How to become a scrub nurse

The average salary for scrub nurses is $95,160 per year. It is important to note that this figure can vary depending on the location of the health care facility, type of health care facility and years of experience.

Scrub nurses do a surgical scrub and go into the surgery with the surgical patient and doctors. They set up the operating room for the patient, ensure all the tools are sterile and ready to go, hand tools to the doctor during the surgery, and perform other duties inside the surgical room.

Surgical nurses are more correctly called perioperative nurses. The term encompasses all the duties that are carried out in the operating room as well as preoperative and postoperative care. A scrub nurse is responsible for maintaining the sterile field and passing supplies or instruments to the surgeons on demand.

Surgical nurses are known as scrub nurses and work in the surgical suite to assist with surgery while maintaining a sterile field. Scrub nurses work in clinical facilities like hospitals and surgery centers.

In addition, RNs earn higher salaries on average than surgical techs. According to the BLS, registered nurses on average earned more than $71,000 per year in 2018, compared with $47,000 per year for surgical techs.

Both surgical technicians and licensed practical nurses, or LPNs, are medical professionals who go through postsecondary training. Overall, surgical techs earn a bit more than LPNs, and yet, their salaries differ by job titles and employers.

They’re also able to work in other areas such as critical care, pediatrics and obstetrics, to start IVs and administer medications, to supervise practical nurses and other support staff, and to supervise or administer entire departments.

A scrub nurse is a registered nurse (RN) who specializes in surgical care. They are a type of surgical nurse, also called a perioperative nurse. Perioperative nurses work in an operating room to provide patient care before and during surgical procedures.

Less Earnings: Surgical Techs make an average of $19.19 per hour compared to the average nurse’s $31.10 per hour. Less Room for Advancement: As a surgical tech, you will have to go back to school to earn advancements or more money. Licensure: A nurse has a license, while a surgical tech has a certificate.

Job security is one of the most attractive benefits of any career in the healthcare field, and surgical technology is no exception. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that between 2018 and 2028, employment opportunities for surgical technologists will grow at a faster-than-average rate of nine percent.

Job Outlook

Employment of surgical technologists is projected to grow 7 percent from 2019 to 2029, faster than the average for all occupations. Advances in medical technology have made surgery safer, and more operations are being done to treat a variety of illnesses and injuries.

Pro: Enjoy a Good Salary as a Surgical Tech

The median wage for surgical technologists in the U.S. in May of 2019 was $23.22 per hour or $48,300 per year. There are great opportunities to earn a good living as a surgical tech, to earn more with experience, and to enjoy benefits like health care in full time positions.

Becoming a surgical tech isn’t nearly as difficult as becoming a doctor, but you can’t exactly waltz straight from high school into the OR, either. Be prepared to get a certificate or degree, pass muster in an internship and earn some credentials. The right skills will help, as well.

Surgical technologists may choose to advance to other healthcare occupations, such as registered nurse. Advancement to other healthcare occupations would usually require additional education, training, and/or certifications or licenses.

Surgical Tech Lifestyle

Some hospitals staff three shifts 24/7 while others work on a “call” basis after the main shift is finished. Surgical Tech shifts vary between 8 and 12 hours. A normal work week for the operating room and most surgical techs, not including “call” or shift rotation, is Monday – Friday.

Surgical Tech Duties

Getting patients ready for procedures. Ensuring equipment for surgery is working and ready. Gathering and sterilizing instruments for surgery. Passing instruments and supplies to surgeons during a procedure.

Surgical technologists receive their training in programs offered by community and junior colleges, vocational schools, universities, hospitals and the military. A program can take from 12 months (for a certificate) to two years (for an associate degree) to complete.

Surgical tech diploma or certificate programs usually take 12 months to complete. An associate in surgical technology typically takes two years of enrollment.

Getting Your Degree. Surgical tech programs usually take between 12 and 24 months to complete. While many medical careers require a specific degree to join the field, surgical technologists have three options for their level of education: a certificate, diploma, or associate’s degree.