Should I? - Surgical Tech Program in 1 year before NS?

GadgetRN71, ASN, RN · Jul 10, 2008

Do you think that you'd want to be an OR nurse after NS? CRNA is an awesome job but most programs want you to have a year of ICU under your belt before applying. I'm not trying to steer you away from the OR by any means, but if you really think CRNA may be a possibility, then shoot for the ICU.

Surg techs can work other shifts-I was a tech before nursing and worked evenings. I worked almost full-time during school and while it can be done, it was difficult. Being a tech is a job you have to bring 110% to..it can be mentally and physically exhausting. So, I recommend to people that they try to work as few hours as possible. If this isn't realistic, just realize that you'll be tired most of the time, like I was!

in2ICU · Jul 10, 2008

Witchy,

Maybe I'm confused (precisely why I'm here). I do plan to work in ICU as an RN. But is there any reason working in the OR as a ST would be a conflict? Isn't the OR where the CRNAs work? My reasoning here is that any exposure is better than no exposure.

Is there a better alternative that you can recommend for getting the desired experience?

By the way, I come from a background of working in legal (years ago) so I have zero exposure to medical jobs. I have gone to the ER to see my sister in action and I've watched a surgery performed on my dad, but that's about it. Oh, and I've watched Dr. 90210 Copy%20of%20wink.gif !!

GadgetRN71, ASN, RN · Jul 10, 2008

No, not really a conflict. But, while you do get to see anatomy first hand and surgery is very interesting, a tech job is grueling at times(even if you are working part-time). It's not really a job where you do it just to pass the time until NS. Many places expect you to take call even if you are part-time and you could find yourself working at 3am when you have clinical or lecture the next day. You may have a boss that doesn't give a hoot that you're in school and will expect your job as a tech to be the #1 priority.

Many people who want some healthcare experience before NS work as CNAs or patient care techs. In my case, I knew I was going to be an OR nurse from the start and I had to work-it just made more sense for me to work as a tech, because that was my career before NS. Surgical technology is a career in it's own right-it's not really intended as a bridge-over job.

I guess my point is: if you are not going into the OR after NS,(and CRNAs are a different thing from circulators) then the experience you'd get as a PCT or CNA may mesh more with what you're learning in school.

But, it's your decision. IMHO, I think a full year of tech school before the rigors of NS is just tackling too much. Good luck whatever you choose..

ERNurse752, RN · Jul 10, 2008

Ditto WitchyRN.

If you want to work in the ICU as an RN to get experience to apply to CRNA school, I think it would be a better use of your time to get a tech position in an ICU.

Nurse Salt · Jul 10, 2008

Agreed! Getting a tech job in ICU would be much more beneficial. Especially when you take into account how different the OR can be behind the drape (where CRNAs are) from in front (where OR techs are).

in2ICU · Jul 10, 2008

Hi All,

This has been incredibly helpful! Just writing out my situation and reading your replies has opened my eyes to the fact that I could just work to get experience - not have to go to the tech program. It's a funny thing how a person can have a closed mind sometimes. I looked at the main hospital group in my area and they do have training programs for patient care techs. I didn't know that it was possible to request a certain area (ICU). What a briliant idea!

OK, now I am interested in what a patient care tech does. I will search the board to find details.

Thank you, thank you, thank you so much!

ERNurse752, RN · Jul 10, 2008

Glad we could help. :)

When I was a patient care tech on ICU, I did things like bath, turning patients, vital signs, EKGs, blood draws, placing foley catheters, accu checks...oh, and stock rooms and dump the trash.

And of course try to learn all I could just by being around the environment!

pirap · Jul 10, 2008

if you have a year and don't want to sit idle i vote for pursuing the surgical tech program. in areas such as labor/deliver the nurse manager in our hospital requires scrub experience due to increase rate of c/s and if the rn is already experienced then she follows the patient from start to finish.

also studying for the st program will get you focused, in my opinion, on nursing school. i was never a patient care/nurse tech and i did fine out of school and the grueling first year of med/surg. being a tech before a nurse isn't required in my opinion. i've watched techs in my nursing school class kill themselves working only to be dead tired on exam day. staffing wants their people and most could care less if you are in school. also if you are tech and get in trouble for calling in, being late, or quit because of school conflicts, i know our hospital looks at your previous job history at their hospital. i didn't want anything screwing up my chance to work where i wanted to work! you know how short the profession is and you should have no problems getting into an icu!!

good luck!

in2ICU · Jul 10, 2008

I have just put about a dozen apps in for Patient Care Tech and Medical Assistant (these two seem to be lumped together here).

Pirap, do you think that going through Surg Tech program from this August through next summer would give me time to actually start working as a ST in any beneficial capacity to the hospital considering I start NS at the end of that August?

That is the logistical question I have trouble with.

Also, how would scheduling, etc. be different for a surg tech vs. a patient care tech as mentioned in your message? You are right that I don't want some jerk boss who doesn't care about my schedule. I would probably do per diem work while in school to avoid this. Does this seem like a good plan?

Crux1024 · Jul 10, 2008

OP~

As a surgical tech, I would advise you take a patient care tech position, if u only have a year to wait for NS classes. Surgical Tech is not just a job to pass the time away...believe me. I have been an ST for 6 years and work 24 hours a week while going to NS full time...and wow, is it hard.

On the up side, the experience I have from being an ST is great and I am in a good postion as far as knowledge and the working of the hospital system and procedures.

IMHO, the few months between ST classes ending and NS beginning isnt enough time to get your self accustomed to a surgical tech job and be able to work it parttime...where I am parttime is reserved for people who have experience. Its hard to be fully oriented to a new unit of your mind is somewhere else.

Being a patient care tech is equally helpful, you can get into it right away and have a whole year to hone your skills. I vote for that.

PiPhi2004 · Jul 10, 2008

Why work if you dont have to? Believe me get your rest because if you want to be a CRNA you will need GREAT grades and while you may be smart you will need a lot of extra time for studying that IMO you really can't when you have to focus on another hard job. Plus as PP have said, some employers might not give a hoot about your goals to get through school. You wont want to work in NS if you dont have to so it seems like a waste of time and not really a great learning experience either. You will learn everything you need to know in NS so I'd enjoy life until then and maybe work as an extern your last few years of school during the summer to get ICU experience. I went into the ICU with no experience whatsoever and I've done just fine. I'm glad I didn't work and focused on studying my orifice off as I did very well in NS and am looking to apply to CRNA school within the next year. You really dont need it, but if you would do anything I think CNA would make more sense and you dont need a year of training.