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

EP4: Voices from the OR – Interview with Natalie Rathburn, RNFA

🩺 Episode #4 – “Voices from the OR: Interview with Natalie Rathburn, RNFA” From surgical tech to RNFA • Healthcare decisions • Real OR stories In 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 [https://www.thesteriletruth.com] * 📱 TikTok | IG | Facebook: @TheSterileTruth * ✉️ Share an OR story (anonymous or credited): contact@thesteriletruth.com [contact@thesteriletruth.com] or https://forms.gle/Ng2rBSNjkd71FqBm7 [https://forms.gle/Ng2rBSNjkd71FqBm7] Leave out ANY HIPAA identifiers! * 🌐 Website show notes, forms & etc [https://www.thesteriletruth.com] 👀 WANT TO BE ON THE POD? Email us at contact@thesteriletruth.com [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.

EP3: Case Files – When Goodbye Came Too Soon (Loss in the OR)

🫀 EPISODE #3 – “CASE FILES: WHEN GOODBYE CAME TOO SOON” Grief in the OR • Travel tech realities • Surgical contracts & chaos In 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 [https://www.thesteriletruth.com] * 📱 TikTok | IG | Facebook: @TheSterileTruth * ✉️ Share a story: contact@thesteriletruth.com [contact@thesteriletruth.com] or anonymous form [https://forms.gle/Ng2rBSNjkd71FqBm7] * 🌐 Show notes, forms & more [https://www.thesteriletruth.com] 👀 WANT TO BE ON THE POD? Email us at contact@thesteriletruth.com [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.

E2: Voices from the OR – Interview with Crystal Webb, CST

🔪 EPISODE #2 – “VOICES FROM THE OR: INTERVIEW WITH CRYSTAL WEBB, CST” Surgical tech realities • Patient perspective • Wild OR stories & life after scrubs In 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 [https://www.thesteriletruth.com] * 📱 TikTok | IG | Facebook: @TheSterileTruth * ✉️ Share an OR story: contact@thesteriletruth.com [contact@thesteriletruth.com] or Submit a story [https://forms.gle/Ng2rBSNjkd71FqBm7] * 🌐 Website show notes, forms & more [https://www.thesteriletruth.com] 👀 WANT TO BE ON THE POD? ✉️ contact@thesteriletruth.com [contact@thesteriletruth.com] #TheSterileTruth #SurgeryStories #OperatingRoom #MedicalPodcast #SurgicalTech #CancerSurvivor ⚠️ DISCLAIMER The 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.

EP1: Case Files – Red Nails & the Last Gift (Organ Donation Story)

🎙️ 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 [https://forms.gle/XWj8U9ckvPPMjKCS7] 🌐 www.thesteriletruth.com [https://www.thesteriletruth.com] 📧 contact@thesteriletruth.com [contact@thesteriletruth.com] 📱 TikTok | Instagram | Facebook: @TheSterileTruth 💡 Support the show, send a tip, or share your trauma-dump: 🌐 https://www.thesteriletruth.com/ [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.