Like other medical fields, surgical technician and technology is an up and coming profession. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), through 2022, the number of surgical tech jobs will increase by 30 percent. Not only is this over twice the average growth for all U.S. jobs combined, the job pays well. The national median salary for a surgical tech, according to the BLS, is $41,790. These professionals learn their skills from numerous sources, including medical blogs and websites.
Surgical Tech Blogs
The number of websites specifically geared towards surgical techs is too numerous to list. However, there are a couple that stand out.
Whether you're a student or seasoned professional, Robert Prince assures you his site has plenty to offer. What makes the site stand out is his unrelenting optimism and pride in his profession. He backs this up with tons of great material, handbooks, employment tools, information on surgical tech salaries and much more.
On Facebook, the "Surgical Technologist: Student Help Page" is targeted primarily toward surgical technology students. Like so many other Facebook pages, a variety of images, links and stories bring students together to learn, find work and offer support to one another.
Both students and practitioners should get a kick out of a Pinterest site devoted to surgical tech humor. Though this might not be a strictly educational experience, it can be valuable when determining the attitudes and recurring themes within the surgical tech field. Scrolling through for some laughs might be more informative than you think!
Websites for Surgical Tech
Along with medical blogs, there are a several websites that are essential for any surgical-technologists-to-be to know about. The National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting administers the principle certification exam for surgical techs. Their website is filled with easy-to-access information on the exam. Yet another important website is Surgical Technology International Online, which branches into a number of specialties to provide information on "The latest developments in surgical operative techniques and technologies."
These examples represent only a fraction of what surgical technicians will find useful on the internet. The faculty of your surgical tech program probably has many others to suggest. Once you've explored all the available resources, you may discover the truth behind Robert Prince's assurance that "Becoming a surgical tech is one of the quickest ways to start a professional career in the medical field!"
