Frequently Asked Questions

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This is a great question! Some important steps/realizations you need to do to learn to become a successful surgical technologist include the following:

- Research of programs and schools that offer training and education in the surgical technologist field.

- Ensuring you have completed all prerequisites needed prior to beginning training to be a surgical technologist.

- Researching a specialty that holds a particular interest to you.

- Understanding  that the position will take you to a wide variety of places if you chose to travel, or are you more comfortable establishing a home base and operating just out of there. 

- Shadowing a surgical technologist and ensuring you are comfortable around surgical equipment and in operating environment (blood, surgical smells, burnt tissue, watching bones being cut).

Take it right after you completed the surgical technology program. I would not wait because everything you've learned through school and clinical rotations are still fresh in your mind. If you do not pass, you may not test more than three times during any calendar year.

Please let your charge nurse know immediately. It's not safe for you, the patient and unfair to the surgeon. Things can spiral downward quickly and you don't want to have a tragic event where you bit off more that your are prepared for in the operating environment. 

Remember, you are there to help them and don't let his/her ego get to you. Surgeons are in many respects perfectionists of their work and hold themselves to a high standard, this can come with some personality quirks in the surgical environment. If you let that get to you, then you will have a difficult time throughout your assignment. Before the case, ask another surgical tech's advice when working with a new surgeon and what if any their preferences are in the OR. Always anticipate and have what the surgeon may need next in your hand.