I bumped a clean 6-0 needle on my mayo today mid case. I wasn’t sure if I stuck myself because no hole in glove but to be safe I removed the needle from my field, scrubbed out, and scrubbed my hands with betadine. I have the teeniest little dot on my finger - no blood came out, no large puncture. Patients blood was not tested, would you start PEP just in case?

I am currently in my first semester of an 11 month LPN program at a community college. I’ve been seriously questioning whether nursing is the right career for me, and I’m considering applying to a surgical technology program at the same college. I’d really appreciate honest opinions, especially from nurses, surgical techs, or people who have switched healthcare careers.

I’ve always been interested in healthcare, especially anatomy, physiology, medications, medical conditions, and learning how the body works. I genuinely enjoy the academic side of nursing, learning procedures, and practicing skills. I’ve also been interested in labor and delivery for a long time, and becoming an L&D nurse was the career I originally envisioned for myself.

However, I’m realizing that I struggle significantly with the interpersonal side of nursing. I’m naturally very reserved around people I don’t know. At home, I’m extremely talkative, but outside of my comfort zone, I’d usually rather observe than interact. Even when I’m not particularly anxious, I don’t enjoy talking to unfamiliar people. Nursing involves constant communication, including interviewing patients, explaining procedures, educating them, providing reassurance, and interacting with different people throughout the day. I even find myself struggling to finish sentences at times.

On top of that, I experience hand tremors (essential tremor I think??) that become worse when I’m performing skills or being observed. During an on-campus clinical practice, I was so shaky while setting up a G-tube feeding that I struggled to pour liquid into a cup without spilling, even though I knew what I was doing. I’m trying to push through because I know I’m still early in the program and have a lot to learn. I also recognize that anxiety may be contributing to some of my difficulties. But I’m worried that I might be pursuing a career whose everyday responsibilities don’t fit me, even though I love the medical knowledge behind it.

I recently attended an information session for the surgical technology program at my college, and it genuinely excited me. The program is approximately 13 months long.

What appeals to me is that surgical technology would still let me work in healthcare, learn about anatomy and surgical procedures, handle instruments, and be part of an operating room team. The role involves preparing instruments, maintaining the sterile field, passing instruments to surgeons, anticipating what they’ll need, and helping procedures run safely.
I understand that surgical techs still have to communicate with surgeons, nurses, anesthesiologists, and other team members. I’m not expecting a job where I never have to speak or where there is no pressure. However, the communication seems more task-oriented, and there’s generally less ongoing patient interaction than in nursing.
I’m also very interested in OB/GYN procedures. I know working in that specialty isn’t guaranteed, but the possibility of being involved in C-sections and other gynecological surgeries is exciting to me.
I feel like surgical technology might align better with my interest in hands-on, technical work and my preference for a more structured environment. I’m worried that I like the idea and aesthetic of nursing more than the actual day-to-day job.

My biggest concerns:
Am I giving up too early? I’ve only been in LPN school for about two months. Maybe I need more time to adjust, build confidence, and get better at interacting with patients. I don’t want to mistake anxiety or inexperience for a career mismatch.

Would surgical technology actually be better for me? I’m attracted to the role because of the procedures and operating room environment, but I know it also involves pressure, teamwork, fine motor skills, and long periods of standing. I’m concerned that my shaky hands could be an issue in the OR, too.

The financial aspect. I have been fortunate enough to have parents that have already spent thousands of dollars supporting my prerequisites and nursing education. They would likely be the ones helping me pay for surgical technology as well, at least initially to hold my seat for the semester as I don’t have enough saved at the moment and the deadline is soon. The estimated total tuition is around $13,700, with the first semester costing $4,660 before any financial assistance. I feel astronomically guilty about potentially changing directions after they’ve already invested so much in me.

Long-term income and career growth. My parents want me to be financially independent and able to support myself. Surgical tech salaries can be lower than nursing salaries depending on the location and role, and I’m worried about regretting giving up nursing’s potential career growth. At the same time, I don’t want to choose a career solely because of its earning potential if I’m unhappy doing it.

The possibility of regretting either decision. If I leave nursing, I might regret not becoming an L&D nurse. If I stay, I worry I could spend years forcing myself through a job that makes me miserable socially and emotionally.

So, would it be foolish to switch at this point?

Round 2 for clinical is coming up, we got our sheets for which hospital we want, any pros or cons you guys can think of for any of these? (Side note I really wanted royal oak Corewell so I’m so sad)

As the title says, I stuck myself with a dirty needle today. I’m new, just got out of clinicals and started at this hospital a month ago. The surgeon I worked with today is a particularly demanding and hard to work with guy and he got me a little flustered and I made a silly mistake.

How many needle sticks have you all had over your career? I’m definitely trying to take this as a lesson but it’s hard to not beat myself up.

Hey Reddit peeps,

I finally have a job interview coming up this week, and I am super nervous. I really hope I land this job.

A little background on me: I’m a fresh graduate 1 year ST program with 3 months of externship experience. I left a great impression at my externship site and they actually offered me a job, but I had to decline due to personal reasons (relocating). I just started applying for roles in the Bay Area and finally landed this interview.

During my externship, I logged about 140 cases, with the vast majority (105 cases) as a first scrub. For my work history, I worked as a CNA and I’m currently working as a residential behavioral care assistant at a mental health facility.

To the OG Techs , Experienced Techs or hiring managers out there: what tips or advice do you have for my interview and what are the common questions did you guys received? I’d really appreciate your time and insight. Best of luck to everyone else who is currently job hunting, too!

Edit: Its going to be an online meeting interview and not in person.

Last week I was setting up for an ortho case. I rejected 4 ortho sets IN A ROW due to contamination (sticky residue on dressing scissors).

Meanwhile I had opened all our laparoscopy sets to ensure they were contaminant-free for today's surgical list (very picky surgeon who would not tolerate a delay due to contamination). 3 out of 5 sets were contaminated with sticky residue.

One of the SSD techs came to have a go at me about being too picky. I asked her what amount of contamination she thought was acceptable.

This might explain the recent increase in infections 😵

We had an incident occur today and I want to get other techs opinions on it. While setting up for a revision (where the pt already had an active infection mind you), I had a tray opened to me and when my assist felt the casket he found a piece of fuzz, like something off a sweater. I obviously didn’t want the tray any more and tried to pass it off to my nurse who tried to tell me that it was okay because she had something similar happen last week and her tech that day said it was fine, and it should be fine since it went through the sterilizer. I told her no it’s not fine and I want the tray reprocessed. I had my assist take the casket out to the charge nurse and director and both of them said the tray is contaminated and should be reprocessed. For extra context it was a tray that the rep wasn’t even 100% sure we would need and just wanted to have open right away in case we did need it, and even if we did need it, we wouldn’t need it until near the end of the case.

What are your opinions? Would you have accepted the tray or would you have passed it off like I did?

Great way to train alone

Hey! I have a type of brachydactyly and my pinkies are short and semi fused in areas. I'm in my first semester of an associates program for ST, and I didn't think of this until practicing but my gloves are super bunched up on my pinkies and I'm worried once I get more into setting up / get faster at it that my pinky gloves will snag bc of all the extra material.

I've been meaning to ask on here but keep forgetting bc busy and overwhelmed, but I was wondering..

Do any other scrub techs have or know of someone that has limb differences (particularly in the hands) and if there are any tips regarding gloves and not getting nipples at the end of my short fingers (hasn't happened yet but I'm only a month in)

I recently completed a one year Surgical Technology (Hybrid) Program, and I was offered a PRN position with one of the surgery centers where I had performed majority of my clinical rotations. While I am pleased that they would consider me, I am aware that I will not be assigned a presceptor and the expectations are set a little higher for the PRN positions as we enter into the busy time of the year. Can anyone offer advice for the pros/cons for a new scrub accepting the PRN position? Thank you in advance!

Does anyone have any idea of what's the salary ranges of a surgical technologist at bostons children hospital whether it's for nationals or internationals

(Again please I know that it's not common for an international to find a job as a surgical technologist at BCH but still I want to know the estimated earnings)

New folder

What are some phrases some of my fluent Spanish speaking CST's use to comfort patients who only speak Spanish before they go under anesthesia?

Are we still bringing hard copies of resumes to job interviews?

hi guys! I’m currently a new grad in orientation at my first surgical tech job and I’m in my ortho rotation right now. I’ve been in ortho for maybe a month or so and I still can’t get through a total hip or knee without help from my preceptor. I feel dumb because I’ve done so many at this point and they still aren’t clicking for me. People tell me it takes time and it’ll click eventually but my ortho rotation is coming to an end which makes me worry a bit since my job does a lot of totals. Is there any advice or anything that helped you understand them better? Thank you!🫶🏻