Surgical Techs Are Involved in Most Aspects of Surgery
A surgical technician is a medical professional who assists in the preparation and running of a surgical theater. Their job is one that carries great responsibility as the safety, hygiene and comfort of patients is directly under their authority. Being a surgical technician is more of a senior administration or nursing role.
They deal with patients and doctors, act as a supervisor for the operational level of the surgical theater and are also in charge of some back end office duties. The job is rewarding and allows a rare level of medical responsibility and patient interaction. Most roles in the medical professions sacrifice patient interaction for authority. For example, general nursing involves a lot of patient care but the role is largely directional with little responsibility.
Contrastingly, doctors or consultants are not involved in the active care of patients but have responsibility for decision making for treatment. A surgical technician has a good balance between these two contrasts of responsibility and patient interaction/care. Students interested in how to become a surgical tech will find it to be an intersting career!
Hopefully, this information will cover the nature of the job at hand, education and qualifications needed and the average salary rate.
Surgical Techs Help Prepare the Surgical Arena
A large part of the duties involved are preparation of the surgical theater before an operation is due to take place. The technician will be responsible for making sure the correct equipment is ready to be used and the environment is sterile. Alongside the preparation of equipment and testing of equipment there is a responsibility to prepare the patient for surgery. Preparation usually involves any washing, shaving and sterilizing of the patient and any incision areas that will be operated on.
There is also a responsibility for the surgical technician to be involved in the surgery itself. They provide support and assistance to surgeons and surgical assistants. This may involve supplying needles, sponges, counting supplies and taking specimens to testing labs from the theater. The job involves a high degree of concentration and individuals may be required to work for long hours without breaks. The nature of certain surgeries demands constant patient attention, and in the medical profession the patient’s safety always comes first.
Surgical Technology Programs are Rigorous
The level of education needed and the specific qualification seems to vary greatly in different areas. However, as a general rule of thumb a surgical technician will need some form of indirect medical training. This could be from a community college or what’s known as a learning hospital. Accredited surgical tech programs in California last between 9 to 24 calendar months in duration. Individuals can gain different levels of education in the field. For example there is a general diploma and a higher level qualification known as a certified technologist.
Most employers prefer to hire certified technologists as this allows for a wider range of duties to be carried out. Another reason employers prefer to hire techs who are already trained is to avoid paying for training and accreditation. Unless a surgical tech is properly licensed, she/he probably won’t find much success when looking for employment.
Surgical Tech Salary Continues to Rise as the Population Ages
Depending on the specialization that one chooses, surgical techs can expect to earn an average of $45,160 per year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. This is largely dependent on whether the surgical technician works in a general hospital or a specialist unit. The surgical tech salary is very fair for the responsibility and level of care that one is able to give under the job requirements.