Surgical Tech

We are looking for a CST to be part of a dynamic team within a rural hospital in NW Colorado, not Golden Colorado. Experience preferred but will train the right person. Beautiful new, 3 OR facility that specializes in Ortho, General, Endo, Uro, Lap, some Plastic, some ENT and alot of OB/GYN. Call is mandatory and usually works out to 7-8 days per month, usually in a one week block. Unsure about pay but can find out, usually is pretty competitive. I am a CFA, ST and am getting tired of all the call myself and another RN/CST have absorbed. I am only posting here because we are having a hard time finding someone to re-locate to our area to start, or continue their career. Area is big on hunting, skiing, hiking, biking, camping and any other outdoor recreation you can think of. I will check back often to see if anyone has any interest.
Thank you for your time.

DiamondDave65 in Golden, Colorado said: We are looking for a CST to be part of a dynamic team within a rural hospital in NW Colorado, not Golden Colorado. Experience preferred but will train the right person. Beautiful new, 3 OR facility that specializes in Ortho, General, Endo, Uro, Lap, some Plastic, some ENT and alot of OB/GYN. Call is mandatory and usually works out to 7-8 days per month, usually in a one week block. Unsure about pay but can find out, usually is pretty competitive. I am a CFA, ST and am getting tired of all the call myself and another RN/CST have absorbed. I am only posting here because we are having a hard time finding someone to re-locate to our area to start, or continue their career. Area is big on hunting, skiing, hiking, biking, camping and any other outdoor recreation you can think of. I will check back often to see if anyone has any interest.
Thank you for your time.

I am a new graduate with certification, I cannot find anyone to hire me and I am willing to relocate. In New York now. Please send any info you may have! Thank you

jlb1191 in Buffalo, New York said: I am a new graduate with certification, I cannot find anyone to hire me and I am willing to relocate. In New York now. Please send any info you may have! Thank you

Go to this website:
www.thememorialhospital.com

Click on "careers" in the upper right hand corner of the page. Click on "Certified Scrub Technician" for a job description and pay. Sorry, it was much less than I had expected and the job description is not very accurate. Addressograph, what the heck is that?
Good luck.

Thank you for the info!!! :)

julie in Charleston, South Carolina said: When I graduated back in 2002, the place i did my rotation, hired me when i got out. I moved to charlotte with less than a year exp, and i got hired. I moved to Charlestion SC. I work at MUSC, and than I quit, wanted to be closer to home. I had two more job offer. I have been a CST going on 8 years, and I love it! I get paid pretty good, and wonderful benefits.

What school did you attend for your training

Miss Michelle in Buena Park, California said: I'm a 37 year old Woman, looking to go back to school to pursue a career as a surgical tech. I am very conflicted about choosing this career due to the fact I have heard so many negative aspects about the job. Can anyone tell me something positive? Can anyone give good solid information regarding schooling, pay and getting hired right out o school? Much appreciated, thank you.

You work under the license of a Registered Nurse. You typically do something different everyday. You will be involved in every surgery by helping the surgeon (and their assistant) heal patients in need of surgery. There are numerous instruments, but the primary ones are mostly used by most physicians...

Hi Michelle,
I am a Surgical Tech and I love it! I am not Certified but I have 7 yrs experience in the field. I am an LPN and got on the job training at a hospital while working for a Nursing agency. I find it very exciting and rewarding. It gives me the feeling that I am really doing some good. If you still have doubts just look at the salaries and jobs available in your area. Good Luck and God Bless!

Miss Michelle in Buena Park, California said: I'm a 37 year old Woman, looking to go back to school to pursue a career as a surgical tech. I am very conflicted about choosing this career due to the fact I have heard so many negative aspects about the job. Can anyone tell me something positive? Can anyone give good solid information regarding schooling, pay and getting hired right out o school? Much appreciated, thank you.

I am 50 years old and also a new Surgical Tech. I graduated from Concorde in Oct. 2009 and started my job in Nov. Being an ST is my no means an easy thing to learn, and once you are on the job, that is when the REAL learning begins. It can be stressful, frightening, frustrating, tiring and downright scary at times. Certain doctors are very hard to deal with and have little patience for new techs. On the other hand, you will get to participate in surgery and become an important team member in a meaningful and exciting career. You are often looked down on by seasoned techs and OR nurses, and that can be difficult. I have a bachelor's degree in Zoology as well as my ST certification, so that can be difficult for me at times. However, it is definitely a fast-paced, interesting job. Hopefully you are in good shape and will be able to stand for long periods and handle overtime and call.
As far as getting hired right out of school; that's a tough one. Honestly, I totally lucked out when I got my job (it was not my clinical site, which totally sucked). The truth is, your success depends a great deal on how much your teachers like you. A sad but true fact. If the teachers like you, you will get a good clinical site with a greater chance for hire. I saw this happen at my school and have heard that it happenes everywhere. I think the only way to avoid the "favoritism" card is to find a jr college that offers an ST course, but I don't think there are any in So. Calif.

HI, I'm a student tech and i'm in clinicals. Everything was great, until I had to go into Neuro. The Neuro surgeon is a jerk and lefthanded. I'm struggling loading the needles lefthanded and I dont know why. I can't stop stressing about it and he complained to my instructor about me constantly loading my needles wrong. Now I'm embarassed and don't know what to do. Can anyone give me pointers to help me remember how to load a needle lefthanded in a crile and a castro needleholder?

If you are loading the needle right hand, the suture should being going off to the right as well; if you're are loading it left hand, the suture should be going off to the left, that is how i look at it. If you are having trouble doing left hand, just load it right and simply flip the needle over while it's still somewhat in the jaws of the driver. Your instructor should be able to show you some tricks...Also see if you can take one home to practice with, if not just practice at your schools lab. Practice really does make perfect.

Jean said: HI, I'm a student tech and i'm in clinicals. Everything was great, until I had to go into Neuro. The Neuro surgeon is a jerk and lefthanded. I'm struggling loading the needles lefthanded and I dont know why. I can't stop stressing about it and he complained to my instructor about me constantly loading my needles wrong. Now I'm embarassed and don't know what to do. Can anyone give me pointers to help me remember how to load a needle lefthanded in a crile and a castro needleholder?

grab the needle holder with your keft hand and load your needle with the tip pointing toward your heart

The way I remembered is that if you pull on the suture when it is loaded right hand, it is going off to the right, so it would be the same for the left. I always load it right and simply flip or turn the needle over. If you do that it will be left.

The way I remembered is that if you have it loaded right hand, the suture will be going off to the right; pull on it to get a better visual, so the same would go for the left. I always load them right, and simply flip or turn the needle over, this will make it left.

are you currently working in charlotte at this time? thanks

spear101 in Charlotte, North Carolina said: If you are loading the needle right hand, the suture should being going off to the right as well; if you're are loading it left hand, the suture should be going off to the left, that is how i look at it. If you are having trouble doing left hand, just load it right and simply flip the needle over while it's still somewhat in the jaws of the driver. Your instructor should be able to show you some tricks...Also see if you can take one home to practice with, if not just practice at your schools lab. Practice really does make perfect.

I'm actually in Greensboro. I'm still a student, but I graduate in July.

I was wondering about the job market around DFW, TX. Is it decent? Also, are vocational schools good in Arlington? Such as Concorde or Iverson? They are both accredited. I would go to TCC's program but my 3.2 gpa isn't high enough to get in.

Um, I don't know anything about any of those areas; never been there...

Jean said: HI, I'm a student tech and i'm in clinicals. Everything was great, until I had to go into Neuro. The Neuro surgeon is a jerk and lefthanded. I'm struggling loading the needles lefthanded and I dont know why. I can't stop stressing about it and he complained to my instructor about me constantly loading my needles wrong. Now I'm embarassed and don't know what to do. Can anyone give me pointers to help me remember how to load a needle lefthanded in a crile and a castro needleholder?

what i do is load it right handed and just flip it over and that is it, i use to feel the same way. you can do it

Jean said: HI, I'm a student tech and i'm in clinicals. Everything was great, until I had to go into Neuro. The Neuro surgeon is a jerk and lefthanded. I'm struggling loading the needles lefthanded and I dont know why. I can't stop stressing about it and he complained to my instructor about me constantly loading my needles wrong. Now I'm embarassed and don't know what to do. Can anyone give me pointers to help me remember how to load a needle lefthanded in a crile and a castro needleholder?

hahaha, I always would load the needle for a left handed surgeon when it was typically for a right handed surgeon when I was learning. Eventually I got it down.

Jean, It is very simple. It's hard for me to explain without actually showing you, but just load in right handed, and simply flip it over 180 degrees and it will be good to go, I'm surprised no one has shown you that...

Were you able to find a job out of the program?

There are a number of options if you are looking to get into this field but it can be very competitive and from what I have heard the credential program is very tough and it is a super competitive job market with jobs in our area (Sacramento, CA) being hard to find.

Anyway good luck and I hope you find the perfect job you are looking for!

DiamondDave65 in Golden, Colorado said: We are looking for a CST to be part of a dynamic team within a rural hospital in NW Colorado, not Golden Colorado. Experience preferred but will train the right person. Beautiful new, 3 OR facility that specializes in Ortho, General, Endo, Uro, Lap, some Plastic, some ENT and alot of OB/GYN. Call is mandatory and usually works out to 7-8 days per month, usually in a one week block. Unsure about pay but can find out, usually is pretty competitive. I am a CFA, ST and am getting tired of all the call myself and another RN/CST have absorbed. I am only posting here because we are having a hard time finding someone to re-locate to our area to start, or continue their career. Area is big on hunting, skiing, hiking, biking, camping and any other outdoor recreation you can think of. I will check back often to see if anyone has any interest.
Thank you for your time.

Is there any conpensation for relocation? I've only been working for 6-1/2 months as a tech, but I'm certified and the OR I am currently working at has 9 very busy rooms. I am fairly experienced now with general, including lap. I like OB/GYN and can handle most ortho pretty well. Let me know if there is still an opening.
Thanks

Joanzie in Victorville, California said: Is there any conpensation for relocation? I've only been working for 6-1/2 months as a tech, but I'm certified and the OR I am currently working at has 9 very busy rooms. I am fairly experienced now with general, including lap. I like OB/GYN and can handle most ortho pretty well. Let me know if there is still an opening.
Thanks

Drop me an E mail I may have a position opening that you might be interested in. axgar@msn.com or hornstaffing@yahoo.com
Mark Horn

C in Apple Valley, California said: My school takes care of the clincals for us, and 9 times out of 10 we get hired at our clinical site. One girl who just graduated got hired at Desert Regional Hospital in Palm Springs (her clinical site) right out of school.

Hi, i was wondering what school did you go to?

I am a thirty-something mom, considering a surgical tech carreer. My biggest fear isn't the standing all day. No one has mentioned anything about what happens when you are in the OR and nature calls? I am hypoglycemic and should eat about every three hours.If I don't eat, I get the shakes, followed by a horrible migranie. Are there snack/bathroom breaks for really long procedures? Depriving someone of any food, water or toilet breaks for, say a seven hour procedure appears quite cruel. How does that work?

It all depends. Some places will give you a 15 minute break in the moring and an hour for lunch, and some don't give you a 15 min and only 30 min for lunch. However, if you work in a service that is doing minor/short procedures all day, you will usually have time to use the bathroom and eat something really quick between cases. If you are doing cases that last 7 or 8 hours, it usually not a problem for you to step out for a minute to use the bathroom, but if you were to do it a lot, It might be a problem.

Can someone tell me What.s the entry level pay an hour for a surgical tech in Georgia working in a urolgy out patient surgery center

lindsay in Sacramento, California said: thanks for the email. i actually start my program on sept 22nd...this month! i am very nervous number one to go back to school since i am 30, and have done sales and mortgage my whole career, but i am excited as well! i have one friend who is surgical tech and two best friends who are rn's so i hear alot, i really am interested in plastic surgery centers too, but i will work anywhere when i graduate, but your advice sounds right on!!!!i was worried about the whole"they won't hire you without any experience" thats whats really frecking me out!! some people on this forum have said don;t do it, that they couldn't get jobs after school!!! but everyone has a diff opinion

Hey, i was wondering which school did you go to for ST... i'm interesting in the program but not sure where to go or start...