Surgical Technology

Next Morning Class: 04/13/2018, 01/04/2019
Next Evening Class: 08/10/2018

Certificate Program / 72 Quarter Credit Hours
Day: 50 weeks / Evening: 50 weeks / 1200 Clock Hours
(including 500 hours of Clinical Externship)

The Surgical Technology Program is currently accredited through the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES). Students are trained to become multi-faceted members of the surgical team to work closely with surgeons, anesthesiologists, registered nurses and other surgical personnel delivering patient care and assuming appropriate responsibilities before, during, and after surgical procedures. The program includes well balanced on-campus time for lectures and demonstrations and on-campus (work-simulated) operating room laboratory for mock practice surgical procedures, proper scrub area and storage area. The off-campus Clinical Externship module of the curriculum is structured to include supervised hands-on training (requiring competencies logs and evaluations) at clinical externship sites such us hospitals, outpatient surgical centers, and endoscopy/colonoscopy clinics.

Objectives of the program:

• Teaching courses in terminology, anatomy, physiology, math, law, ethics, patient needs, patient care concepts, pharmacology, microbiology and surgical procedures.
• Providing clinical activities within on-campus work-simulated training laboratories that includes knowledge of surgical instruments and equipments, operating room design and set up for surgical procedures, surgical scrubbing, gowning and gloving, setting up the sterile field, following aseptic techniques, assisting other team members in the field, passing and retrieving instrument during surgery, counting surgical items for patient safety, end of the procedures room clean up and proper technique of handling of sharps and biohazard materials.
• Providing students with off campus clinical externship experience that includes a supervised hands-on training (requiring competencies logs and evaluations) at the clinical site (hospitals and surgical centers).

At the completion of the program the diligent student will be:

• Proficient in performing entry-level surgical technician’s tasks and responsibilities.
• Awarded a Certificate of Completion of an accredited Surgical Technology program.
• Establish eligibility to test for the Certified Surgical Technologist (CST) credentialing exam administered by the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (NBSTSA).
• Able to seek entry-level employment in facilities such as hospital’s operating rooms, labor and delivery, endoscopy/colonoscopy clinics, outpatient surgical centers.

Additional Admission Requirements:

Candidates enrolling in the Surgical Technology program that do not possess a college degree must have college credits obtained in the last five years. All other candidates must be graduates of an accredited health care program, be currently credentialed and/or working in the healthcare. All candidates must pass an admissions assessment exam. All candidates will also be required to have cleared background check, negative drug screening results and completed health clearance and immunizations.

Laboratory and Clinical Requirements:

Prior to entering (on-campus and/or off-campus) laboratory skills area, students are required to provide a complete Physical Examination including but not limited to current immunizations including Hepatitis B and 2 part PPD vaccinations, (necessary forms will be provided). Students are also required to wear white sneakers, nurse’s shoes or (closed toe) professional shoes / white socks or stockings. The above laboratory and clinical necessities are the responsibility of the student and may vary according to different site’s requirements. Medical Career Institute carries no responsibility for these requirements and/or charges. Prior to assignment to a designated clinical externship site students will be required to have cleared Background Check, Negative Drugs Screenings Test, valid Healthcare Provider CPR & AED Certification and Student’s Comprehensive General Liability Insurance Policy which protects the student in the event of a liability lawsuit. Upon successful completion of clinical externship, student will be given competencies evaluation based on procedures performed as deemed relevant to the Surgical Technology Program and offered by the site. Additionally, all students will be evaluated on their professionalism including appearance, punctuality, ability to assume responsibility and dependability, ability to communicate with staff and patients as well as following instructions and accepting constructive criticism.

Credentialing Exams:

Upon satisfactory completion of the Surgical Technology Program, the graduates are eligible for and are encouraged to sit for the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (NBSTSA) www.nbstsa.org credentialing exam. This credential is a nationally recognized voluntary certification that could enhance employment opportunities or income potentials. However, registration or credentialing requirements for taking and passing examinations are not controlled by Medical Career Institute but by the agencies and are subjects to change by the agency without notice to Medical Career Institute. Therefore, Medical Career Institute cannot guarantee that graduates will be eligible to sit for certification examination, regardless of their eligibility status upon enrollment. Medical Career Institute carries no responsibility for these requirements, and eligibilities.

Employment:

Many Surgical Technicians are employed in hospital’s operating rooms, labor and delivery rooms, ambulatory care centers and Central Sterile Processing Departments. Some are employed directly by surgeons in the private scrub role, while others with additional training work as Surgical First Assistants. They are also utilized in clinics, plastic and general surgery centers, and animal surgery centers, in offices of ophthalmologists, physicians, and dentists. Their broad educational background, plus specialized focus, allows surgical technicians to function well in a number of diverse areas of their field. Employment possibilities in addition to operating room technicians include surgery schedulers, materials management, central service managers, organ/tissues procurement and preservation, cardiac characterization laboratories, product development, research, and marketing and sales. A number of Operating Room technicians are instructors and preceptors in the Operating Room/surgical technology fields. For expected salary please refer to web site: www.salary.com.

Working Conditions

Surgical Technologists work in clean, well lit and cool, controlled and relatively quiet environments. They may be required to stand for long periods of time, and it is vital their attention be focused on the tasks at hand. They may at times be exposed to communicable diseases, unpleasant odors, sights and bio-hazard materials and may have to lift, push or turn disabled patients as well as equipment. Most operating room technicians work a regular 40-hour week, although they may be “on call”, work nights, weekends and holidays on a rotating basis depending on their facility.