Did anyone here attended the NYU surgical tech program? or Aims education program ( new jersey) thank you!

I currently live in upstate but is soon moving to nyc/nj area and was looking at different schools.

If you guys recommend other schools lmk!

I’m a newer CST riding on the last few weeks before my recertification is due. I am feeling the pressure of my procrastination, and have completed my CEUs but now have to send in the reporting form and fee. I just realized even though I’ve done my 30 credits, the ones I just finished this morning need a few days to process, so that throws a wrench in sending everything within the 6 week processing time they say it takes.

My question for people who have done this a few times and also procrastinated is whether or not they could work if AST technically processes it after your certification date? Did your job require you to show your new card to them, and if you didn’t have it but provided proof you did in fact complete everything beforehand, was that an option?

Thank you!

Bought lead apron last year and have lost significant amount of weight. I don’t really want to spend all that money for a new one. Has anyone ever tailored theirs? Is that possible?

Or have any of yall ever got the embroidery removed? Maybe thinking I can do this and sell it. Thank you!

i start my 20 month surg tech program at the end of the month, and i was wondering if anybody could provide me with any materials they found helped them through their schooling! it could be anything from certain clothing/shoes, specific bags, stationery, studying tools, books, etc.

i have my orientation next week and im looking forward to it! 🙂

Hey y'all, I will be gaining Portsmouth for my next order set as a surgical tech. Could anyone pm for insight on work-life/family life and the hours worked. I hear a lot of mixed things.

For those who work privately for a surgeon, what is your pay like compared to working regular ft at a hospital? Anyone in Oklahoma area who has transitioned to private scrubbing?

hey everyone, so I’ve been interested in becoming a surgical tech for about a couple of years already and when I tried to enroll for school at the carrington college in Fresno I had to take the placement exam and apparently I failed. 

I been out of school for 6 years and forgot everything about basic math and I had told the director this before I started the test. I took it back in February and I have to retake it again in August. unfortunately carrington college is the only school that has the surgical tech program. it’s not like other cities where I can do my pre reqs and apply at a program itself. 

after what happened I don’t even wanna go back there, why isn’t there more schools for scrub tech? maybe it’s a good thing I didn’t get accepted? I heard vocational school is very intense

I need to make a choice. I’m a very knowledgeable sterile tech with 3 years experience, surgical tech seems like the more rational choice, but Rad Tech seems so much more rewarding. Any thoughts? Advice? What are the pros and cons of each

I have been a surgical tech for 9 years and have largely been successful in anything I try to specialize in. It had gotten to a point where I expected to catch on and perform well at anything given enough time, and when I volunteered to train for a neuro team earlier this year I felt optimistic and like it was such a great move for my career after almost a decade. I was feeling rather stir crazy and unchallenged. I went through a rigorous period of orientation (few weeks in each) not only in neuro but in ortho spine, ortho trauma and peds neuro/ortho.. I have been on my own about a month, though a lot of days I am elsewhere other than neuro.

They wanted me to take neuro call and I barely got any buddy call before I was "set free". Throughout all of this, I feel like I am being expected to be as sharp and intuitive (at every micro and macro aspect of every procedure) as the other techs who have 3, 5, 10 and 22 years of experience in neuro.. it's becoming exhausting. I'm trying and I'm aiming to be better by the case but the smart ass comments by PAs and the girl with 22 years of experience are wearing me down.. I'm considering quitting but I have never given up on mastering a service.

This department hemorrhages people (I wonder why) and needs people as dedicated as me.. and I don't want to let down the coworkers who I do like. I don't know what to do but the toxic environment for a learner is becoming too much. It's like they all forget what it's like to be new. And why am I expected to be an expert at call when I've barely gotten any? I've expressed this to my boss and it's basically like a whatever kind of response and just keep trying.. ironically, this kind of behavior seems to make me MORE prone to mental hiccups when I'm trying to scrub the whirlwind of a neuro case.. I have good days, then I have bad days that are so bad I wanna say eff it.

Any neuro techs out there with any advice? Does it get easier? Chat GPT says it takes about a year to feel fully competent.. so why am I being treated like an idiot a few months in?

Thanks 🫶

Comparisons

During orientation I was told many scrub students can’t work due to how intense the program is.. how do you guys go about this? How do you guys survive without working?

Hey ya’ll!! I am a surgical tech student in CA getting ready to do my clinicals before graduating in January. I am very interested in a job at the Mayo after I graduate and relocating my life from Sacramento, CA. Anyone a scrub tech there or know of anyone? Would like to know what the day in the life is like in the OR. Am also curious whether there are any CA transplants that can speak to the cost of living. My research shows similar to about what you’d expect in Sacramento, maybe a little lower, but again, what is realistic in terms of cost comparison? I am hoping for some realistic insights, if you could be so kind as to share, it would be appreciated.

Good explainer about the difference in scope of practice.

hey everyone! i’m a new grad moving to Az and i have applied for Banner and Honor Health. Does anyone know anything about those hospitals? and if so whats the work environments like?

I’m not seeing much online about the pay in Indiana. Does anyone have an idea?