The Sterile Truth: Tales, Teachings, and Unfiltered Truths from the Operating Room

🩺 Episode #4 – “Voices from the OR: Interview with Natalie Rathburn, RNFA”From surgical tech to RNFA • Healthcare decisions • Real OR storiesIn this episode of The Sterile Truth, host Sky Savona (they/them) sits down with Natalie Rathburn, RNFA, to explore her journey from surgical technologist to registered nurse first assistant. Natalie shares what it's really like working in the OR, the emotional and physical toll of the profession, and why advanced directives are essential for every patient. It's an honest, powerful conversation for anyone pursuing or considering a surgical career path.⏱️ TIMESTAMPS / CHAPTERS 00:00 — Introduction to Surgical Pathways 03:01 — From Surgical Tech to RNFA 05:53 — Experiences in the Operating Room 09:07 — Challenges and Stories from the OR 12:01 — The Reality of Surgical Risks 14:48 — Navigating Patient Care and Decisions 18:09 — The Importance of Advanced Directives 21:00 — Career Progression in Surgical Roles 23:55 — Advice for Aspiring RNFAs 27:05 — Final Thoughts and Reflections🔗 LISTEN & CONNECT 🎧 All audio platforms 📱 TikTok | IG | Facebook: @TheSterileTruth ✉️ Share an OR story (anonymous or credited): contact@thesteriletruth.com or https://forms.gle/Ng2rBSNjkd71FqBm7 Leave out ANY HIPAA identifiers! 🌐 Website show notes, forms & etc👀 WANT TO BE ON THE POD?Email us at contact@thesteriletruth.com #RNFA #surgicaltechnologist #operatingroom #healthcarepodcast #nursingcareer #ORstories #advancedirectives #careerprogression #surgerylife #thesteriletruth⚠️ DISCLAIMER The Sterile Truth is NOT medical or legal advice. All content reflects personal experiences and opinions for educational and entertainment purposes only. Always follow your facility’s protocols and consult licensed professionals for any medical or legal matters.

🫀 Episode #3 – “Case Files: When Goodbye Came Too Soon”Grief in the OR • Travel tech realities • Surgical contracts & chaosIn this raw and reflective episode of The Sterile Truth, host Sky Savona (they/them) shares the emotional weight of their final case as a surgical technologist — a devastating loss that marked a turning point in their career. From that haunting silence in the OR to the chaotic world of travel contracts, Sky opens up about burnout, red flags with recruiters, and what it really takes to survive life in scrubs. They close with a chilling set of OR stories you won't forget.⏱️ TIMESTAMPS 00:00 — The Last Day: A Gruesome Farewell 07:17 — Transitioning to Travel Surgical Technologist 18:17 — Navigating the Travel Contract Process 29:47 — The OR Black Box: Gruesome Stories from Surgery🔗 LISTEN & CONNECT 🎧 All audio platforms 📱 TikTok | IG | Facebook: @TheSterileTruth ✉️ Share a story: contact@thesteriletruth.com or anonymous form 🌐 Show notes, forms & more👀 WANT TO BE ON THE POD?Email us at contact@thesteriletruth.com🎯 TAGS #surgicaltech #operatingroomstories #medicalpodcast #traveltech #scrublife #healthcareburnout #ORstories #thest​eriletruth #griefinhealthcare #hospitaldrama⚠️ DISCLAIMER The Sterile Truth is NOT medical or legal advice. All content reflects personal experiences and opinions for educational and entertainment purposes only. Always follow your facility’s protocols and consult licensed professionals for medical or legal matters.

🔪 Episode #2 – “Voices from the OR: Interview with Crystal Webb, CST”Surgical tech realities • Patient perspective • Wild OR stories & life after scrubsIn this episode of The Sterile Truth, host Sky Savona (they/them) interviews Crystal Webb, a former surgical technologist turned accountant. Crystal shares her raw experiences from the operating room, including an unforgettable “broken penis” case, the emotional toll of the job, and what it was like to become a patient herself after a recent cancer diagnosis.This episode is packed with real talk, laughs, and critical reflections on pay disparity, self-advocacy, and the hidden struggles of life in scrubs.⏱️ TIMESTAMPS / CHAPTERS 00:00 – Introduction to Crystal’s Journey 03:08 – The Crazy Broken Penis Story 05:56 – Transitioning from Surgical Tech to Accounting 09:13 – The Pay Disparity in Surgical Tech 11:59 – The Emotional and Physical Toll of the Job 15:13 – Advice for New Surgical Techs 18:07 – Crystal’s Experience as a Patient 20:58 – Final Thoughts and Reflections🔗 LISTEN & CONNECT 🎧 All audio platforms 📱 TikTok | IG | Facebook: @TheSterileTruth ✉️ Share an OR story: contact@thesteriletruth.com or Submit a story 🌐 Website show notes, forms & more👀 WANT TO BE ON THE POD?✉️ contact@thesteriletruth.com#TheSterileTruth #SurgeryStories #OperatingRoom #MedicalPodcast #SurgicalTech #CancerSurvivor⚠️ DISCLAIMERThe Sterile Truth is NOT medical or legal advice. All content reflects first-hand experiences and personal opinions for education and entertainment only.Always follow your facility’s protocols and consult licensed professionals for any medical or legal matters.

🎙️ In this first episode of The Sterile Truth, Sky Savona (they/them), a certified surgical technologist, tells the raw and emotional story of their first organ procurement case—one that forever changed their outlook on life, death, and what it means to give a “last gift.”⚠️ It’s intense. It’s unfiltered. It’s a glimpse behind the surgical curtain you won’t forget.👂 What’s inside:• A behind-the-scenes breakdown of an organ donation case• Life-and-death realities of cardiac death and organ donation surgery• Sky's takeaways on living fully and not waiting until retirement• Practical emotional intelligence hacks for surviving the OR• Wild surgery stories from Reddit📬 Got a crazy operating room story of your own? Submit it:📝 Submit a story🌐 www.thesteriletruth.com📧 contact@thesteriletruth.com📱 TikTok | Instagram | Facebook: @TheSterileTruth💡 Support the show, send a tip, or share your trauma-dump:🌐 https://www.thesteriletruth.com/⚠️ Disclaimer: This podcast does not offer medical or legal advice. All stories are shared from personal experience and are for entertainment and educational purposes only.