r/scrubtech • u/stoyFC • Mar 30 '17
New Surgical Tech Advice MEGA THREAD
I've noticed a recent string of new student/tech posts, so I thought I'd create a mega-thread for first time scrubs. Our job can be quite demanding at times and intimidating to new prospects, so I can understand much of the concern seen here.
Comment below the BEST PIECE OF ADVICE you can give any new tech or student. Keep it positive of course. Hopefully some of our experienced techs can share some good advice. If it helps you, post how long you've been in your position!
To all current and future students, good luck! You picked a good and often times rewarding career.
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u/InvisibleTeeth Mar 30 '17
Assert your dominance.
And when the seasoned techs tell you to bus some suds you bus some suds.
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u/stoyFC Mar 31 '17
How many suds, so future techs know?
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u/InvisibleTeeth Mar 31 '17 edited Mar 31 '17
It's kind of an inside joke. I was one of u/therooman88 's preceptors. We're a primarily neuro group and we kind of make low man on the totem pole wash the Mayfield headrest. Busting some suds. It's a rite of passage. Lol.
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u/scrubtech85 May 03 '17
Dont be too afraid to speak up if you see something contaminate or someone doing something wrong or unethical. The patient is somebodys loved one who is putting all their faith in strangers to get them better.
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u/NosillaWilla Aug 04 '24
yep i always pretend the patients are my dad, grandma, sister, brother or wife etc.
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u/tehfora Mar 31 '17
Doing ortho trauma or total cases and worried about the overwhelming instrumentation? Google the rep name and surgical technique. A lot of the companys have step by step instructions of the cases. Not every doctor does what is described but it gives a pretty good overview.
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u/nikitab_jomi Jun 04 '17
There's also https://jomi.com, a surgical video journal. We have some ortho trauma.
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u/Putrid-Muscle-7718 Jan 30 '22 edited Jan 30 '22
Start taking notes so you have a guide to refer to and enhance your memory of sequence of steps equipment, positioning, in house and vendor inst sets, etc. I organize mine on an iPhone by surgeon. At the end of each shift , go back to that note and keep refining it each time you do a case with that surgeon. After a couple of years, you will have a valuable resource and you will know each procedure in depth. Don’t stand there passively and have the sales rep take you through each step. Be proactive and learn each instrument for each step even if you don’t “have to”. Try Touch surgery app- great simulations and technique guides. Moore’s clinically oriented anatomy is the best text for surgery since it’s regional and not systems anatomy. Get an older edition for cheap, it will serve you well. Also, go to nursing school if at all possible. You will double your pay and have options if you need a change of pace from the OR. And don’t take anything personally. Surgery is stressful and stressed out people can be a-holes. Never forget that surgery is a team effort and your circulator is your partner, not your opponent.
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u/MangoLeather2131 Jan 25 '23
Hope this isn’t a silly question Im planning to enter school for Surgical technologist I want to get as much info as I can. When you mentioned going to nursing school how far would I need to go in the nursing role? Meaning should you do a full 4 years of nursing school to get more positions open? How many years will be needed to study get an OR nurse position? Thanks!
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u/surgerygeek Apr 24 '17
Take your career seriously. You are a professional, and professionals make time to learn as much as possible about their trade, even after school. Always strive to be the best and most knowledgeable caretaker possible for your patients.
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u/RecognitionComplex56 Sep 22 '22
Do not talk to other techs who seem shady. Best advice yet.
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u/honeybee_ajg Mar 01 '23
big facts some people will set u up for failure on purpose
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u/RecognitionComplex56 Mar 01 '23
Exactly. Experienced it first hand. Now I'm going for my PhD to spite them and rub it in their face.
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Jun 13 '24
Had a tech hide a 1/2x1/2 on a Neuro case because I was treading on his ground. He had taken it and because he knew I would be relieving he hid it under the towels that the pans were sitting on, perfectly clean. The nurse counting with me also started the case. He was called back in since I had only been in like the last 30 minutes or so. The OR director had been called into the room when I found it hidden. He came in to help look, first place he checked was under the towels under the pan, OR director asked him if he was "looking for this" dangling it from her hand. Fired him on the spot, he had been there like 15+ years and they had similar complaints but no one could prove it.
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Apr 27 '23
A few tips- I normally end up getting new orienteers in my specialty. (Which I like) -accept constructive criticism -scrub in on ANY case you’re assigned. No whining about how ‘you’ve done SO MANY hemorroidectomies’….go do some more! -copy preference cards & read them at home -read procedural steps from Alexander’s or AST text. -stay in touch with any mentors/professors from your ST program -ask questions -get to know your reps! -help out where needed! -stay certified! Don’t let it lapse!
Even if you go on to nursing, keep that CST if you think you ever want to teach!
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u/positive-chaos Apr 06 '24
Most valuable lesson for me was “learn to read a room” and try not to have personal conversations with the Surgeons until you know how to do the procedure
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u/thebigkang May 24 '24
I have been memorizing medical terminology for each chapter in our biology classes when referencing to each organ in the body. However, we are also expected to learn how cells work, cellular respiration, etc. My question to veteran scrub techs is do we really need to know all these little details? I want to be an expert in my new career but there is so much to learn and I always liked to be efficient in my studies.
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u/Ambitious-Instance41 Jul 30 '22
Do you have to be certified/go through another program to work as a scrub tech or surgical technologist? Or are there certain accredited hospitals that will train you?
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u/Chemical-Charity4010 Jan 06 '23
Some hospitals will train you, but i have no idea how to find them. If you're interested in moving to Huntsville, AL - Huntsville Hospital has a paid training program paired with a 3 yr contract after the training is complete (granted that you do well enough, and if you don't, you have to pay back the money you made). The pay is not the best tbh, but I'm currently in the program and overall it's a great program.
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u/JRod3434 Nov 19 '22
As far as I know they make you go through a program to get your certification, I think the days of hospitals training you is in the past.
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u/Firm-Exchange2283 Jan 25 '25
Preference cards for surgeons are important but as CST your understanding of the procedure makes you a better scrub.
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u/No_Cookie1985 Jul 23 '25
So I’m starting surgical tech school soon. I’m excited but really nervous. I’m mainly worried about having to deal with mean surgeons when I start working. Any andvice?
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u/stoyFC Apr 07 '17
Learn your anatomy the best way you can! When you're trying to anticipate the needs of a case you haven't been in before, learning the anatomical structures will help guide you. It also gets you more involved in the case besides just an extra character at the field.