Surgical Technician Careers

By: Rachel Mork

If you're wondering what a surgical technician does day-to-day, you'll be interested in discovering the many facets of this job. This is a popular entry-level medical position.

Surgical Technician Responsibilities
Surgical technicians are also called scrubs or operating room technicians. You will be responsible for preparing the operating room for surgery, cleaning and setting out needed equipment and passing tools and instruments to the appropriate people. You will also prepare specimens before sending them to the laboratory for analysis and diagnosis or properly dispose of waste. You may apply dressings or assist in the application of dressings.

Surgical technicians also need be comfortable interacting with patients. You might prepare the patient for surgery, which requires both medical skills and social skills. After surgery, you will be the person who brings the patient to the recovery room.

Surgical Technician Training
To become a surgical technician, you'll need to take high school or college level classes in science, biology, chemistry, math and general health. You will need at the least a high school diploma and to be certified as a Surgical Technologist (CST). It is advisable to pursue a two-year associate's degree and the certification. All schools that are accredited by the Commission of Allied Health Education Programs will be considered surgical technician schools. You'll want to make sure the college of your choice is properly accredited before attending.

Surgical Technician Job Opportunities And Salaries
Surgical technicians typically make between $21,000 and $35,000 dollars a year, varying by region of the country and by experience level. You can usually make more money working for a physician's private office than you will at a general hospital. You should be able to find jobs at surgical hospitals, general hospitals, surgery centers, doctor's offices and plastic surgery centers. Surgical technician opportunities are usually plentiful as long as you live near a city. However, you may have trouble finding a job if you live in a remote or very rural area.

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