Surgical Technition

inodou · May 26, 2006

My sister graduated from a 2 year surgical tech program last year. Congrats on your CNA. Just check with your local colleges and they should let you know what kind of programs they have. I know some hospitals don't require surg techs going to college they do on the job training. But I am not real sure if they still do that or not.

sunnyjohn · May 26, 2006

http://www.ast.org

That is the official website of the Association of Surgical Technologist. It will tell to all you want to know (schools, length, what we do, where we work, pay, etc)

I am a proud member of this organization.

edit- I noticed you mentioned that you live in NW Indiana. Ivy Tech in Michigan City and Olympia College in Merrillville have the progam.

spoiledbrat0627 · May 26, 2006

Olympia college offers it but I really dont want to go there. You can work in a hospital with not going to college for surg tech?? WOW..news to me..Lol..Thanks for all the feedback

sunnyjohn · May 26, 2006

Olympia college offers it but I really dont want to go there. You can work in a hospital with not going to college for surg tech?? WOW..news to me..Lol..Thanks for all the feedback

The chances of getting an On the job-trainin g(OJT) position for a Surgical Tech position in 2006 is SLIM TO ZERO! They really don't exist in civilian life anymore. Only the military will train OJT a surgical tech and even those soldiers go to school and spend lots of time in the classrom!

You might be able to get a OJT position as an OR helper, helping treansport the patient, stock and clean rooms and get supplies for the nurse, but NOT as a tech! OJT positions were popular for surg tech back in the day. that's how it started. We were trained by nurses to help out. Now-a-days with the sophistication and technical advancements in modern medicine schooling is a MUST!

You are taught the fundamentals of surgical asepsis, surgical technique (the in's and outs of the scrub role) Surgical pharmacology, surgical pathology along with Anatomy and Physiology, Microbiology and Medical Terminology.

Check out a few or the job openings for techs at area hospitals around you. They will only hire a graduate and sometimes only people who take the certification set through AST. If you see a position that says "prefer a graduate" the only other person they will consider is one military trained.

I hope this post didn't come of as to harsh. I love my job as a Certified surgical technologist and I take it very seriously. I welcome people willing to join our ranks, but I caution them to attend an accredited school (like Ivy Tech), take the exam and do it right. I hate seeing folks get ripped of by schools that promise to train them to be a scrub in 4 months and then ripping them of. They get a shoddy education and can't sit for certification. Just like the nurses on this board have cautioned me, I offer you the same advice.

Believe me, the first time you hand a scalpel, see the surgeon cut into an abdomen or chest cavity, and you see the wonders inside the live human body, you will know that your education was worth it!