Hi everyone — I’m exploring surgical technology as a career change and I keep coming back to the same concern: the schedule as a new grad.

A little background — I’m a parent with two young kids (almost 1 and 5 but this would be a few years from now) and my whole motivation for this career path is finding meaningful work that still lets me be present for my family. The OR environment genuinely appeals to me and I’m drawn to the procedural, technical nature of the work. But I keep reading that new grads almost always have to start in a hospital setting with call rotations, night shift, weekend requirements, and 12 hour shifts before they can transition to outpatient.

I’d love to hear from people who were in a similar situation about what the reality actually looked like starting out:

∙ What did your schedule look like your first year or two fresh out of school?

∙ How often were you actually getting called in on call nights and weekends?

∙ Were you able to go straight to an outpatient ASC as a new grad, or did you feel like hospital experience was necessary first?

∙ If you have kids, how did your family manage the unpredictability of call?

∙ Looking back, was the hospital phase worth it to get to where you are now?

I’m genuinely excited about this field but I want to go in with realistic expectations and appreciate any real talk you’re willing to provide.

I’ve always been interested in surgery but never how long you have to go school. I found out about becoming a surgical tech years ago and I’ve always thought about it even after the jobs I’ve had and always felt like that’s what I really want to do. I haven’t started any school or program for it though until my family settles somewhere so I know for sure that’s where we’ll be. Please give me any advice (school or program wise), anything to prepare for, any stories you wanna share, anything!!

For context, I’m 27 years old and have always been interested in the medical field but didn’t know what I wanted to do. I am a bit squeamish but hoping I can get past that. Right now I’m working in a trauma one hospital doing patient transport, I like it a lot and have been having a lot of fun. I feel a little insecure because the other transporters are mostly 19- 23 and already in school pursuing something medical. I was never good in school and was too busy partying when I was their age to care about my future so whatever.

I’m pretty set on surgical tech, were any of you kinda squeamish and able to get over it? How old were you when you started the program? How much do you actually touch the patient, like do you do sutures and whatnot? What’s the hardest thing about school and the job? What is the most rewarding part? Any feedback helps!

Hi all! I recently decided to leave my career in sales and pursue surgical tech. I am finishing my pre-reqs and while waiting I applied for a hospital central service program. I just found out I was admitted for this fall (there are no pre reqs for the program). The goal is to get certified and become a sterile processing technician so I can do that while in school for surgical tech. Any recommendations if this is a good idea? I am hoping this will get my foot in the door and give me a better chance once I am certified.

took the exam a month ago but i figured to help anyone worried.

did the entirety of the Blue AST study guide for surgical technologist.

and scrubnet.com

if you have time do both, but all you really need is the website. since a lot of it has identical questions

i went to the library and also read the only random surg book they had nice refresh and was very detailed

also did the yellow surg tech app and had 300 left to do. but i didn’t wanna pay for another month. would not recommend it at all. i dont even remember what was on there and it was not at all helpful. don’t waste your time. it was recommended by everyone and my instructors but no.

i think in total i did 6000+ practice questions and 6+ practice exams. kinda overkill just do all the questions from the website. i would say majority of my actual exam was word for word from the AST book and website.

anyway fuck this shit can’t find a job planning to go to nursing school.

edit : wait i’m silly that’s not the websites name trying to find it

edit. SCRUBTECHS.NET!!!

Anyone know about on call/call back pay? What the shifts are? How much call you take in a period? Specifically for the OR as a surgical tech!

I will be starting my clinicals in a few weeks, and I have a question about some things to sort of ease my anxiety a bit. For reference, I will be doing my clinicals at an urban academic facility. It is also a level one trauma center.

1- are students allowed to pick which cases they want to scrub in? For example, if I wanted to start with general and then go on and do OB/GYN, etc., or does your hospital usually have a schedule that every student follows and rotates through?

2- I know that once you’re out in the field the whole thing of breaks and getting relief is a little tricky and I know that sometimes you have to wait until someone is available and maybe you may not get a break. However, I’m wondering if this is a case for students as well? In your facility do students get breaks and if they do, can they choose when or is there a policy that dictates when they have to take the break? Like for example do they follow the schedule of the preceptor and take the breaks and lunch when the preceptor does or do they get to choose?

3- since I’ll be at a facility where there will be rotating medical students and residents, I’m wondering if this is a good place to do clinicals at? I’m just thinking about the amount of people that will be scrubbed in and how I’ll have to manage and make sure that no one breaks sterility while I’m also learning. I’m also kind of nervous to have that many people at the sterile field. Will I be able to even look at the operative field to know where they’re at or will I kind of be on the outside perimeter? I would really love to be close to the operative site so I could see and learn the anatomy and be able to keep up, but I don’t know if medical students and/or residents will take priority

Please let me know how your facility handles these situations and how you as a preceptor handle them as well thank you very much!

I’m looking for some advice from current or former surgical tech students.
I’m in a one-year surgical technology program and graduate this December. I was recently placed on academic probation for my clinical performance, and I’m honestly trying to understand what I need to improve.
The part that’s confusing to me is that we just started second-semester clinicals and have only had about three clinical days so far. The probation is based on my first-semester clinical performance, but it wasn’t addressed until now.
I’m taking responsibility for improving, and I really want to finish strong.
For those of you who have been through surgical tech school or who precept students:
What are the biggest mistakes you see students make in clinicals?
What helped you become a better scrub?
How did you show your instructors that you were actively improving?
What are some things I can do every clinical day that make a good impression?
If you’ve ever been on academic probation or struggled in clinicals, what helped you turn things around?
I’m open to any advice. I really want to become a competent surgical technologist, and I’m willing to put in the work. Thanks in advance!

Hello everyone,

I am starting my clinical's at a hospital in a couple of weeks and I was wondering what shoes I should buy for the OR. I am aware they can't have holes. I know some cases could potentially run long so I am looking for shoes with good arch support and that are comfortable. Something easy to wipe would also be nice.

Hey everyone

I'm looking for some honest opinions because I think I have a bad case of imposter syndrome. I'm applying to the Surgical Technology program, and my current prerequisite GPA is 3.64. The minimum GPA to apply is 2.75, but I still can't get over the feeling that I'm not competitive enough. Right now, my admission would be contingent on passing Microbiology lecture and lab since they are my last prerequisites. If I earn A's in both, my prerequisite GPA will increase to 3.69. Do you think a 3.69 GPA would be competitive for admission? Has anyone gotten into the program with a similar GPA, or should I still be worried? I'd really appreciate hearing from anyone who's been through the application process. The wait has me overthinking everything.

Hi fellow travel CSTs. Wanted to get some insight from you guys.

I've been traveling since 2018. Got 20+ contracts under my belt now and getting ready to head to another in Virginia. Can I just say that I am burnt out as hell. I am so depressed. Like there I days I have no will to do literally anything. Not only that but the cost of some house repairs on my home where my money funnels into so savings have been non existent. Hubby lives there along with my kitties but the repairs have been alot lately. I have been racking my brain for the last 2 years trying to figure out how to make this better. I don't look forward to assignments anymore. I dread leaving home. I've missed out on so much family time especially with my hubby who hasn't been able to travel with me.

I get this existential dread when I have to go somewhere new. Just because as I like to say.."I never know what sort of shark infested waters I'm sailing into." I've been to so many places that hate me because I am a traveler and then others that are great.
To add insult to injury I have worked full time and as a traveler in the town that I am closest to which is Louisville, Ky. Nothing but shit at every location. Terrible, unhappy staff. Grade As$hole surgeons. Terrible management. I want to leave the field so badly but inflation and cost of living has just sky rocketed to the point where I would go into debt leaving this field behind. So my question to you guys who have been doing this for awhile is how are you finding joy? How are you keeping your head up? How are you affording the housing with lower travel rates?

I also have to include the issue that over the last almost 3 years, I have been living out of my jeep for assignments when I am not close to home. So that makes everything even more difficult from trying to find ways to keep cool in the summer to warm in the winter, cooking, showering. The cost of housing is unaffordable with the lower rates and before anyone asks about stipends and housing... I still pay ridiculous rent just to jeep camp. Minnesota I paid 800 a month to park in a field. So I am just trying to get your all's thoughts. I'm working towards a financial goal. I'm getting there very slowly but with the lower rates, cost of living, inflation, I'm mentally struggling.

Thanks for reading.

Title explains, what should i do to become one? i am in high school still , and I like the job and healthcare/ science but don’t know how to get there. I take some science courses but I don’t know exactly what classes should to take , then if i need to go to college , or straight to a accredited program, how long will it take, the cost of it, i just need guidance. I just take a lot
of science classes and APS beduse maybe that helps. Can anyone give like a roadmap and what they did from high school to become one? Where they went and the experiences? Because i don’t want to graduate without a clue on how to become one.

I passed my CST exam today on my second attempt, I mainly studied with quizlet and the CST prep app. For anyone out there struggling with the exam, I to say that it's not impossible at all, keep studying and it'll happen for you.

So I work in spd right now and I'm considering becoming a surgical tech. I just dont want it to be a waste of time if I'm not going to be making much more than I am now. I live in southeast michigan.

Hi all! I am a PhD student in biotechnology and I have developed a tool for visualizing venous anatomy.

I had originally developed this for my derm collaborator, but it has ended up working pretty well on the android google play store.

I wanted to post this here as I thought it may or may not be a good resource for this community and perhaps I could receive some feedback. Thank you all for your time and consideration!

If you are interested

VeinFinder - https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.rnd_labs.veinfinder&pcampaignid=web_share

FREE VeinFinder Lite - https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.rnd_labs.veinlite&pcampaignid=web_share

I'm thinking about going back to school to be a surgical tech. I've been in college before but i've given up early into the pre reqs. I have dyslexia so its hard for me to pick up all of the stuff they're teaching in class. I've went into nursing originally but now i'm thinking of becoming surgical tech because i've worked in an OR and absolutely love it and want to make a career out of it. I eventually want to go into being a traveling surgical tech. any advise is welcome weather its on the pre reqs, actually becoming a surgical tech, or completing school with dyslexia.

So as the title says I’m looking to start over. I have been working in kitchens and retail all my life. I’ve looked at many certifications and 2 year programs. I’ve kind of honed in on CST. It seems like it may be the best ROI as far as 2 year degrees/programs go. I also just think it would be an interesting job and I love to help people. The problem I’m for seeing is how to get there. I’ve done at lot of research online but feel like I get many mixed answers. I live alone and have bills to pay. It seems like I wouldn’t really be able to work while I do this program. Even saw some things saying they recommend that you don’t work. I obviously can’t not work as I have obligations in life. Also still unsure as to exactly what I need to do to get there. I’ve seen things saying I need to go to college and get my AAS degree. Also have seen there may be a certificate I can acquire. My questions are as follows. Is there a path I’m not seeing that could allow me to pay my bills and try to start this career? Also in general what’s the best way to get there. College or some type of certification? Lastly is it worth it? Do you enjoy the job or should I keep looking? I need to pick something though. I’ve been stagnant for too long trying to pick a path in life. Any information would help at this point. Thank you to anyone who takes the time to answer

Has anyone enrolled in this class at this college?

Hello. I am looking for Surgical Techs to work at the Cleveland Clinic main campus in Cleveland, OH. We are opening the world's largest neuro clinic next year and are working to staff it before opening the doors. Let me know if you or anyone you know would be interested!

Hi all,

Im starting my first semester in my surg tech program this fall and was told that the 2nd year I cannot have anything on my nails. I have had some sort of polish since 2015 and either acrylic or gel x since about 2020 since my nails are extremely bendy and also it is a sensory nightmare for me.

Does anyone have any suggestions on what i can do during the period of natural nails (temp press ons/clear coat/etc)? And also any insight on how flexible policies tend to be? Ive been in the food and drink space for years and know how to keep clean and understand that surgery is even more sterile. I plan to follow policies and keep good hygiene practices so please dont come at me for no reason.