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Surgical Technology

Welcome

Surgical Technologists prepare the operating room by selecting and opening sterile supplies. Preoperative duties also include the inspection of nonsterile equipment to ensure that it is in correct working order. The Surgical Technologist most often functions as the member of the sterile team who passes instruments, sutures, and sponges during surgery. After “scrubbing,” they don sterile gown and gloves and prepare the sterile setup for the appropriate procedure. After other members of the sterile team have scrubbed, they assist them with gowning and gloving and with the application of sterile drapes that isolate the operative site.

Additional duties include proper patient positioning on the operating table, assist in connecting and applying surgical equipment and/or monitoring devices, and to prepare the incision site. Surgical technologists have primary responsibility for maintaining the sterile field, being constantly vigilant that all members of the team adhere to aseptic technique.

In order that surgery may proceed smoothly, surgical technologists anticipate the needs of surgeons, passing instruments and providing sterile items in an efficient manner. They share with the circulator the responsibility of accounting for sponges, needles, and instruments before, during, and after surgery. Surgical technologists may hold retractors or instruments, sponge or suction the operative site, or cut suture materials. They connect drains and tubing and receive and prepare specimens for subsequent pathologic analysis. They are responsible for preparing and applying sterile dressings following the procedure and may assist in the application of nonsterile dressings, including plaster or synthetic casting materials. After surgery, they prepare the operating room for the next patient.

Surgical technologists are most often members of the sterile team but may function in the nonsterile role of circulator. The circulator is not gowned and gloved during the surgical procedure but is available to respond to the needs of the anesthesia provider, keep a written account of the surgical procedure, and participate jointly with the scrubbed person in counting sponges, needles, and instruments before, during, and after surgery. In operating rooms where local anesthetics are administered, they meet the needs of the conscious patient.

Certified surgical technologists with additional specialized education or training also may act in the role of the surgical first assistant. The surgical first assistant provides aid in exposure, hemostasis, and other technical functions under the surgeon’s direction that will help the surgeon carry out a safe operation with optimal results for the patient.

* Adapted from the Health Professions Career and Education Directory.

The Surgical Technology Program was initiated to meet the need for allied health professionals prepared to function as a valuable and integral part of the surgical team.

The Surgical Technology Program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP), and the Accreditation Review Committee for Surgical Technology (ARC-ST).

Students are required to complete 104.0 credit hours and are granted an Associate of Applied Science Degree.

The Surgical Technologist is a highly skilled professional trained and educated to perform as a safe, competent practitioner in the preoperative environment. Students are educated in the principles of aseptic technique, surgical procedures, instruments, supplies, and equipment, clinical skills, and the ethical, moral, and legal responsibilities that apply to health care professionals.

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Overview

The Surgical Technology Program prepares the student to be a valuable and integral part of the surgical team by preparing them to perform a wide variety of operating room skills. The Program is a seven quarter program (21 months) and the students earn an Associate Degree of Applied Science in Surgical Technology. The first two quarters of the program are dedicated to completing the General Education requirements before advancing into the third quarter. Quarters three through seven consist of the Surgical Technology courses.  New program students enter every third quarter. Contact the college Admissions department for entry dates.

The program is available at the Lincoln Campus and is also offered via web-based delivery for students outside the Lincoln area. Online students can work in conjunction with the local community college in their area to complete the General Education courses and program requirements.

PROGRAM ACCREDITATION

The Surgical Technology Program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP), www.caahep.org, and the Accreditation Review Committee for Surgical Technology (ARC-ST), 6 West Dry Creek Circle, Suite 210, Littleton, CO 80120-8031. The Program continues to maintain the highest standards of continuous accreditation and has done so for well over thirty years.

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Mission

Surgical Technology Program Mission Statement:
The sole objective or mission of the Surgical technology is to prepare individuals that graduate from this Program to be highly skilled and function as a valuable and integral part of the surgical team as a competent Surgical Technologist.

Program Goals:
To provide the information necessary for the student to demonstrate the ability to comprehend, apply, and evaluate this information relative to their role as a successful Surgical Technologist, both in the traditional classroom and through distance education.

1. To provide the environment necessary for the student to practice and demonstrate technical proficiency in all skills required fulfilling their role as a successful Surgical Technologist.
2. To promote personal behaviors from the students that is consistent with professional and employer expectations pertinent to the field of Surgical Technology.
3. To provide the opportunity to develop skills which include critical thinking, problem solving, creativity and practical reasoning.
4. To provide a hands-on laboratory environment equipped with annually purchased instruments and equipment to stay current with developing technologies.
5. To create an environment that is conducive to professional integrity by providing students the opportunity to sit for the National Certification Exam prior to graduation.

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Requirements

Self-Advising Sheet  (pdf 107k)
Course Information Sheet  (pdf 174k)

HOW TO ENROLL IN THIS PROGRAM OF STUDY:

1. Complete an application for admission.
2. Submit official high school transcripts, GED scores, and/or other college transcripts to the Admissions Department.
3. Applicants required to complete basic skills testing, like a COMPASS or ASSET or ACT, will be notified by mail. Developmental course work may be required based on the basic skills testing results. Students will complete developmental course work before advancing to general study courses.
4. Complete the Health Statement Form which shows immunizations and laboratory results. If you do not have any records of immunizations, contact your physician for blood draw to test for immunity. It is the program’s desire that the students be vaccinated against Hepatitis B before starting the clinical experience. If you have just started the series of injections, have the person who administered the injection(s) sign the Health Statement and submit with the other admission required forms. Once the series of injections are completed, bring a signed note of the injection dates to the Program Chair. The series of injections must be completed before the student can enter the clinical areas.

SPECIAL PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS

1. Physical stamina to tolerate standing and /or sitting for long periods of time.
2. Sufficient eyesight to read small print and work with small instruments, supplies, and equipment.
3. Adequate hearing of sounds such as blood pressure and verbal communication with surgical team wearing surgical masks.
4. May be necessary to lift 30 lbs. of weight, i.e., children, supporting arms or legs of the surgical patient.
5. Demonstrate good motor coordination, manual and finger dexterity in handling instruments, supplies, and equipment.
6. Appearance should be neat, clean, and practice good hygiene.
7. Maintain self-control and work under stress, using patience and tact with other students, instructors, patients, surgeons, and other members of the surgical team.
8. Ability to work closely with people under pressure in a high stress environment.
9. Ability to organize and plan work in a logical sequence and work at a fast pace.
10. Ability to communicate in the English language using appropriate grammar and legible penmanship. No profanity or slang should be used.
11. Ability to work with unpleasant odors, sights, and sounds.
12. Ability to use soaps, iodine, and disinfectant solutions.
13. Ability to use latex products and synthetic materials.
    

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Clinical Education

The Surgical Technology Program provides a planned course of classroom study and clinical experience. The clinical experiences are arranged to take place at health care facilities throughout Lincoln. These include BryanLGH East Medical Center and BryanLGH West Medical Center, Saint Elizabeth Regional Medical Center, Nebraska Heart Hospital and Lincoln Surgery Hospital.

Students rotate to different facilities each quarter to provide a broad range of experiences in a variety of surgical procedures.