The truth about the transition form OR Tech to OR Nurse

Specialties Operating Room

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I want to be an OR Nurse. I was told that I could go to school to be an Surg Tech first and then transition to an OR Nurse. Would I be better off becoming an LPN first? I want to get the best education that I can, but I would like to accomplish this goal in the shortest period of time.

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I am a CST (Certified Surgical Tech). I LOVE my job. I make good money and have worked in many different countries/states/hospitals.

If you want to be an RN you should really go to nursing school.

When you graduate you can always find a good OR internship that will teach you how to scrub and circulate.

Do a search here. Many of us CST- to-RN's have posted reams on this subject!

Good luck! :balloons:

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What are some of the things you enjoy most about your job? Honestly, I want to be an RN for the money, but I have always had an intrest in CST. I can't remember why I didn't enroll in scholl years ago, when I first thought about it. What kind of money can a CST expect to make, entry level to highly exp? Stupid question :) Do you get paid during an externship?

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what are some of the things you enjoy most about your job? honestly, i want to be an rn for the money, but i have always had an intrest in cst. i can't remember why i didn't enroll in scholl years ago, when i first thought about it. what kind of money can a cst expect to make, entry level to highly exp? stupid question :) do you get paid during an externship?

1.what are some of the things you enjoy most about your job?

i love scrubbing. i've learned so much about human anatomy standing at that operating table. being a scrub is like being in an anatomy lab with a living breathing patient.

i had decent jobs before, but being a cst is for me an "immediate imapct" career. a sick person comes in and i am a big part of the team that makes them well again. that's one of the reasons i like surgey. we cut and they heal!

i've gotten a chance to work in so many areas. organ tissue recovery, heart tranplants, ortho, sales, education, travel. i've also worked in a few countries different countries.

2. what kind of money can a cst expect to make, entry level to highly exp?

that is really going to depend on where you are in the country. it varies. i graduated in dallas and started off at $15/hr. check out http://www.ast.org for the average pay rates.

i've made as high as $40/hr for travel/prn gigs and quite a bit in sales and even education. this part came with experience though.

3. do you get paid during an externship?

my school did not allow us to be paid during exernship as they did not want it to become a conflict of interest. however, one of the hospitals i interned at offered me a paying "student job" and tuition awards on my very last day of a 3-month rotation there. i still has 6 moths left, but they worked with me. i think most schools do not se tup pay for the externship experience.

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Again, as MUCH as I love my career as a CST, If you really think your goals is to become an RN, you should go STRAIGHT to RN school.

My school had a perioperative program for nurses. Had I know about it when I started, I would have entered the RN program then come back and get that certificate.

Of course, I know people who have been CST's their entire careers and NEVER go to nursing school. The often go on to get advanced degrees in health management, education, surgical assisting, etc and make great careers for themselves.

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Now to me, that sounds interesting. Nursing, sounds like whiney patients (I would prefer ER/OR nusing). Of course the demand for nurses and signing bounuses and pay rate make dealing with the whiney pts ok.

Is there a decent demand for CSTs? By the way, that website is pretty cool. I am a CPhT (pharm tech) now and I have got to improve my situation, ASAP. I am at the top end of my pay range and knowing that, makes me sad :uhoh21:

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Now to me, that sounds interesting. Nursing, sounds like whiney patients (I would prefer ER/OR nusing). Of course the demand for nurses and signing bounuses and pay rate make dealing with the whiney pts ok.

Is there a decent demand for CSTs? By the way, that website is pretty cool. I am a CPhT (pharm tech) now and I have got to improve my situation, ASAP. I am at the top end of my pay range and knowing that, makes me sad :uhoh21:

Yes, there is still a demand.

You may find out you "top out" on CST salaries after about 5 years, but if you are smart, you can find millions of career paths to use that CST to advance yourself.

My one caveat, be careful of all the schools popping up promising CST education. Check them out. Make sure they are CAAHEP or ABHES accredited. Talk to students who've graduated the programs.

You best (and most economical) bet is often the community college program. They often have the best links with local hospitals (especially if that college has other healthcare training programs).

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One more thing, I don't know where you are, but if you are willing to move, Eastern Virginia Medical College in Norfolk has a FANTASTIC surgical ASSISTING program. It has gotten good buzz and reviews.

Surgical assisting is another "related" field with lots of growth potential.

I mention this not to discourage you from the CST or nursing, but just as options. It's always good to have many, many options. :tup:

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Thank you so much for all your valuble info. It will really help me a lot in making my decision. We have VO/TECH schools here (So. FL) that offer Surg Tech and LPN courses. I would go through them before going thru one of the private "career colleges". The VoTEch is cheaper and better established. I know they have a good working relationship w/ many institutions in the area. The career colleges seem to be more interested in payment than education. Any opinions on the two types os f schools?

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I'd pick the Vo Tech school!

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Would love to move out of South FL, but can't until my financial situation improves. We have awesome med programs here, luckily.

Funny though, I was just talking to one of my colleages about moving to coastal VA.:lol2:

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Would love to move out of South FL, but can't until my financial situation improves. We have awesome med programs here, luckily.

Funny though, I was just talking to one of my colleages about moving to coastal VA.:lol2:

Sometimes irony comes us and bites us in the tookus! LOL!

Anyhoo, I wish you well on your journey. You can ask me any question you like. Don't forget to do that search for the CSTs on this forum.

I am sure Ewattsjt will be along to give your her take on it. She is also a CST who is in nursing school.

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