Surgical tech.

ohio-nurse · Mar 5, 2014

I have also thought about surgical tech. I wouldn't mind info either. Question for you, you said you are a health screener PRN. What does that consist of? I am also a stay at home mom currently, mainly because I haven't found a jib in my area since I moved. How do I go about looking for a position as a health screener? Thanks!

andreasmom02 · Mar 5, 2014

Ohio-nurse I'll PM you...

andreasmom02 · Mar 5, 2014

ohio-nurse, apparently I can't send anymore PM's... lol So I couldn't PM you. You can do a search for health screener nurse jobs online, there are a lot of companies out there. I work as a contractor LPN for a health screening company. We go in to companies and set up health screenings for employees. We do height, weight, BP checks, cholesterol checks, sometimes flu shots, and stuff like that... It's pretty easy and a great schedule for SAHMs like us! :) Good luck!

**txnurstud, CNA** · Apr 17, 2014

Hello Ladies,

Below is a posting from last year around the LPN vs Surgical Tech (also contains links to earlier posts). Some info from the links (i.e. Salary) is outdated but it gives you a insight into the Surgical Tech arena.

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By Rose_Queen (Apr 8, 13)

Links to previous threads:

https://allnurses.com/lpn-lvn-nursing...de-802987.html

https://allnurses.com/general-nursing...en-517200.html

https://allnurses.com/general-nursing...rn-513706.html

https://allnurses.com/general-nursing...al-424569.html

https://allnurses.com/pre-nursing-stu...er-797599.html

Going the LPN route would give you a nursing knowledge base. Surgical techs are a completely different field. A surgical tech is limited to the OR and possibly L&D for c-sections. LPNs have a bit more flexibility. No bridge programs exist to my knowledge that allow for one to go straight from ST to RN without essentially starting over in a new program. There are bridge programs for LPN to RN that take previous nursing courses into account.

You should also look into the job market and salary in your area- and I don't mean listen to what the school tells you. Talk to current STs about their workplace, look at hospitals for available positions. My hospital of 35 ORs currently has 1 opening for an ST. Because of the limited places to work, ST positions may not become open often- they either open because someone retires or graduates from nursing school. Keep in mind that STs tend to make less than what one would think- the ones I work with max out at the same rate a nurse starts. You may be better off in your current job and going straight into nursing school in the long run once you factor in the cost of both programs.

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I hope this helps!!!

andreasmom02 · Apr 17, 2014

Hi, thanks txnurstud, I appreciate it. I have all of the pre-reqs for the surgical tech program at my local community college, so it would be easy for me to get in to it. That program takes LPNs & RNs over other applicants as well, & the program only takes 10 people a year. There are only two surgical tech colleges in my rural area, and they are about 2 hours apart. Therefore, the local colleges in our area do not graduate many surgical techs. It leads to an associate surgical tech degree if I decide to go that route. Surgical tech jobs are fairly easy to land in our area to the best of my knowledge due to this. I'm always seeing openings for them online at local hospitals.

I am just not sure what I want to do yet though... I have juggled the idea of changing careers to surgical tech, teaching, medical coding, and dental hygiene! lol I don't want to sound "wishy washy"... I just want away from nursing because of my health. I'm 33 years old. I have anxiety attacks, & have genetic high BP, & am on meds for it. I really need a job that isn't very stressful... I'm wanting to get away from bedside care/clinic type nursing really. I have recently realized I hate this kind of nursing. Sometimes I regret becoming an LPN. When I was in nursing school, I hated clinicals. I just thought that it was just because it was clinicals, and it would get better for me once I got a job, but it didn't. I have yet to find a good LPN job that I like, and everywhere I've worked as an LPN has stressed me out. I used to want to be an RN, but with my high BP & anxiety, I don't think it's a good idea to pursue an RN career. I know most hospital jobs are stressful, including surgical tech, and I'm really going to think hard about what other field I may consider before pursuing another degree. My husband thinks medical coding might be good for me since it is a desk job, and I agree with him... But I'm going to think on it for a while still... I'm currently working as a health screener LPN on a PRN basis & like it enough to stay with it for now. It isn't too stressful. Thanks again for your information! :)

**txnurstud, CNA** · Apr 17, 2014

Hi, thanks txnurstud, I appreciate it. I have all of the pre-reqs for the surgical tech program at my local community college, so it would be easy for me to get in to it. That program takes LPNs & RNs over other applicants as well, & the program only takes 10 people a year. There are only two surgical tech colleges in my rural area, and they are about 2 hours apart. Therefore, the local colleges in our area do not graduate many surgical techs. It leads to an associate surgical tech degree if I decide to go that route. Surgical tech jobs are fairly easy to land in our area to the best of my knowledge due to this. I'm always seeing openings for them online at local hospitals.
I am just not sure what I want to do yet though... I have juggled the idea of changing careers to surgical tech, teaching, medical coding, and dental hygiene! lol I don't want to sound "wishy washy"... I just want away from nursing because of my health. I'm 33 years old. I have anxiety attacks, & have genetic high BP, & am on meds for it. I really need a job that isn't very stressful... I'm wanting to get away from bedside care/clinic type nursing really. I have recently realized I hate this kind of nursing. Sometimes I regret becoming an LPN. When I was in nursing school, I hated clinicals. I just thought that it was just because it was clinicals, and it would get better for me once I got a job, but it didn't. I have yet to find a good LPN job that I like, and everywhere I've worked as an LPN has stressed me out. I used to want to be an RN, but with my high BP & anxiety, I don't think it's a good idea to pursue an RN career. I know most hospital jobs are stressful, including surgical tech, and I'm really going to think hard about what other field I may consider before pursuing another degree. My husband thinks medical coding might be good for me since it is a desk job, and I agree with him... But I'm going to think on it for a while still... I'm currently working as a health screener LPN on a PRN basis & like it enough to stay with it for now. It isn't too stressful. Thanks again for your information! :)

Have you ever thought about teaching at a trade/technical school as a CNA Instructor? It would be 8-5 or 6-10 depending on which Instructor you want to be (Day or Evening). I think it would be less stressful. I can tell you from what I've learned about Surgical Tech is that its VERY physical and requires LONG hours standing...the way it's described it sounds like you could be standing for 5-7 hours straight and cannot go to the restroom. YIKES!!! :barefoot: I'm more scared of that reality than anything else.

NurseQT · Apr 18, 2014

I wish the technical school in my area offered a surg tech program that was a year in length! I have applied to three surg tech positions at one of the hospitals in my area and have yet to get an interview. The tech school only offers a 2 yr program and none of my previous classes will carry over. I have all the basic qualifications for the positions I have applied to but I lack the "desired 1-2 years experience" and I have no other way to gain this experience

andreasmom02 · Apr 18, 2014

Have you ever thought about teaching at a trade/technical school as a CNA Instructor? It would be 8-5 or 6-10 depending on which Instructor you want to be (Day or Evening). I think it would be less stressful. I can tell you from what I've learned about Surgical Tech is that its VERY physical and requires LONG hours standing...the way it's described it sounds like you could be standing for 5-7 hours straight and cannot go to the restroom. YIKES!!! I'm more scared of that reality than anything else.

Thanks for the suggestion, but I'm not sure CNA instructor would be for me either. I loathed the nursing home when I got my CNA certification, and when I worked in one for a short time. The area I live in usually hires RNs to teach CNA classes, or LPNs with years of nursing home experience, which I'm neither.

I think I've narrowed my career change down to medical coding or surgical tech, just going to have to think on it some more... Yes, standing that long as a surgical tech, and not being able to potty would be scary! LOL I have a very small bladder, and run to the restroom often. I really never took that in to account when considering surgical tech... glad you brought that up! :)

stefonee356 · Apr 25, 2014

I am currently in a surgical tech program and LOVE IT! I have 3 months left before I graduate and then plan on doing nursing. I plan on staying in the OR so this route makes sense. I would say go for it.

Philly_LPN_Girl, LPN · Apr 25, 2014

Any LPNs here an LPN and surgical tech? I'm an LPN and am interested in becoming a scrub nurse. There is a surgical tech program at a local community college that I'm interested in that takes one year to complete. I already have all of the pre-reqs for it, as it's the same college system that I got my LPN through. I know many LPNs are cross trained on the job to be scrub techs, but there aren't many, if any, opportunities like that in my rural area. However, I do see job openings in my area looking for LPN/scrub tech nurses with one year experience often.
I'm currently a PRN health screener nurse because I'm a stay at home mom, & my hubby works full time, and makes a good living. As the kids get older though, I would like to find a better nursing job. We could use a little extra money. We live in a rural area, and there literally are NO LPN jobs, unless you are super great friends with a nursing supervisor who will hire you, or are related to a hospital official! No joke... I have been looking for a decent LPN job here for several years now with no luck. I worked part time for a private practice doctor, but they were impossible to work for. The doctor was very demanding, and only wanted to pay me $9.50 an hour and work me to death! I think the receptionist made more than me!
I left that LPN job, but have yet to find another one with part time hours since I'm a mom, and decent pay. I thought that maybe adding another degree or certification may help. I have juggled the thought of leaving nursing so many times due to my inability to find a decent LPN job in my area. I loved the operating room though in nursing school, and that's why I've considered going back for surgical tech.
Any comments appreciated, thanks!

If you see many job openings for surgical tech and consider changing careers then go for it. You could have 2 things under your belt and have more opportunities. Go ahead and apply ☺☺

andreasmom02 · Apr 26, 2014

Thanks for your replies. I'll definitely think on it. I haven't decided what I'm going to do yet, but surgical tech is definitely an option I'm considering. I've also thought about maybe getting a medical coding degree or certification. Health care can be stressful, and the thought of a desk job is appealing to me as well! :) I have sciatica in my back, high blood pressure (controlled with medicine) and also suffer from marked anxiety. Nursing made my anxiety worse, and I haven't decided if I want to do surgical tech or not yet, as it's still in a hospital setting...