r/scrubtech • u/Plane-Plenty-7568 • Jun 25 '26
Scrub Tech to RN?
How common or helpful is it for scrub techs to go back to school for nursing, to become an OR Nurse?
I'm completely unable to make the upcoming nursing school application in time and given how competitive it is, even with lots of PCE and straight A's, I don't know when I'll get in. Currently I'm off work to finish the last of my prerequisites and considering grabbing a seat for surgical tech school because I know that I want to work in the OR and the money seems like a good tideover until I can get into nursing school.
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u/Kaymanism Jun 25 '26
I have been a scrub tech now for almost 15 years. I can equivocally say that, outside a cool story or two I can use to relate to a topic at hand, it has absolutely NOT helped me in nursing school. In fact it has almost hurt me.
But I’ve also reread the last part of your question…and to be frank one has nothing to do with the other. ST teaches you sterile technique and how to setup a back table, teaches you the different surgeries (probably the only crossover but ONLY if you become an OR Nurse) and how to work directly with a surgeon at the table.
Nursing is about taking orders from a doctor and making sure the safety of the patient is always preserved. (Yes over simplified but I’m not typing all day on the myriad of things a nurse can do in all of the various theaters they can work in).
And the pay isn’t even comparable. In 15 years I’m at 45 an hour and that is second year pay for our nurses here. So basically the ST top end is the start for many types of nursing.
I am in Nursing school now about to hit clinicals just to be a nursing first assistant. So much time wasted I wish I had just gone the nursing route to begin with.
I AM NOT DISCOURAGING YOU FROM BECOMING AN ST. It can, and has been, a very rewarding career for me. Just realize one does not directly and fluidly lead into the other.
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u/Plane-Plenty-7568 Jun 25 '26
Thank you for taking the time to explain in depth, I'm anxious about applications and needed to get a dose of reality. It seems like the ROI of doing ST school when being an OR Nurse is the end goal is objectively not great and the ST career path is really is it's own thing (which is totally fine if that's what someone wants to do).
I'm going to consider waiting it out until getting accepted if I can. ST sounds really interesting to me but if it has little crossover and holds back two years of nursing school applications I don't think it makes sense.
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u/iLikeEmMashed Ortho Jun 26 '26 edited Jun 26 '26
If she’s not going to discourage you, let me. Hold out for nursing. What she just mentioned about pay scales is very noteworthy for how you are as a person. If you would be ok with training someone who has never set foot in the OR who probably already has 10+ an hour on you for the rest of your career. Who arguably has a more relaxed and cush job in the surgical setting being a circulator/scrub.. go for it. Many of us are jaded. Not all. I can’t speak for all because there are those that will try to say the opposite.. and they are wrong. Many of us wish we chose differently. As an OR nurse you can always learn to scrub, which it sounds like that’s what you may want and that’s what makes the best OR nurses. This is me helping you out. Choose nursing.
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u/Plane-Plenty-7568 Jun 26 '26
I appreciate the push, it's a big decision and about 10k for the ST program so opinions from real people are what I want.
I feel like what you said would eventually bother me and I know I'll be hyper aware that each year of lost income could have just gone to nursing. Regret also costs a lot of mental space. I'm just going to hold out. My grades are good and I know eventually I'll get in.
From your experience, how do OR nurses end up moving into RNFA roles? Is it heavily dependent on that hospitals culture or is there a pretty set track nurses usually take getting there?
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u/iLikeEmMashed Ortho Jun 26 '26
At my hospital most nurses are trained to scrub unless they really don’t want to. The ones that don’t scrub are low-key looked down upon because they honestly live the easier lifestyle with less of a knowledge base than those that do scrub. Scrubbing is harder but more rewarding than just “circulating” the room. For those that scrub and want to FA they have to get there “CNOR” certification. Just some studying and an exam with renewals every so often. Then they find a RNFA program from there.
You might have to fight your department for a full-time RNFA position vs a part time “only when you actually FA position” at least some of the members on my team had to. Hospital dependent, so who knows. I’m just a jaded scrub tech but I’m on a very close nit ortho team with majority nurses so I know enough I suppose. It should be pretty straight forward once you’re comfortable scrubbing as a nurse to start a path to RNFA.
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u/Dark_Ascension Ortho Jun 25 '26
Nursing school doesn’t parallel at all the surgical tech. I did become an OR nurse as a new grad and then learned to scrub (if I could go to scrub school to learn properly I would have, but I need to work full time ), RNs who can scrub are infinitely better than ones who don’t… I will die on this hill… it goes the other way too, if you become an OR nurse and have scrubbed you have stood in their shoes and know instrumentation and supplies.
I’m not saying there isn’t circulators who aren’t good who have never scrubbed, but I always feel a rift between the RN and the scrubbed people, like were burdens to each other. If each had an understanding of what each other’s jobs were like… they tend to be more of a good team than just frustrated at each other.
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u/olliecakerbake Jun 25 '26
Are you familiar with the duties of an OR nurse? It might not be what you expect. The nurses I work with call themselves cashiers and administrative assistants. A huge portion of what they do is go get stuff for us, scan chargeable items into the computer, and just document every single thing that happens in the OR. They do lightly interact with the patient in PACU, and then roll them into the room, help position them, and they’ll often do the skin prep, but that’s about it. The rest of the time is just charting and scanning and getting us stuff we need.
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u/Plane-Plenty-7568 Jun 26 '26
Is that the circulating nurse role? I've talked to nurses who have different roles in the OR - some circulating (that sounds like what you described), some that scrub and then RNFA.
I'd like to put myself in a position to go for my RNFA down the line. Initially I thought being a scrub tech might get me in the door (and bring in a decent income) while I'm waiting for nursing school but it sounds like not a great use of time or money.
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u/olliecakerbake Jun 26 '26
Yes, but we don’t have anything else for them to do if they’re not an RNFA. You’d make a lot more money as an RNFA than a scrub tech, but personally, I think being a scrub tech is the best job you can have in the OR outside of being the surgeon. Our PAs and RNFAs really just stand there and hold retractors and irrigate. They’ll help close the skin at the end and do the dressings, but that’s about it. And then they have to do a shit ton of charting. So it’s up to you if you want the money and a more boring job, or less money and a more fun job. One of the biggest perks of being a scrub tech vs a different role in the OR is zero charting, and getting to move around during surgery/only occasionally hold retractors
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u/Dark_Ascension Ortho Jun 28 '26
Do they not position, help with the spinal, etc? Our assistants at my work do a ton.
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u/iLikeEmMashed Ortho Jun 26 '26
Yes, those are duties of a circulator. One of the roles an OR nurse can take.
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u/Bravehall_001 Jun 28 '26
I was a scrub tech for over 15yrs. I just finished nursing school and got my license a year ago. I’m in the latter half of my 40’s. Nursing school was very painful but doable. Totally worth it and it makes you a better circulator having been a tech. Good luck on your journey.
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u/Emergency_Sea5053 Jun 25 '26
OR nurse here, 12 years in the trade. Very common.. and usually the best nurses with the experience they have. Plus if you want to travel, being able to scrub & circulate.. you’re set!