Which path should I choose? (CST or RN) for FA?

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Hello,

I am currently an LPN who fell in love with surgery during school and now have my sights set on first assistant. I have a background as a veterinary research tech and assisted with surgeries in that setting, so I know I can easily acquire the skills necessary to be a first assistant. I have 2 choices - bridge to an RN program this fall, then get 2 years experience in an OR, sit for CNOR and then attend a RNFA program. Or, I could go through a nurse practitioner program and then attend a RNFA without the 2 years experience and CNOR requirement. I do already have quite a few classes toward my BSN and would complete it shortly after an ADN program.

Or, go to surgical tech school this fall and then go to a first assistant program accredited through CAAHEP.

I would love to be able to use my LPN in order to scrub, but I have yet to find a hospital that would hire me without scrub experience already.

My question is, what is the difference in pay between a RNFA and a FA (one that went the CST route)?

What about marketability and job prospects?

I am in Kansas if that helps. Thank you so much for any information you can give me ;)

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