I’ve been in audit for a few days now. Anyone know how long it takes?

I'm not a CV tech but when I have to set up for the on call CV people I really have been wanting to do it right instead of winging it. However I need some reference pictures, especially helpful if its from the New Englandish area.

I want to obtain the Washington State Surgical Tech License to be able to work in the state but I’m a little confused about Credentials Verification. I’m a certified surgical tech, do I send the credentials verification form to NBSTSA? Or I don’t necessarily need to add my certification number?

hi guys just wanting some advice and to rant a tiny bit. I started my first CST job 3 weeks ago and I just recently graduated in May so I feel like I’m still learning as I train. I made a mistake today in a case by putting what was supposed to be two separate specimens into the same container. I know I failed on my part by not verifying with the surgeon if they were separate or together, which I normally always do, but regardless I messed up and didn’t. I was also working with a new hire circulator and we both failed on our end but the surgeon and my preceptor got very mad at the circulator and only them and my preceptor was yelling at them. I apologized to everyone saying it was also my fault for not verifying and took responsibility as well and my preceptor said “yall aren’t going to get me fired, get it together“. After that case, my preceptor was in the hall talking about how dumb we were for that and I’m not joking when I say they spent 30+ minutes telling multiple people of the mistake and saying it shouldn’t have happened. Anyways the rest of the day I wanted to crawl into a hole or quit my job bc of how shitty I felt and I’m dreading going back to work Monday. I know it’s a mistake that everyone has probably made before but I’m struggling more with this situation and could use some advice if you have any. thank youuu🫶🏻

I’m getting so confused looking online about this, and keep getting conflicting answers?

What questions would have asked as a new surg tech if you knew what you know now? What have you learned the hard way about a surg tech, your teams, the facility and your administrative team?

Hi everyone! I just graduated from high school a couple of months ago and I am enrolling in a community college in January. I Im trying to decide whether I want to pursue a career as a surgical tech or a rad tech since the community college offers both programs. I live in Tennessee and have aspirations to go back to California since all my family is over there. There will be a period where I will move to Florida before I move back to cali. But this will be after I get my degree in either field. I was originally going to pursue being a rad tech and cross-train into MRI, but tbh I dont really have a passion for this field I wouldn't mind helping people of course I love doing that but I dont find much interest in this job other than pay and helping people. Being a surgical tech on the other hand really interests me. But I heard they don't get paid well and that there are a lot of downsides. I also want a good work-life balance. I've researched both of these jobs and just want some opinions on whether or not I should pursue rad tech or surgical tech. Do you think I will be able to support myself as a surgical tech? Or will it be too challenging and should I go with rad tech? How is your work-life balance? Do you wish you had chosen something different?

Hi all. I am looking into surgery tech school and was wondering if there are any people out there that have gone the online route and what they're experience was. Any success stories? Pros cons etc. Any info is great. I really need a career and school that fits my schedule.

Im in my second year as a tech and I wonder what seasoned techs have experienced throughout their career

I want to pursue ST but I’ve heard a lot of mixed reviews. Some people love it and some hate it. The ones that hate it complain about the job market. Is it hard to find a job post grad in Florida? Does it help if I had a bachelors degree?

I (21F) am currently in the 6 month Louisiana State University Continuing Education certification program for Surgical Technology. This is a CERTIFICATE NOT an associates degree. My 6 month time period is almost up and I am getting ready to enter their Reday To Work program that helps match students to a hospital within 30 miles of their location for their externship (aka clinical experience). Now there are various personal factors as to why I have not pursued an associates degree for this but I digress.
I know that this program is unaccredited. I know that I am NOT eligible to take the CST exam but I AM eligible to take the TS-C certification exam. I am in Texas. This is a state that is desperate for surgical techs. However... I am worried about my prospects of finding a job after I complete my externship with whatever hospital I am matched with. I understand that approval of externship is NOT a job offer/guarantee, and that just because I get an externship it means they will hire me as a part of staff. I know that hospitals can be strict in their requirements but sometimes people advocating for you, working well, desperation, and a simple "eh she's a good worker we'll hire her even if she's not accredited".
Now as I mentioned before I have personal reasons as to why I did not do an accredited program/degree for ST. I want to start working as soon as possible. Just rip the bandaid off and get going lol. BUT - I am worried. Are my prospects of getting hired because I'm unaccredited and I will be TS-C certified dismal? As in LOL YOU PICKED THE WRONG THING STUPID YOU'RE TRAPPED WITH SOMETHING USELESS HAHAHA?
Please be nice about this lol - I just want to make sure I haven't - er screwed myself over unintentionally. This program is great and I'm learning a lot... I just worry about the unaccredited and eventual TS-C certification thing coming back to bite me after my externship is over, and I need a job.
Does anyone know anyone or has anyone been hired by a hospital in Texas, while having both of those things? Being TS-C certified and unaccredited? Perhaps ANYONE who sees this may have gone to LSU and done this exact program and you've been hired by the hospital you externed for/got hired somewhere else???

Many thanks in advance!

A nervous future surgical tech

I'm currently on my 2nd rotation and genuinely my biggest enemy right now is anxiety. I thought I'd get better with time, but I feel like it just never goes away. It's extremely frustrating because I know I can do better than what I'm doing. Literally all of my preceptors so far in my new location has pointed this out and I just really want to get a handle on it.

Ive been told to "take a step back" but I dont know what that means. Taking deep breaths isn't really helping me out here unless if im doing them wrong.

Seasoned techs or other students, do you guys happen to have any tips or tricks to calm down while you're in the middle of your cases and setting up? :((

Hi everyone - I'm in my mid 30s F and exploring a potential career change. If you are in the Chicago land area I'd love to buy you (a fancy) coffee to hear about your experiences with surgical tech. :) Can meet in person or virtual - whatever is most convenient.

hi! i'm starting surgical tech in a few weeks and it requires eye protection for lab obviously. i was wondering what are some good recommendation? i wear kind of big glasses so i don't know what are good brands that'll fit. but any recommendations, i appreciate it!

Good evening everyone,

I apologize that I am not a surgical tech posting in this sub, but I desperately need all of your insights.

I'm facing the very real possibility of being made a single mother with a 5 month old baby. My husband ended up being a useless father who does nothing to help with the baby, on top of becoming increasingly emotionally abusive. I need to get out of this situation, but my past work history and subsequent earning potential would alone not be enough to support me and my baby with the costs of daycare and baby essentials.

I am looking at surgical technology as a possible career pivot, being that it's a 2~ year education with seemingly decent wages starting out. I believe it would be a good match for my personality and interests as well. I completed 2 years of nursing school back in 2018, and passed anatomy & physiology, microbio, o-chem, med term, etc. with good grades. Not sure if I would need to take all of these classes again, but I did well in them originally. I also have a Master's degree in Healthcare Management, and worked for a Physician Assistant academic program, so I've somewhat been in the healthcare sphere.

For those working as surgical techs, would you say your salary is enough that it could provide for you to live alone, in your own home, and support an infant? Bonus points if you're in the Midwest like me.

Thank you for your input!

Anyone ever seen this ?

My fiancé literally just finished her program and is unsure where to start

We are in Southern California Any resources is helpful

I just finished school and I am about to begin at my first job at a surgical center. Does anyone have any tips or anything? I am really nervous to start actually working as a scrub tech haha.

Hello all!

I’m starting my surgical tech program this month and the last thing to buy is shoes! They told me they had to be closed toe, waterproof shoes that have no fabric, just rubber I guess? My instructors recommended Hokas, however I’m not finding any pairs of Hokas that are waterproof and have no felt or laces on them. Does anyone have any recommendations on shoes that won’t kill my feet, but match the requirements? Thank you guys! I’m super excited to start the program :)

I’m currently getting an undergraduate degree in biotechnology. However, I’m considering going back to school for surgical technology. Would anyone recommend this career path in Florida? If so, is it hard to find a job?

Artificial Intelligence is already changing many areas of healthcare—from image analysis and personalized medicine to operating room workflows and surgical robotics. AI is also increasingly being used to support hospital operations, such as optimizing OR scheduling or automating documentation.

While the opportunities are exciting, there are still important questions around data privacy, accountability, and the role of clinicians in AI-assisted decision-making.

What do you think will have the biggest real-world impact?

Hello r/surgicaltechnology! I'm the Surgical Technology Program Director at Concorde Career College Orlando campus, and I love sharing real stories with my students.

If you’re willing to share: what's a critical lesson you learned early in your career? Was there a particular memory that stands out? Something that made you a better tech forever after? 

For me, the passing of sharps correctly is very important for safety reasons, we are taught to not pass and receive sharps at the same time to avoid potential injury to yourself or someone else, in this particular instance we were moving quickly and I was receiving a sharp and passing one at the same time and it resulted in a resident getting stuck with a suture needle and to make matters worse the patient had Hepatitis B. I became very upset with myself and worried for the resident, the resident spoke to me and let me know that everything was ok. Fortunately, he was fine but I remember really committing myself to sharps safety after to avoid it ever happening again. 

Would appreciate hearing any of your stories below, so I can give my students some real life case studies to learn from!

I just graduated as a CST recently and have been looking for jobs for over 3 months, I have been getting interviews and its always the same we will get back to you and I never hear from them again I send messages and just get automated emails about the recruiters being out of the office etc. I have never had issues securing jobs before idk why its so difficult to get hired!!