction to be happy. Knowing that I saved or improved someone's life is enough satisfaction. And with all the varied surgeries going on and my interest in pediatrics, I can't envision first assist ever being boring, but could easily see how Surg Tech might be if that's all anyone ever did. Other factors to consider...many major hospitals in my area aren't even hiring LVN's, just RNs. They use more surgical techs, but they aren't hired for weekend only work (the experienced ones get that). I heard today there may be scholarship money for the Surg Tech program. Is Surg Tech training worth a year of your life if it were free, delaying nursing school a year? Money is a factor. I need a paycheck NOW. Another factor - I can't say I'd never want to move out of OR down the road. With RN, you can go anywhere in the hospital. I have no healthcare industry experience. I'm in my 40s and would only do it for 20 yrs max anyway, retiring at 65. At my age, should I just do Surg Tech, look at it as just another job instead of a career, take my meager paycheck and do something else on the side for my happiness? Should I tolerate LVN duties as a means to an end and forget Surg Tech? I have to stay interested and challenged and don't need another boring dead end job. Had plenty of those. Thanks in advance for posting. P.S. - We hear the whine of a 'nursing shortage', yet there are several times as many applicants for schools as there are seats, and no one is willing to pay for more seats....not the govt., not the hospitals. Go figure.