• Practical Nurse
• Medical Assistant
• Medical Insurance and Coding Administration
• Multi-Level Patient Care Technician
• Surgical Processing Technician
• Surgical Technologist

Surgical Technologist

Focus on Your Success as a Surgical Technologist

Our Surgical Technologist program will prepare you with the knowledge and skills needed to assist in surgical operations under the supervision of surgeons, registered nurses, or other surgical personnel. 

Become an Important Part of a Surgical Team

A dedicated member of the operating room team, which commonly includes surgeons, anaesthesiologists, and circulating nurses, the Surgical Technologist may perform such tasks as:

• Preparing the operating room for surgery
• Hand instruments and supplies to surgeon during operation.
• Maintain a proper sterile field during surgical procedures
• Monitor and continually assess operating room conditions 

The program emphasizes:

• Clinical practicum 
• Surgical instrumentation 
• Surgical techniques and procedures 
• Pharmacology and anaesthesiology

Clinical Experience

Exercises and demonstrations in the on-campus surgical technologist lab will prepare you for your clinical experience in the real world.  In addition, you will gain exposure to hands-on surgical technology job experience through the completion of two terms of Clinical Practicum. During your Clinical Practicum you will be assigned to a healthcare facility where you will perform the tasks of a surgical technologist under the supervision of both clinical instructors and on-site clinical personnel. In order to be eligible to complete the Surgical Technology program, and to ensure that you experience a wide variety of clinical experiences, you will be required to complete a specified number and type of surgical cases during your Clinical Practicum. These case requirements are determined based on guidelines established by the Association of Surgical Technologists in the Core Curriculum for Surgical Technology, 5th edition.

A summary of the guidelines is as follows:

• 125 cases in the “first scrub solo” or “first scrub with assist” roles
• At least 35 “first scrub solos” and of these:
  • 10 should be Level I Core
  • 10 should be Level II Core
  • 10 should be Level I Specialty
  • 5 should be Level II Specialty

Note: The identification of Core and Specialty Surgical Interventions is defined by the Association of Surgical Technologists in the Core Curriculum for Surgical Technology, 5th edition and can be found on the Accreditation Review Council on Education in Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting website (http://arcst.org/core_curriculum.htm).

Certified Surgical Technologist Eligibility

Dover Business College's Surgical Technologist program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP). Only students who complete a CAAHEP-accredited Surgical Technologist program are eligible to sit for the CST exam. The Certified Surgical Technologist designation (CST) is a national credential indicating that the Surgical Technologist meets certain standards of competence.  To qualify for graduation, students must participate in the CST National Certification Exam administered by the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting  (NBSTSA).

"Job opportunities will be best for technologist who are certified and for those who are willing to relocate." *

Many employers prefer to hire Surgical Technologists with the CST credential. As a CST, nationally-certified by the NBSTSA, you will have the potential for greater income, enhanced job advancement opportunities, and the flexibility to work anywhere within the United States.

* Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Handbook 2010-2011

Work in a Variety of Settings

Surgical Technologists can work in a variety of healthcare environments, including:

• Hospitals
• Physicians’ offices
• Outpatient care centers
• Ambulatory surgical centers, and others

A Faculty Dedicated to Your Success

Our faculty members have excellent educational and professional credentials. They will help you explore theory and practice in real-world situations and provide hands-on guidance as you work with the surgical equipment, mannequins and in the clinical settings.

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Additional Information About the Surgical Technologists Career Field

The US Department of Labor provides various resources for those looking to begin a new career. Each job has various tasks, tools, knowledge, etc. associated with it.

Tasks

-Maintain a proper sterile field during surgical procedures.

-Count sponges, needles, and instruments before and after operation.

-Hand instruments and supplies to surgeons and surgeons' assistants, hold retractors and cut sutures, and  perform other tasks as directed by surgeon during operation.

-Prepare patients for surgery, including positioning patients on the operating table and covering them with sterile surgical drapes to prevent exposure.

-Scrub arms and hands and assist the surgical team to scrub and put on gloves, masks, and surgical clothing.

-Wash and sterilize equipment using germicides and sterilizers.

-Monitor and continually assess operating room conditions, including patient and surgical team needs.

-Prepare dressings or bandages and apply or assist with their application following surgery.

-Clean and restock operating room, gathering and placing equipment and supplies and arranging instruments according to instructions, such as a preference card.

-Operate, assemble, adjust, or monitor sterilizers, lights, suction machines, and diagnostic equipment to ensure proper operation.

Source: US Department of Labor, O*NET Online  TOP

Tools

-Electrosurgical or electrocautery equipment or accessories or related products — Argon beam coagulators; Electrocautery equipment; Spark-gap electrosurgical units; Thermal cautery units

-Staplers for internal use — Hemorrhoidal circular staplers; Intestinal stapling devices; Intraluminal staplers; Surgical stapling equipment

-Surgical lasers or accessories — Carbon dioxide CO2 lasers; Eye lasers; Neodymium-doped Yttrium Aluminum Garnet Nd:YAG lasers; Surgical lasers

-Surgical pneumatic or battery or electric saws or drills or pin drivers or accessories — Craniotome drills; Neurotome drills; Orthopedic drills; Surgical pneumatic drills

-Surgical suction machines or vacuum extractors or ultrasonic surgical aspirators or regulators or accessories — Portable suction units; Slow suction units; Suction machines; Surgical aspirators

Source: US Department of Labor, O*NET Online  TOP

Technology

-Data base user interface and query software — Database software

-Graphics or photo imaging software — Graphics software

-Internet browser software

-Medical software — Electronic medical record EMR software; Nursing documentation software; Supply documentation software; Surgery workflow communication software

-Word processing software

Source: US Department of Labor, O*NET Online  TOP

Knowledge

-Medicine and Dentistry — Knowledge of the information and techniques needed to diagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities. This includes symptoms, treatment alternatives, drug properties and interactions, and preventive health-care measures.

-Customer and Personal Service — Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.

-English Language — Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.

-Education and Training — Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.

-Psychology — Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.

-Public Safety and Security — Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.

-Biology — Knowledge of plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, interdependencies, and interactions with each other and the environment.

Source: US Department of Labor, O*NET Online  TOP

Skills

-Monitoring — Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.

-Coordination — Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.

-Operation Monitoring — Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.

-Active Listening — Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

-Active Learning — Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.

-Speaking — Talking to others to convey information effectively.

-Critical Thinking — Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

-Operation and Control — Controlling operations of equipment or systems.

-Service Orientation — Actively looking for ways to help people.

-Social Perceptiveness — Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.

Source: US Department of Labor, O*NET Online  TOP

Work Activities

-Assisting and Caring for Others — Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.

-Getting Information — Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.

-Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Material — Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.

-Monitor Processes, Materials, or Surroundings — Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.

-Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge — Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.

-Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards — Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.

-Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events — Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.

-Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates — Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.

-Training and Teaching Others — Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others.

-Handling and Moving Objects — Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.

Source: US Department of Labor, O*NET Online  TOP

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Contact Us

You can chat, email, or request additional information. We would be happy to answer any questions you may have. Call us at 1-866-463-6837 or text WEB to 247365.  You can also apply online.

Surgical Technologist 2010-2011 Program Integrity Disclosures

 

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