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This question is about surgical technician.
Scrub Nurse vs Surgical Tech
A scrub nurse is a medical professional that prepares a surgical environment for a patient's surgery, while a surgical tech works as a member of the surgical team to keep the operating room safe, with functioning equipment and technologies that assist surgeons with each procedure.
A scrub nurse works inside the sterile field of an operating room. They prepare the room for patients, arrange supplies, and hand surgical instruments to the surgeon during procedures when needed. They must anticipate the surgeon's next steps. This includes the ability to react to complications by providing necessary instruments, medications and other critical measures.
In addition to keeping the operating room safe, a surgical tech prepares sterile solutions and even medications for the surgery and may transport patients in and out of the operating room. Depending on the facility, surgical techs might also assist in the surgery by passing instruments to the surgeon, holding organs in place or transporting samples to lab analysis.
Here are the key differences between a scrub nurse and a surgical tech:
Scrub nurses must earn an Associate Degree in Nursing or a Bachelor Degree of Science in Nursing
Surgical techs must have a diploma, certificate or a Surgical Technologist Associate's Degree
Scrub nurses must possess skills in surgery, advanced cardiac life support (ACLS), critical care nursing, planning, teamwork and collaboration
Surgical techs must have skills in patient care, aseptic technique, sterile procedures, surgical instruments, and communication
Scrub nurses salaries depend on if they are a registered nurse or a practical nurse. A registered nurse has a average salary of $80,000, while a practical nurse's salary is about $50,000
Surgical techs have a salary of about $50,000 on average
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