Best-Kept-Secret Career: Surgical Technologist

By Marty Nemko

Posted: December 11, 2008

Snapshot: Imagine being part of the life-and-death drama of an operating room—no college degree required. Surgical technologists, also known as scrubs and surgical or operating room technicians, assist in surgical operations but must be supervised by surgeons, registered nurses, or other surgical personnel. During surgery, you're the one to whom the surgeon is yelling: "Scalpel!" "Retractor!"

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Getting there: Nine to 24 months of post-high school training will allow you to prep the operating room and perhaps the patient.

Learn more : Occupational Outlook Handbook.

answer for BLKkght!

I'm not currently certified as I was trained in the Army, and although it does limit where you can work it doesn't prevent it! Also you cant be automatically certified in most cases. You need to get a certain number of hours in cases under your belt first. Medical Assistants if I'm not mistaken work mainly in clinics and perform small tasks directly for providers right? You would need a little additional training, but med assistant+surgical tech ain't such a bad get-up! especially if you get a job in an outpatient center. I wouldn't say that they are trying to combine, but I can see how that might start being the standard. definitely two completely different jobs though if you work in a hospital setting. You would be assigned to the operating room/surgical staff as a tech, and if you were hired as a med assistant then you would have to be a clinic staff...so I am not sure how that'd work...

Mallory of NC @ Nov 04, 2009 19:25:06 PM

Im a surgical tech

It really is an awesome job, and you have a lot of opportunities. Because I've worked with Docs, PAs, RNs and certified techs not to mention radiology techs and many surgical equipment reps, pharmacy techs and ward personnel it has opened a ton of doors in those areas of healthcare for me as well. For example, now that I have worked as a surgical tech for two years I am interested in becoming certified then working toward being an RNFA (registered nurse first assist) which would basically be doing the same job I do now, only as an RN making more money! I truly love love love my job, the people I work with and the cases I am involved in and highly recommend it to anyone who wants to get their foot in the door of healthcare but don't quite know what they like yet. you must be able to multi-task, be flexible, patient and like fast paced work. Also make sure you have a strong stomach. you see all body parts and all bodily fluids!

Mallory of NC @ Nov 04, 2009 19:17:08 PM

DON'T FORGET...

In addition to aseptic mastery, I, being a surgical tech, have also found myself utilizing other skills such as management as well. Once the surgical procedure is done, you are usually responsible for the supervision of the room being cleaned, equipment such as cautery(electrosurgical blade used for blood stasis), lights and motorized bed/table being maintenanced properly. and the room and/or other areas being properly stocked and functional. This requires and aquired sense of networking with corresponding departments. With all these duties you will still find yourself a lot less stressed than other occupations around you. Overall it is a great job to have and you always have a story to tell at dinner! :p

Albert Simmons of MD @ Oct 30, 2009 20:35:31 PM

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