scrub RN vs. Surgical technologist

Kingbandit · May 4, 2010

I have a unique perspective, twas a scrub tech for 10yrs, then a RN for 6yrs. The education for surgical tech was 1 1/2 years at a community college. I graduated with an associates degree. The core curriculum was all about instruments and how they interact with different tissue. Our pharmacology was very basic, locals, antibiotics, heparin. We took anatomy where we dissected a cat. Most of our education is through 360hrs of clinical experience.I've known many people who work their whole career who work as techs. They start around $16/hr and max $25/hr.

In my state the ADN & BSN are considered equal. I have both. Neither degree had any formal training for the OR. The most you could hope for is a day of observation. As you know, nurses start around $24/hr. Most stub rns are former techs or trained on the job. Most RN's who scrub work in orthoor open heart. Hospitals like the rn in these services because they can staff a room with 3 rns and have it covered all day without needing to send any other staff for breaks/lunch.

Our open heart team use nurses exclusively.

Mr. & Mrs. RN · May 4, 2010

I remember reading a study recently, wish I could cite it for you, about patient outcomes at different hospital ORs. The groups were divided by hospitals with all RN staff in the OR, and those with techs. And of course, the hospitals with an all RN OR staff had better patient outcomes. I can't remember what all the factors were that led to better patient outcomes...which I think is what you want answered...but I think it boils down to the all-encompassing perspective the RN has of the patient. Techs are more likely to be robotic. You hand me a drug, I measure, and hand to surgeon. Whereas an RN will be more likely to think about the patient's history, allergies, and so on.

Mr. & Mrs. RN · May 4, 2010

Here's a good discussion for you!

https://allnurses.com/operating-room-nursing/do-most-ors-343384.html

Adorno · May 6, 2010

Is your instructor asking if RNs should do respiratory techs jobs too? I'm asking because nursing was everything years ago, and now healthcare is more complex. 18-24 months of schooling focused on one part of a specialty isn't something small. We have accepted the other ancillary healthcare positions, but not the CST. Hospitals rarely have all RN staffs anymore, and that's good. I think RNs can do respiratory, xrays etc with training, but wouldn't that be a waste of a nurse? The hospitals that had all RN ORs were likely focused on quality at every step within the hospital. A well trained, experienced, and not over burdened CCU nurse will catch small changes early and report them, thus improving the outcomes of the open heart program. That's similar for ER, OB, Neuro etc. I don't think properly trained CSTs are a problem, but an advantage if the hospital isn't trying to use them as a cost savings measure in an inappropriate manner.

I'm both a CST and RN. The jobs are just so different. My focus is drastically different for each role. I much prefer to circulate with a CST or CST turned RN in the scrubbed role, than an OTJT RN.

jdg0719 · Aug 22, 2010

I would rather have an RN scrub in a case that knows all the basics of sterility 101. I know some nurses who were never STs and have no knowledge whatsoever about surgical technique, who always contaminate themselves in the middle of the case, etc. Just because some nurse is new to the OR, that doesn't mean she can assume she can handle specialty of a compitent CST, RNFA, or a nurse in the scrub role. If someone can't hold the leg at 90 degrees during an ACL reconstruction without contaminating themselves, dropping the leg or not paying attention to whats going on, then please get out of the way. Your in the wrong field.