Surgical technologists are allied health professionals who are an integral part of the surgical team. The surgical technologist's primary responsibilities are maintaining the sterile field, handing instruments, providing sterile items, anticipating the needs of the team, and assisting the surgeon. Employment of surgical technologists is projected to grow 15 percent from 2014 to 2024, much faster than the average for all occupations, Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2016-17 Edition. Their main role is to work in the operating room of a hospital, surgery center, specialty center, doctor's office, or labor and delivery. Other jobs may include surgery scheduler, materials manager, clinical preceptor, education coordinator, tissue/organ procurement technologist, private scrub for a surgeon, sterile processing manager, medical sales representative, traveling surgical technologist, clinical instructor, and program director.
SURT Admission Requirements- Take BIOS-1140 BIOS-2130 or BIOS-2250 BIOS-2260
- Take BIOS-2460
- Take MEDA-1101
- Take ENGL-1010 or ENGL-1110
- Take SOCI-1010 PSYC-1810 or PSYC-1250
- Take SPCH-1090 SPCH-1110 or SPCH-2810
- Take MATH-1040 or higher
- Take MEDA-1407
Program Admission
- Students are admitted every nine months.
- Twenty-two Lincoln students and 16 distance students are accepted.
- Students may apply to the program after they begin their last term of prerequisites.
Program Requirements & Student Responsibilities
- Ability to be responsible and dependable in regarding attendance.
- Physical stamina to tolerate standing and /or sitting for long
periods of time.
- Sufficient eyesight to read small print and work with small
instruments, supplies and equipment.
- Adequate hearing of sounds such as blood pressure and verbal
communication with surgical team wearing surgical masks.
- May be necessary to lift 30 pounds of weight, i.e., children,
supporting arms or legs of the surgical patient.
- Demonstrate good motor coordination and manual and finger
dexterity in handling instruments, supplies and equipment.
- Appearance should be neat and clean, and students should
practice good hygiene.
- Maintain self-control and work under stress, using patience and
tact with other students, instructors, patients, surgeons, and
other members of the surgical team.
- Ability to work closely with people under pressure in a
high-stress environment.
- Ability to organize and plan work in a logical sequence and
work at a fast pace.
- Ability to communicate in the English language using
appropriate grammar and legible penmanship. No profanity or slang
should be used.
- Ability to work with unpleasant odors, sights and sounds.
- Ability to use soaps, iodine and disinfectant solutions.
- Ability to use latex products and synthetic materials.
Special Program Prerequisites
- A current Basic Life Support (BLS) for the Health Care Provider (HCP) by American Heart Association or American Red Cross is required.
- A criminal background check will be
required of each student in this program. Based on the outcome of
the background check, a student may be prevented from taking
certain courses, accessing certain laboratory experiences, or
completing the program. A non-refundable fee of $45 will be
assessed for this CBC.
- Five Panel Drug Test will be required the quarter prior to starting clinical. This test is completed at preapproved sites and will be a $35 cost to the student.
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 for the Lincoln students. These include BryanLGH East Medical Center and BryanLGH West Medical Center, Saint Elizabeth Regional Medical Center, Nebraska Heart Institute and Hospital and Lincoln Surgical Hospital. Students rotate to different facilities each quarter to provide a broad range of experiences in a variety of surgical procedures. The Online students will complete their clinical experience at a Nebraska hospital that is large enough to provide the case requirement near them. Online clinical sites will be evaluated by the program prior to student acceptance.
How Do I Begin?
- Apply to the college:
SCC - 8800 "O" Street, Lincoln, NE - Admissions office E-1
Online at www.southeast.edu.
- Have ALL official transcripts sent to SCC Admissions Office, including High school or GED certificate.
- Apply for Financial Aid if needed.
- Open the following links and complete documents (do not leave off any dates or signatures, that may lead to a delay in acceptance).
Other Links