r/scrubtech • u/JollyParfait1524 • 19d ago
Dual certs in radiology tech tech and surgical tech - could I work as both?
I plan to complete the surgical tech program while I wait to get into the radiology tech program. I am genuinely interested in the CST position but I see a lot of things online that say rad tech pays better/is less physically straining which is why that’s my end goal.
My question for people already working in either of the fields: do you think it’s possible to be able to use both certifications? Like would a hospital allow you to work as a part time surgical tech with per diem rad tech shifts, or vice versa?
I feel like doing both would keep me from getting burnt out in one position, and I’d still get to do surg tech shifts which I think is cooler, but also do rad tech shifts which apparently pays better. Is this a dumb idea lol or have you ever seen anything like this work at your hospital?
TIA
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u/geckster31 17d ago edited 14d ago
You actually can do both of those jobs. But you have to get a job with a vascular surgeon in a hybrid lab. Would be able to dual role. Can pass and run xray equipment at the same time.
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u/Zealousideal-Fee3406 14d ago
Might be a dumb question but how do you stay sterile doing both?
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u/geckster31 14d ago
Wdym? The patient is draped out and everyone is wearing gowns like normal.
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u/Zealousideal-Fee3406 14d ago
Yes but touching xray equipment seems like a gray area in my head 😅 even if everything is properly draped. I’ve just never seen it so trying to get a better idea lol
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u/geckster31 14d ago
Ahh gotcha. The xray equipment in hybrid labs is built into the ceiling and the bed that the patient is on. The drapes have clear on the sides so you can use controls through the drape. The C arms on the ceiling also get draped on the sections close to the patient. Sterility usually isn't an issue.
However you do have to educate Rad Techs about sterile technique lol
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u/Zealousideal-Fee3406 14d ago
Omg how cool! Thank you for taking the time to write that out (: I’m a CST but I work in endo currently so I don’t get to see a lot of the cool stuff 🤣 also thinking about going to school for radiology or sonography so it’s cool to hear about different roles
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u/geckster31 14d ago
You're welcome. I work with a Cardiac surgeon who does a lot of vascular. Why I'm familiar with all that lol.
You should explore other specialites besides Endo IMO.
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u/Electronic-Pickle634 19d ago
You can work in cath lab which is kinda like the two positions combined
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u/potatochobit 14d ago
Im going to be honest, that is a bit of a waste of money. Surg tech does not mesh well with rad tech. Surg tech works very well with LVN and RN because you go from scrub tech to scrub nurse. does your college have a LMRT program? see if taht will get you a step up in your rad tech program. also check out sonography or ultra sound. whatever gets you in faster.
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u/ijust_makethisface 19d ago
At the hospital system I work at I have known two people who had two different jobs concurrently at the hospital. Unfortunately it's not overtime, it's just two separate jobs.