Individuals who want to dedicate their careers to helping people battle illnesses and maintain healthy lives have a wide range of professional paths to choose from. The roles of surgical technologist and registered nurse are two examples of these options. Surgical technologists, or surgical techs, assist doctors and their teams during surgical procedures. Some registered nurses, or RNs, also support surgical teams, while others work in different areas of healthcare, including emergency care, oncology, and primary care.
Both surgical techs and RNs have the training to make a significant impact in healthcare, but their scope of work and career opportunities are different. Prospective healthcare professionals considering surgical tech vs. RN careers should learn about the two roles to be able to determine whether they should pursue a surgical technologist or nursing degree program.
What Is a Surgical Tech?
A surgical tech, also called a scrub tech, works with healthcare teams and patients during all stages of surgery. While their job usually covers the surgical process from beginning to end, their specific tasks may vary depending on a patient’s needs and the type of surgical procedure being performed.
Surgical Tech Responsibilities and Duties
A surgical tech’s duties can be broken down by the stages of the surgical procedure. These duties include the following:
Pre-surgery: Before the procedure, surgical techs work to prepare the operating room by sterilizing the equipment and ensuring all materials that may be needed during surgery, including garments, tools, and medications, are available for immediate access. They may also assist the patient in preparing for the surgery by disinfecting or shaving areas of their body.
Surgery: During the procedure, surgical techs either scrub or circulate. Scrubbing consists of assisting in the surgical room during the procedure, typically by ensuring all materials remain sterilized. When circulating, they act as a liaison between the surgical team, or the healthcare facility, and the patient’s family by relaying information about the status of the surgery.
Post-surgery: After the procedure, surgical techs might move the patient to a recovery room and apply or re-dress any areas that need time to heal. They also restock the operating room with supplies to ensure it will be ready for the next surgery.
Many surgical techs are generalists who can work during any type of surgery. Depending on the individual facility and the tech’s experience, they may be able to specialize in assisting with specific types of surgeries. For example, a surgical tech may specialize in cardiovascular surgeries, primarily or exclusively working with patients and surgeon teams on these types of procedures.
Surgical Tech Skills
To perform their duties effectively, surgical techs should look to develop several skills, including the following:
Surgical knowledge: Surgical techs should have a robust understanding of surgical practices, including the specific tools and supplies needed for various types of procedures. They should also understand proper surgical incision treatment before and after a procedure, such as sterilization and bandage wrapping.
Organizational skills: Surgical techs are responsible for keeping track of multiple factors as part of their job, including the preparation of patients, the locations of healthcare staff and patients’ families, and the supplies required for each type of procedure. Good organizational skills can help surgical techs monitor these details consistently and ensure nothing gets overlooked.
What Is an RN?
An RN is a nurse who has qualified for and passed the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN) and gained licensure in their state, which allows them to practice in a healthcare facility. Registered Nurses are healthcare professionals who work with medical teams to provide holistic care to patients. With additional education and experience, RNs may specialize in a specific area of healthcare.
RN Responsibilities and Duties
RNs work directly with patients performing many healthcare tasks, such as monitoring and checking vital signs, educating patients about their diagnoses and treatments, and administering prescribed medications or injections.
Those researching surgical tech vs. RN roles will find there can be considerable overlap in their duties. As RNs’ specific duties are based on their specialization and the facility they work in, different types of RNs have different responsibilities. For example, RNs with an interest in surgical care can choose to become scrub nurses, also called perioperative nurses, by seeking additional training. Scrub nurses work alongside doctors and other members of the surgical team during procedures.
RN Skills
RNs regularly interact with patients and other healthcare staff. Registered Nurses assist in different aspects of care depending on their workplace and the given needs of the day. Here are a few skills RNs need to succeed in this role:
Empathy: RNs should approach their care with empathy to improve patients’ experience and help them feel supported.
Critical thinking: RNs may need to quickly assess a patient’s health and decide on the next action to take, especially when emergency care is warranted. Registered nurses with sharp critical thinking skills are well equipped to make the right decisions in such moments.
Differences Between a Surgical Tech and an RN
When it comes to surgical techs vs. RNs, while they can perform many of the same tasks regarding surgery preparation and care, there are key differences between the two roles. They have different educational and licensure or certification requirements. Additionally, the level of their responsibilities differ, with RNs having a wider scope of responsibilities.
Education and Certification
Surgical techs’ educational requirements vary by state and employer. They generally must have a minimum of an associate degree from an accredited program, typically in surgical technology, to qualify for a position. These programs provide a foundational understanding of surgery prep practices and the instruments used during surgery.
Additional certifications or licensure aren’t necessary for surgical techs in most states. However, many employers prefer candidates who have earned a certification as it can indicate a commitment to the role and a level of knowledge beyond the baseline education. One example is the certified surgical technologist (CST) credential offered by the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (NBSTSA).
RNs, on the other hand, must complete either an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) or a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program. These programs provide a foundational understanding of nursing practices. After completing one of these programs, aspiring nurses must pass the NCLEX-RN and then gain licensure from their state to practice as a registered nurse. RNs may require additional credentials depending on their state and may seek an optional certification if they want to specialize.
Responsibilities and Duties
RNs generally have a wider scope of practice and more autonomy than surgical techs. They can choose to work in any area of patient care, including pediatric, emergency, women’s health, or mental health care. Surgical techs focus on surgeries and only assist surgeons, their teams, and the patients undergoing surgical procedures.
When comparing surgical techs vs. RNs who choose to become scrub nurses, surgical techs often don’t work as closely with patients as scrub nurses do. Additionally, while they help with prep and assist the surgery team during procedures, surgical techs generally don’t have the authority to provide medications or more technical assistance. RNs may shift their focus to another aspect of nursing if they choose, while surgical techs would need to seek further education if they wanted to expand or shift their career focus.
Surgical Tech vs. RN: Job Outlook
The outlook for both of these professions is positive. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), jobs for surgical techs are projected to grow 5% between 2022 and 2032, while jobs for RNs are projected to grow 6% during that time period. Both of these growth rates are higher than the 3% average growth the BLS projects for all professions.
The BLS attributes the expected job growth in both roles to similar factors, such as the growing population of older adults, which is expected to result in an increased demand for medical services and the trained healthcare professionals who provide them. Additionally, technology advancements have made surgical operations safer and a more viable option for treatments, increasing the demand for surgical techs and scrub nurses.
Make a Difference With a Career in Healthcare
For individuals comparing surgical tech vs. RN career paths, there are good reasons to choose either option, as both provide an opportunity to play a crucial role in surgical procedures. If you are looking for a pathway into registered nursing, whether in a general or specialist position, consider enrolling in the Associate Degree in Nursing program at Fortis, which can help you jump-start your nursing career by preparing you to take the NCLEX-RN upon completion of your program..
If you are seeking a role that focuses specifically on surgical procedures, consider enrolling in the Fortis surgical technologist associate degree program. This program teaches students the foundations of surgical procedures, sterilization techniques and practices, patient prep, and methods for assisting and communicating successfully with an operating room team. It can be completed in as little as 72 weeks, allowing you to get started on your career in healthcare relatively quickly.
Define your future career in healthcare with Fortis.
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Surgical Tech: Job Description, Requirements, and Outlook