Best-Kept-Secret Career: Surgical Technologist

December 11, 2008 RSS Feed Print

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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!"

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.

Tags:: careers,; technology,; surgery

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As a student, I'm doing the clinical rotation of class. If your looking for a job that is professional, rewarding, fast pace ( depending on your speciality and workplace), educational and ever changing environment, then you have choose a promising profession. Like with any job, you will still have staff cuts, unmotivating staff members and very sour attitudes and personality clashes. Depending on ur skill level and the surgeon, it can be a very stressful atmosphere. However like anything with time comes skill. Sadly, there is some surgeons that are very unprofessional and bitter no matter hoe good you are. Luckily there are a lot of great surgeons as well. With that said, the career itself is rewarding and you will constantly be learning about our fascinating human body. Just make sure your school is accredited!!! Not only that, some school will say they are "accredited" but they use some bogus "accreditation" logo. Make sure your school is NATIONALLY accredited!! Some school can offer it as a 2 year degree. My school was a 13 month program with half of the time spent in clinicals. Good luck!!:) just remember to do your research when choosing a school!!

Michelle of FL 1:39AM November 29, 2012

By far a great profession, there is also a free site for students and Surg Techs, FA,CST,CSA,SPD, and all involved in the O.R come sign up free. at
http://surgicaltechnologist.wall.fm

Hector Feliciano of DE 6:22PM October 27, 2012

After 14 years of teaching I'm ready to leave the never ending budget crisis, unmotivated students, ever changing politics of the career of teaching. I've learned I just want a job that I can be great at without having to be the one in charge. I just want to be a great employee. So career change is in order for me. After reading through tons of comments (I think) I've figured out if you have a personality that wants to be the leader, in charge, this is not the career for you and if you want a job where you are on the side lines but consider your job to have some value than this is for you...is this assumption sort've close? Pay doesn't look that great but after working as a teacher and learning that it's the "job" that you do that matters more than compensation I'll learn to live at the pay scale and manage my $ wisely. When you know you are ready for change and have figured out your personality and what job fits your style I can only assume...for me this will be a great choice...Important job duties, serious environment, not the one with all the stress (doctor is that person), this career choice could help on the mission field, and at the end of the day you'll have felt productive...Is this on target or am I not understanding this job correctly?

Christy Pelt of FL 8:46AM October 20, 2012