What is the Job of a Surgical Technologist and What Education Do You Need?

Many career seekers are drawn to the health care professions, but find as they research career possibilities that the roles of physician or nurse aren't for them. One important health care job that you might consider is that of surgical technologist, who plays a vital role as part of an operating room team.

It's a great fit for someone who prefers to be where the action is in health care. Who wants to make a direct contribution to the health and recovery of patients by assisting surgeons in the operating room.

What Surgical techs Do

Surgical technologists are also known as surgical techs, scrub techs or operating room techs. They work with nurses, surgeons, and other technologists and technicians to ensure the operation proceeds without complications.

Some of the tasks that surgical techs typically perform are these:

• Inventorying instruments
• Draping the patient
• Preparing an incision site
• Handing instruments to nurses and surgeons
• Cutting sutures
• Counting sponges or instruments
• Holding retractors
• Taking specimens for the lab

Another crucial task they perform is to set up sterile surgical instruments, supplies, and equipment, such as suction tubing, gowns, gloves, and drapes, as well as receiving solutions and medications. The surgical tech is usually responsible for assembling the sterile equipment, ensuring that it works properly, and adjusting it if necessary.

The surgical tech may also help transfer the patient to another area, so they can clean up and prepare the operating room for another patient.

One critical task the surgical tech may be responsible for is ensuring there is no break in the sterile procedures prior to and during the operation.

Working Conditions for a Surgical Tech

Surgical techs can expect to spend most of their working lives in clean, well-lighted, and perhaps very cool indoor environments, where air conditioning is kept on high to prevent mold and the growth of bacteria. However, in the operating room, it can become warm as the operating team stands under surgical lights for long periods while wearing surgical gowns and gloves. Further, a surgical tech will need the stamina to stand for long periods with the other members of the surgical team, remaining alert so services can be provided as needed.

At times, the surgical tech will likely be exposed to patients with wounds, trauma, diseases, and burns. If you are not a person who car bear the sight of traumatic injuries and unpleasant conditions, this is probably not the right career choice for you.

Further, you may have to plan your life around emergency calls with other members of a surgical team. If you're on call, you may have to stop what you're doing, no matter what time of night or day it is, and help your team treat someone who needs emergency surgery.

You might also have to assist with an operation for complications with a pregnancy, or any kind of emergency. If you have children, you will need a plan for whom you can leave them with when you are called suddenly to work.

While the most common setting for a surgical tech is a hospital operating room, you might also work in a surgical outpatient center or even a dental office.

Becoming a Surgical Tech

You will need formal training to be a surgical technologist. The best path is to enroll in a surgical tech program from a college or university. A program typically ranges from nine months for a certificate, to 24 months for an associate's degree. Some programs may provide you the opportunity to earn your degree in less time by taking courses at an accelerated pace.

To be allowed entrance in one of these programs, you will need a high school diploma or GED.

Once you're enrolled in a surgical tech program, you will follow a medical training program that includes classroom learning and hands-on clinical training. Typical subjects will be physiology, anatomy, pharmacology, microbiology and medical terminology. You will also be trained in surgical procedures and patient care.

Once you successfully complete your coursework, you will likely need to obtain certification, as most employers will require it. The National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting certify surgical technologists. You can achieve more than one certification throughout your career.

Throughout your career, you may also be expected to participate in continuing education courses so that you can stay up to date with developments in your field. You may also have opportunities to advance by specializing in more demanding and challenging medical specialties such as neurosurgery or cardiac surgery.

Are you interested in becoming a surgical technologist? If you want to earn an Associate of Applied Science in Surgical Technology, ECPI University offers this program at an accelerated pace. For more information regarding this exciting opportunity, connect with a knowledgeable admissions advisor 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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