Surgical Technicians Have a Bright Future
To become a surgical tech you will need to attend college classes that will teach you the proper methods of what a surgical technologist is expected to know how to do. You will need to obtain an associate degree program at a certified college, university, through a military training program or through a hospital that gives you on the job training.
If you choose the on the job training you will need to have enough knowledge and hands-on training to pass the state test that is required. Most associate programs take at least two years to finish. If you have prior medical training you may be able to cut the time down somewhat.
To become a surgical tech you have to have a two year internship before you will be able to become certified. There are some surgical tech programs where you attend classes as little as nine or ten months, but as stated, you will still be required to have the two year internship. The only exception for this is if you have at least seven years prior medical experience that you can prove.
Another stipulation to becoming a surgical tech is that you have a high school diploma or GED. If you are still attending high school it is a very good idea to take classes in subjects such as chemistry, biology, health and a few extra courses in math to prepare yourself for the classes you will be required to take at college. The SJVC surgical tech program in Bakersfield requires all students to have either a GED or high school diploma.
Training Includes Classes & Clinical Internship
To train as a surgical technologist you will attend classes that combine classroom time and a supervised clinical time where you work with patients. The classes you will be required to take include microbiology, anatomy, professional ethics, pharmacology and medical terminology. For patient care you will be required to learn the basics of safety, infection control, surgical procedures and how to handle supplies and equipment correctly.
To receive your surgical tech license and certification you will need to be able to pas the test that is used nation wide. Most employers require you to have passed this test before they will hire you, although some may take you on as a temporary assistant until you have completed the full test and received your license.
Most employers prefer that their surgical technologists have taken the required classes at a college so they know they not only have classes with book study, but have also been trained under a supervisor in real patient care. The test you need to take can be given at the NCCT which stands for the National Center for Competency Testing. To take the exam you will have had to have completed the accredited training program and the two year internship.
Continuing Education for Surgical Technologists
If you pass the test you will need to renew it every few years and take continuing education classes while you are employed. On the test you will need to remember what you learned in school concerning patient care and how to use the equipment properly, such as sterilizers and diagnostic equipment. You will need to answer questions about subjects such as what a surgical technologist does in the operating room. Such clinical tasks include recording the operation and keeping track of surgical equipment.
You will also be expected to know how to transfer patients from the operating room and be able to discern if the patient is in any distress. Becoming a surgical technologist can lead to lifelong employment in the medical field, where workers are almost always in high demand.
Training to Be a Surgical Tech
In looking at careers that have longevity, the surgical technologist is not being replaced by automation any time soon. A surgical technologist is responsible for maintaining a sterile surgical field as well as setting up sterile and non sterile equipment. They also assist the surgeon and the registered nurse.
Depending on your local area, training can last from 9 to 24 months. Surgical technologist training can be achieved in community colleges, junior colleges, hospitals, vocational schools, universities, and the army.
Students will participate in six main classes that are imperative to being a skilled surgical technologist. The surgical technologist in training is also responsible for undergoing supervised clinical experience.
Taking Science & Math Classes in High School is Advantageous
Prior to seeking education in the field, many programs require some background skills such as high school diploma where math and science were key subjects, motor skills, physical strength, and cognitive skills. The surgical technologist in training must be able to stand for long periods of time while remaining attentive, push or pull objects up to 100 pounds, sequence events, communicate effectively, and have good hearing.
They must also have the ability to distinguish colors, sizes, and instruments. If these skills are lacking, it may be a good idea to take classes to improve them.
Medical terminology is a must to understanding all of the terms in the surgical and medical field. The student will learn to analyze, break down, and reconstruct the words to understand the true definition, without having to run to a medical dictionary.
Anatomy and physiology classes study the general concepts of anatomy. To make the surgical technologist in training more valuable, specialized anatomy subjects are beneficial. In other words, if the surgical technologist in training wants to work primarily in cardiac surgeries, they will want to take a cardiac anatomy class at some point either during or after the studied program.
Microbiology is an important class to understand what infectious disease can do as the surgical technologist in training is key to maintaining a sterile environment within the operating room. If your learning organization does not specify microbiology, do not worry. Often, depending on your learning facility, this class is substituted by a class like professional practices where similar concepts are taught.
Surgical Tech Students Learn About Medications & Pharmacology
While studying pharmacology, students will learn to classify medications into their specific drug categories. They will be able to identify common medications used in the surgical field as well as learn how to prepare and administer them.
Surgical technology fundamentals help students to identify and train for roles in both non sterile and sterile environments. They will also learn to prevent surgical hazards and portray effective safety skills. As the class advances, proper procedure for handling instruments like sponges, suture, drains, catheters, dressings, and other supplies are perfected. These are prerequisites to the clinical experience.
Clinical experience introduces the surgical technician in training to new and innovative practices in the surgical field. This allows a more clear and precise hands on approach. During clinicals, the student will always be supervised.
Background Checks & Immunizations For Surgical Tech Students
Surgical tech students should be expected to keep health immunization records current. Also many schools and facilities require a criminal background check and drug testing during clinical rotation.
Other classes such as ethics, assist the student in understanding ethical perspectives and how to compare relative issues. Psychology classes, provide an in depth sense of awareness of both themselves and others, to promote healthy work, family, and society skills. Classes like these help the surgical tech in training to better utilize critical thinking skills.
Students will also be required to learn how to move patients properly. They will also learn to communicate with medical personnel and patients in a professional manner. Many facilities now offer computer classes as well, as part of the training. With new technology, a basic skill in computers is very helpful.
Surgical Technician Instruments and Procedures
A surgical instrument is a tool or device for performing a particular function during surgery. There are a great number of instruments the surgical technologist must know by name, shape, and use. Nomenclature is generally based on function, but many instruments have alternate names such as “Bailey’s forceps” or “Beck’s clamp.”
The instruments to be used in a procedure are placed on the instrument tray by a surgical technologist (after inspection and sterilization) who must have a thorough knowledge of the procedure involved. The instruments used most commonly can be categorized into a few functional groups.
Cutting Instruments:
Medical scissors are extremely sharp in order to cut quickly, easily, and–most importantly–cleanly. One of the surgical technologist duties is to make sure they are not chipped or dulled in any way. They may be straight or curved and handles vary. Knife shapes depend on their use. Categorized as knives are: the catling, a knife, double-edged, used for amputations; the knife, a single-edge pointed blade knife; the lance, a surgical instrument with a double-edged small, pointed blade used for small incisions and punctures; and the scalpel, a straight, thin surgical knife used for larger incisions and in dissection. Usually scalpels use disposable blades and the surgical technologist is responsible for their replacement and proper disposal.
The surgical tech must also have knowledge of the other dissecting instruments used to cut or separate tissue. Among these are blunt dissectors: the back of a knife handle or curettes and elevators (both similar to tiny measuring spoons). The trocar is used for excising small holes for insertion of chest drains, breathing tubes (tracheotomy), or other devices. Again, the surgical technologist must know these instruments by their specialized shapes and have the necessary choice(s) on the tray.
Clamping and Grasping Instruments:
Clamps pivot like scissors but have interlocking handles to hold them closed. The structure of their tips determines their function and must be instantly recognizable to the surgical technologist who must choose the applicable tip when requested. One clamp, usually called a hemostat, is a vital tool used to control bleeding. Some simple, locking clamps are attached to a tissue to serve as a temporary handle. Forceps (think tweezers) are small non-locking, grasping, and holding instruments.
Retracting and Dilating Instruments:
A speculum (dilator) is best described as a clamp which is closed by compressing a spring loaded handle for insertion and opened to dilate (widen) an opening when the handle is released. A speculum allows entry into a body cavity for visual inspection. As always, the surgical technologist must know and immediately provide the speculum for the procedure/opening involved.
A retractor is used to separate the edges (sort of tweezers in reverse) of a surgical incision or wound. Some retractors are used to hold back organs and tissues to allow access to areas below. Retractors assist widening the operative field without trauma to other tissues. The surgical technologist often holds these in place for the surgeon. The term is also informally used for rib spreaders (also known as distractors). Retractors also encompass instruments designed to separate joint surfaces without rupturing ligaments or tendons.
Stapling and Suturing Instruments:
Stapling with a medical stapler is much faster than suturing by hand. Many surgeons also consider stapling more accurate and consistent. A disadvantage is that staples tend to leave very noticeable scars when used to join skin while a skilled plastic surgeon’s sutures will, particularly with young patients, often disappear with time. In bowel and lung surgery this is not a factor and staples are preferred. The responsibility of the surgical technologist is to have either the stapler with staples or the surgical needle at hand.
Surgical Technician Duties
There are many important factors that take place during surgery, one is the role of the surgeon who performs the surgery and the other is the role of the surgical tech who assists the surgeon. Although the surgeon has more difficult tasks during the operation, the surgical technician also plays an important role as well. These two professionals work together in the overall completion of various surgical procedures.
There are two separate types of surgical technicians. One is the scrub surgical technician and the other is circulating surgical technician. Although these two professions sound similar they each have specific tasks they are responsible for during the surgical process.
The scrub surgical technician duties include handling the instruments, supplies and equipment throughout the surgery. They are well informed about the surgical procedure being performed and offer the surgeon assistance during the surgery. This person also provides the patient with quality care and is always making sure that the operating room is a sterile environment.
Some of the scrub surgical technician duties also include checking the supplies and the equipment that will be used for various types of operations. This can include making sure that there are scrubs, gowns and gloves available before surgery. They also set up the tools and medications needed to perform the surgery.
Scrub Technicians Often Work Directly With Patients
During the surgery the scrub surgical technician duties also include working with the patient. These duties include, appropriate counts with a circulator prior to the surgery and before the closing of the incision. They assist with keeping the operating room sterile and pass instruments to the surgeon during the operation. They prepare sterile dressings as well as sanitize instruments for terminal sterilization. They also help out other members of the team by proper cleaning of the operating room. They also make sure the room is in working condition for the next patient.
Duties of the Circulating Surgical Technician
The circulating surgical technician duties include obtaining additional surgical instruments and necessities needed during the surgery while it is in progress. They monitor the progress of the patient as well as the procedure of the surgery to make sure that the operation runs smoothly.
The circulating surgical technician duties include many other duties as well such as, verifies patient’s chart with the person being operated on. They also make sure that the patient has signed the consent forms to be able to proceed with surgery and takes the patient into the operating room. They place the patient onto the operating table and make sure that the patient is comfortable and gives them reassurance.
The circulating surgical tech assists the anesthesia technician with the administering of the medication. They help apply any electrosurgical pads when needed and prepares the skin of the patient before draping by the surgical team. They help make sure that the dressings are secure after the closure of the incision and help transport the patient to the recovery room.
As we have seen there are two types of technicians that have various types of surgical technician duties. Some of them have many of the same duties in common, but they also have differences as well. One common fact they have in common is that they both play a pivotal role in the completion of a successful surgery.
Surgical Tech Salary and Working Environment
A surgical technician works in a sterile, cool, often times very well-lit environment (i.e. operating rooms); standing for long periods of time and expected to be totally alert no matter how long a surgical procedure might be. Often times procedures can run longer than four hours, sometimes as long as 12 to 18 hours.
Exposure to diseases that can be communicable, foul odors, toxic materials, etc. are also part of the surgical technician’s job. A work week generally runs 40 or more hours with nights and weekends rotated. A surgical technician must be willing to be part of an on call schedule and is often times asked to work overtime hours.
A surgical technician must be emotionally stable as disease and death are part of the job. Patients needing surgery include all ages and a surgical technician, due to the nature of the job, can become somewhat emotionally attached and must be able to turn his or her emotions off in order to effectively perform the responsibilities of any assigned tasks.
Pay for Surgical Technicians Continues to Rise!
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average salaries for certified surgical technicians run approximately $44,330 in outpatient surgical centers, $42,080 in physician’s offices and $41,210 in dental offices. Salaries often depend on the area a technician lives in as well as the amount of education, degrees and certifications received. With the population of the United States getting older, the surgical tech salary will continue to rise.
Most surgical technician positions are salaried and include sick leave, paid vacations, vision, dental and health insurance and may include life insurance and retirement plans. Some employers will reimburse for tuition and child care expenses. Houston is considered by many to have some of the most cutting edge surgical suites in the country. As a result, the average surgical tech salary in Texas is now approximately $41,249. Houston also has some of the top employers for surgical techs.
Getting Your Surgical Technologist Degree
The Associate of Science degree in Surgical Technology will train a student in all the skills required to assist before and during an operation. These skills include caring for the patient and maintaining equipment to helping the doctors during the actual procedure. This degree program lasts about two years and is offered at many community colleges, technical schools, and other institutions throughout the nation.
Required Courses for Surgical Technologists:
In order to be prepared for the fast paced environment of the operating room, a surgical technology degree will require that the student take classes such as these.
- Microbiology
- Pathophysiology
- Human anatomy and Physiology
- Medical Terminology
- Medical Ethics
- General Biology
- Introduction to Pharmacology
- Health care concepts
- Fundamentals of Surgery
- Surgical Practice and Techniques
- Surgical Specialties
- Surgical Externship
The student will also be required to take and meet requirements of Basic English skills as well as Algebra and Concepts of Algebra. As with all degrees the required core classes will be required also. This list would include history, humanities, physical fitness, as well as other per major requirements.
Skills Attained:
While participating in the curriculum for surgical technology, students will gain the knowledge required to assist in surgical procedures under close supervision of registered nurses and surgeons. They also work closely with the rest of the surgical team. The specific skills learned include the following:
- Knowledge of medical instruments and terminology
- Equipment assembly
- Understanding of medical ethics
- Homeostasis techniques
Getting a degree in Surgical Technology can start you on your way to an exciting, meaningful, satisfying career as a trained surgical technologist, or “scrub”, working in a hospital or clinic. With experience, you could be promoted to first assistant and help in more complex operations and other sectors.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that employment of surgical Technologists is anticipated to continue to grow at a faster rate than the economy as a whole through 2016.
The graduating student can expect to have rapid entry into a working environment. The rewards, in regards to salary and job availability, will be far worth the trying curriculum of this degree.
Any student who is going into this program to become a surgical technologist should be aware of the study effort and the hours that will be involved with this program. This program requires that the student is prolific in critical thinking capabilities, math skills, and problem solving abilities.
The Surgical Tech Curriculum Requires Plenty of Study Time
In a curriculum such as surgical technologist the student should be prepared to put in 1.5 study hours per 1 classroom hour that the student attends. This will mean that for every 6 classroom hours that the student spends in class, they should be prepared to spend approx 9 hours of at home type studies. These figures are taking into consideration time to study for exams, time taken each day to read text for next day’s lecture, time for written type homework assigned in class, and total time spent on research and completion on term or report type papers that will be assigned in class.
When taking this curriculum at a Community College, the student will have the opportunity to test in order to find the entry level required for their individual needs. All students will also have the availability of Tutoring help as well as the Reading Across the Curriculum program. The RAC program will help students with challenges in certain classes. The teacher of the class works very closely with the RAC in order for them to help the student understand the nature of testing and expectations of that specific teacher.
This can be quite a demanding curriculum, however, the rewards in job availability and salary as well as career opportunities are well worth the effort. One last word of caution: be VERY careful of ads offering surgical tech schools online. If the program isn’t properly accredited, you won’t be able to sit for the licensing board.