Certified Surgical Technicians needed for an interview for my Human Relations class

My name is Karen. I am currently in a Surgical Technologist program to obtain an associates degree and get certified. In one of my classes, Human Relations, we have to interview two Surgical Technicians as part of our grade. I only need to ask a few simple questions about your job, what I can expect when I get my first job, etc.

If you could please take the time to answer these questions I would be very grateful as it would help with my advancement toward this career.

Thank you,

Karen

1. What is your first name?
2. How long have you been a Surgical Technician?
3. How long did you have to go through training (school)?
4. Was training more difficult than you thought it would be?
5. How many times did you have to take the certification test to pass?
6. What, about this profession, do you wish you would have known before you got into it?
7. What was your starting salary when you got your first job as a Surg Tech?
8. What is the thing you dislike the most about this job?
9. What is the thing you like the most about this job?
10. How long did it take you to get a raise or a promotion in this job?
11. How old are you, if you don't mind me asking, lol?
12. Where is the best place to start working for in this profession (ie. hospital, surgery center)?
13. What other fields connected to this profession would you recommend?
14. What is the turnover rate in this job (are there lots of employees coming and going all the time)?

Karen,

I am a student going to Surg. Tech. school and will graduate next May. Would you mind posting or emailing me your findings on your questionaire?

sure. i just hope someone responds. i don't know how many people read this forum.

I need the same information and I can't find it anywhere !

Karen in Georgetown, Kentucky said: My name is Karen. I am currently in a Surgical Technologist program to obtain an associates degree and get certified. In one of my classes, Human Relations, we have to interview two Surgical Technicians as part of our grade. I only need to ask a few simple questions about your job, what I can expect when I get my first job, etc.

If you could please take the time to answer these questions I would be very grateful as it would help with my advancement toward this career.

Thank you,

Karen

1. What is your first name?
Laura
2. How long have you been a Surgical Technician?
13 years
3. How long did you have to go through training (school)?
9 months
4. Was training more difficult than you thought it would be?
yes
5. How many times did you have to take the certification test to pass?
only once
6. What, about this profession, do you wish you would have known before you got into it?
physical demand on your body
7. What was your starting salary when you got your first job as a Surg Tech?
Haha 10.47 Pay is better now!
8. What is the thing you dislike the most about this job?
Not receiving the proper respect our profession deserves
9. What is the thing you like the most about this job?
I love surgery
10. How long did it take you to get a raise or a promotion in this job?
6 months
11. How old are you, if you don't mind me asking, lol?
41
12. Where is the best place to start working for in this profession (ie. hospital, surgery center)?
Definitely a hospital
13. What other fields connected to this profession would you recommend?
Teaching
14. What is the turnover rate in this job (are there lots of employees coming and going all the time)?

Depends on the hospital or surgery center

1. What is your first name? Jenifer
2. How long have you been a Surgical Technician? Since 1994
3. How long did you have to go through training (school)? 11 months straight through.
4. Was training more difficult than you thought it would be? Yes, mostly due to my not having any medical background at all. Thankfully, I had the BEST instructor and preceptors.
5. How many times did you have to take the certification test to pass? Once, then let my cert lapse and had to retake it after a 6 year break from working. Again, passed it on the first try.
6. What, about this profession, do you wish you would have known before you got into it? Physically demanding, holding retractors, limbs etc. can be brutal to say the least.
7. What was your starting salary when you got your first job as a Surg Tech? $10.01/hr
8. What is the thing you dislike the most about this job? Really can't think of anything that I don't like about my career, other than having to do eyes.
9. What is the thing you like the most about this job? I really can't pick just one thing, I love the routine and unique cases that I do, I love the people that I work with, they become like an extension of my family. So much fun, I can't imagine doing anything else but this and I'm still surprised when I get a paycheck. Seriously, I can't believe that I actually get paid to do this.
10. How long did it take you to get a raise or a promotion in this job? 6 months
11. How old are you, if you don't mind me asking, lol? ~gasp~ 38
12. Where is the best place to start working for in this profession (ie. hospital, surgery center)? Hospital
13. What other fields connected to this profession would you recommend? Is there something else other than being a CST? Just kidding, but seriously your only other real options are going for your CFA or RN if you want to stay in the OR. Becoming an RN will seriously limit your time spent scrubbed. If you love to scrub, then go with the CFA.

14. What is the turnover rate in this job (are there lots of employees coming and going all the time)? Scrubs tend to hold onto their jobs for a LONG time. I haven't ever seen a big turnover rate in my experience. hth