Is Becoming a Surgical Tech a Good Career for Me?
Anyone who's looking for a career has to evaluate whether a career path is likely to provide long-term employment. No one wants to spend money and years training, only to find that the chosen career has gone into a slump and no one is hiring. That's why in addition to salary and current employment prospects, everyone wants to know what the picture looks like for the future.
The good news about the surgical technologist field is that the future look extremely bright. The Baby Boomers are likely to be around for some years to come, requiring more medical procedures, including surgery, for the span of their lives, while for now access to insurance for more people will continue and with it, the option of scheduling needed surgeries.
In fact the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that from 2016 to 2026, this field will experience an above-average growth of 12 percent.
What Is a Surgical Tech?
Surgical techs go by many names: operating room technician, surgical assistant, or scrub tech. But whatever they are called, they are an invaluable part of the operating room team.
Here are some of the duties of a typical surgical tech:
- Prepare the patient prior to surgery: This include cleansing and disinfecting incision areas. They position the patient, cover them with sterile drapes, and take them to and from the operating room.
- Prepare the operating room for surgery: Sterilizing equipment, ensuring there are adequate supplies before the surgeon begins the procedure, and making sure the equipment works properly. They help the operating team put on sterile gowns and gloves. They prepare sterile solutions and medications prior to surgery.
- Assist the surgeon during surgery: Hand the surgeon instruments, hold organs in place by using retractors, helps dress wounds.
- After surgery: Help patients back into recovery rooms. Restock operating room.
Work Environment
Most surgical techs work fulltime, and may be on call nights, weekends, and holidays. Additionally, they may have to work shifts longer than eight hours. Most work at hospitals, physicians' offices, outpatient care centers, and dentists' offices.
A surgical tech needs physical stamina and a certain level of strength to perform duties such as lifting or moving patients, and standing for long periods in an operating room. Surg techs must also be mentally prepared to see operations involving extreme trauma, wounds, burns, and other injuries. They may be exposed to unpleasant sights and odors.
Why You Might Want to Be a Surg Tech
Here are some positives to consider about the surgical technician occupation:
- As mentioned above, there are likely to be more surgeries due to the aging of the Baby Boomers. Also because new surgical procedures are being developed all the time and there will simply be more surgeries performed. That spells a rosy outlook for job growth.
- The time required to prepare for this career is less than many other health-related careers at two years or under for an associate degree.
- You could choose where you want to work. Surg techs are needed everywhere: in rural or urban settings, and anywhere, nationwide.
- Most surg techs do not report getting bored with their work. The demands of each surgery, even if it's the same type done every day, can change suddenly, so individuals who like to stay on the alert are needed.
- There's built-in job satisfaction in this field, so you could go home every day knowing you were able to help someone.
Becoming a Surg Tech
The best way to become a surg tech is to earn a formal degree. Your program should offer coursework in these basics:
- Names, uses of all surgical instruments
- Sterile barriers, aseptic techniques
- Anatomy and physiology as it applies to basic surgery
- Flow of surgical procedure
Some of the courses you'll need to complete include these:
- Surgical theory and procedures, beginning and advanced
- Surgical technology
- Practicum seminars in the above topics
You'll also likely need some credits in the arts and sciences to complete your degree, including anatomy and physiology, English composition, mathematics, and psychology, among others.
While associate's degrees typically require two years of study, by going year-round in an accelerated program, you could complete your degree in as little as a year and a half and be on your way.
Are you interested in becoming a surgical technologist? If you want to earn an Associate of Applied Science in Surgical Technology, consider ECPI University for the education you want. For more information about this accelerated course of study, connect with a helpful admissions counselor today.
It could be the Best Decision You Ever Make!
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Gainful Employment Information – Surgical Technology - Associate’s
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