u/baejaewae

Im currently halfway through a surgical technology program and in clinicals I’m trying to figure out what I want to do after graduation. I’m in NYC and would ideally like to work inOB.

I already have a bachelor’s degree in business/computer information systems, so surgical technology is a career change for me. I’ve been doing my clinicals and I’m realizing that I actually like the idea of specializing in one area rather than working in main OR where I’m constantly rotating through a large number of different specialties.

I would be completely fine with never going back to a general/main OR if I could build a stable career in L&D. I like the idea of becomin familiar with a smaller number of procedures, particularly C-sections and other OB procedures, rather than constantly having to learn completely different procedures and instrument sets. I don’t mind the administrative/logistics work L&D may require

Is it realistic to stay in L&D for your entire career?

Are there hospitals where CSTs are dedicated primarily or exclusively to L&D?

How difficult is it to get an L&D position as a new grad?
What are the biggest downsides of specializing in L&D long-term?

Is there any concern about L&D nurses/PCT eventually taking over the scrub role and reducing the need for CSTs?

I’m not looking to eventually become a generalist if I don’t have to. I’m genuinely interested in whether L&D can be a sustainable, long-term specialty for a CST, especially in NYC.

I’d really appreciate hearing from CSTs who have worked in L&D for several years, particularly anyone who has stayed there for most or all of their career.

Im currently halfway through a surgical technology program and in clinicals I’m trying to figure out what I want to do after graduation. I’m in NYC and would ideally like to work inOB.

I already have a bachelor’s degree in business/computer information systems, so surgical technology is a career change for me. I’ve been doing my clinicals and I’m realizing that I actually like the idea of specializing in one area rather than working in main OR where I’m constantly rotating through a large number of different specialties.

I would be completely fine with never going back to a general/main OR if I could build a stable career in L&D. I like the idea of becomin familiar with a smaller number of procedures, particularly C-sections and other OB procedures, rather than constantly having to learn completely different procedures and instrument sets. I don’t mind the administrative/logistics work L&D may require

Is it realistic to stay in L&D for your entire career?

Are there hospitals where CSTs are dedicated primarily or exclusively to L&D?

How difficult is it to get an L&D position as a new grad?
What are the biggest downsides of specializing in L&D long-term?

Is there any concern about L&D nurses/PCT eventually taking over the scrub role and reducing the need for CSTs?

I’m not looking to eventually become a generalist if I don’t have to. I’m genuinely interested in whether L&D can be a sustainable, long-term specialty for a CST, especially in NYC.

I’d really appreciate hearing from CSTs who have worked in L&D for several years, particularly anyone who has stayed there for most or all of their career.

I'm a first semester surgical tech student and I'm honestly questioning whether I'm just not cut out for this or if my expectations are off. I'm very quiet and shy. I've always been that way, but throughout my program it's become one of the biggest points of contention. I feel like my personality gets criticized more than my actual technical skills.

One instructor in lab even joked that I was "a psychopath" and that I "shouldn't be around sharp objects." Whether it was meant as a joke or not, it really bothered me. I've also been told I'm too quiet and not tough enough for the profession.

At clinical, my preceptor told me I lack critical thinking. One example was that while EVS cleaned the room, I stayed with the case cart in the hallway. He said I should have brought it up in front of the scrub sink so it wouldn't block beds coming through. My thought process was completely different. I was trying to keep the scrub sink area open because I assumed people would be using it. I genuinely wasn't trying to make anyone's job harder I just didn't know the workflow.

What confuses me is that I've spent almost all of my clinical time in endoscopy department(5 out of 8 days). I still don't really know how the main OR functions. I've never started a room in the main OR before.

And after EVS finished cleaning apparently I was supposed to start setting up myself. If the scrub tech I'm assigned to isn't in the room yet, am I supposed to start setting up? Am I even allowed to be in the room by myself as a student? I don't want to overstep or contaminate something, but I also don't want to stand around waiting for every instruction.

It feels he is watch me make mistakes instead of correcting me in the moment, and then later tell me I should have known what to do. That's the part I struggle with the most.

I'm genuinely trying. I ask questions, I want to improve, and I know I'm not the fastest learner. But I leave clinical feeling and class like my quiet personality is viewed as a character flaw.

For those of you who precept students, is this a normal way to teach? Were any of you really quiet when you started? And what level of initiative would you realistically expect from a first-semester CST student who's still learning the workflow?

I'm a first semester surgical tech student and I'm honestly questioning whether I'm just not cut out for this or if my expectations are off. I'm very quiet and shy. I've always been that way, but throughout my program it's become one of the biggest points of contention. I feel like my personality gets criticized more than my actual technical skills.

One instructor in lab even joked that I was "a psychopath" and that I "shouldn't be around sharp objects." Whether it was meant as a joke or not, it really bothered me. I've also been told I'm too quiet and not tough enough for the profession.

At clinical, my preceptor told me I lack critical thinking. One example was that while EVS cleaned the room, I stayed with the case cart in the hallway. He said I should have brought it up in front of the scrub sink so it wouldn't block beds coming through. My thought process was completely different. I was trying to keep the scrub sink area open because I assumed people would be using it. I genuinely wasn't trying to make anyone's job harder I just didn't know the workflow.

What confuses me is that I've spent almost all of my clinical time in endoscopy department(5 out of 8 days). I still don't really know how the main OR functions. I've never started a room in the main OR before.

And after EVS finished cleaning apparently I was supposed to start setting up myself. If the scrub tech I'm assigned to isn't in the room yet, am I supposed to start setting up? Am I even allowed to be in the room by myself as a student? I don't want to overstep or contaminate something, but I also don't want to stand around waiting for every instruction.

It feels he is watch me make mistakes instead of correcting me in the moment, and then later tell me I should have known what to do. That's the part I struggle with the most.

I'm genuinely trying. I ask questions, I want to improve, and I know I'm not the fastest learner. But I leave clinical feeling and class like my quiet personality is viewed as a character flaw.

For those of you who precept students, is this a normal way to teach? Were any of you really quiet when you started? And what level of initiative would you realistically expect from a first-semester CST student who's still learning the workflow?