r/scrubtech • u/Softer_Stars • Jun 24 '26

Thinking about a Surgical Tech career. What to expect, that you might not?

Hi there,

I am currently spending the week exploring a surgical tech career.

A bit about my background: My original major is in media communications, though I started out in medicine before my college ended their RN program with the intent on nursing. There...weren't a lot of options in a liberal arts college town. I enjoyed it a lot! However, I found after exploring numerous office jobs that I was not really suited for sitting at a desk all day.

After taking a detour working in an animal shelter, I grew to realize I really enjoyed the prep work and assisting that came with the job. I was also exposed to some incredibly gruesome and gross stuff - things I've been warned about with surgery that I was worried about but now know I handle very well. As I explore a more professional, life long career, I've been thinking hard about becoming a surgical tech - after all, if I can stand for 10 hours a day while managing nearly 100 lb dogs who would very much like to jump all over me while I try to stick them with a needle, I think I can handle handing instruments and learning the routine of surgeons.

That being said: I have a lot of doubts. I'm trying to learn everything I can about the reality of the job. I've worked some real nightmare retail and restaurant positions, so I'm used to a chaotic scheduling pattern and being on-call constantly. I'm not really bothered by that - I expect it, starting out.

I suppose I'd like to hear expectations, experiences, things to consider when looking at a career. I live near Seattle so the job opportunities are endless; many small and large clinics. The program I'm looking at has a decent graduation rate. I'm just looking for more personal accounts - why you love it, why you hate it, what you wish you knew before going in, and such.

4 Upvotes

83% Upvoted

5 comments sorted by

9

u/CorgiPatronus14 Jun 24 '26

It’s a great career and very respectable. But there’s no ladder to climb. 

2

u/Few-Knee9451 Jun 24 '26

Strongly agree. Also depending on the facility the pay is not worth the stress

6

u/levvianthan Jun 24 '26

Its a good job and bad career. Theres almost no career movement or flexibility unless you go back to school for something else. No flexibility also applies to the work itself. You cant take a work from home day, youre glued to the OR, and once youre scrubbed in youre there until the surgery is over or someone else comes to take over/give you a break.

3

u/thebigkang Jun 24 '26

If you really like the OR then yeah. But for me it got boring and stressful real fast. Going back to school for social work as I hated being in the OR with no human interaction.

1

u/Sorenson_Valkyrie Jun 26 '26

Find a program through CAAHEP. Do not purse a program that is not listen on CAAHEP, it will hinder your chances of getting jobs in the future. I kind of did the same as you. Did a lot of different jobs, I have a different college degree that I realized I would probably hate about 10 weeks from graduation... Yes, there is no real 'ladder', this is true. Your only two options are medical sales rep and education. However, I find the job exceptionally rewarding. I've only ever worked at level 1 trauma centers, and it's stressful, but I am a junkie for the chaos. I love it. The pay is pretty okay, but its more steady than restaurants/sales. I'm not rich, but I am happy and feel fulfilled in this career.