Surgical technologists assist a surgical team in an operating room. He or she works under the supervision of surgeons or registered nurses. Surgical technologists have responsibilities, training/certification, and a variety of job settings. Many individuals view surgical technologists as an extremely gruesome job. Also, individuals visualize surgical technicians as the people who assist surgeons by passing the instrument.
But in reality, Surgical technologists do plentiful other things such as: preparing operating rooms by setting up surgical equipment and instruments, sterile drapes, and assemble sterile and nonsterile equipment as well as check and adjust them to make sure everything is functioning properly. Before an operation Surgical Technologists get patients ready for surgery by washing, shaving, and disinfecting incision sites. Once patients are prepared for surgery, Surgical Technologists transport them to the operating room, position them onto the operating table, and cover them with sterile surgical drapes.
Then Technologists observe patients vital signs, check charts, and assist the surgical team by putting on sterile gowns and gloves. During operation, technologists pass instruments to surgeons and surgeon assistants. After operation, Technologists help transfer patients to the recovery room and cleans and restock the operating room. All in all, surgical technologists are continually on there feet assisting in everything, which requires a significant amount of physical activity. Plus, transferring and lifting patients requires physical activity and I am personally physical capable of the work.
Training programs last 9 to 24 months and lead to a certificate, diploma, or Associate degree. Individuals can receive training from community and junior colleges, vocational schools, universities, and the military. The programs provide classroom education as well as clinical experiences. To be a surgical technologist requires taking a great deal of science classes such as Anatomy and Physiology, Microbiology, Medical Terminology, and many more. Clinicals help the students learn to sterile instruments, control infections, and handle special drugs, supplies, and equipment.
The Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Educational Program (CAAHEP) is accredited training programs. Technologists can obtain professional certification on Certification for the Surgical Technologists by graduating from the CAAHEP and passing a national certification examination. They may then use the Certified Surgical Technologist (CST) designation and to maintain certification, continual education or reexamination is requires, which must be every 4 years. Another way to receive certification is from the National Center of Competency Testing (NCCT).
If individuals have completed an accredited training program, undergo a 2year hospital on the job-training program, or completed 7 years of experience working in the field, they qualify for the NCCT exam, which has to be renewed every 5 years by continual of education or reexamination.
A career as a surgical technologist offers future advancements such as specializing in neurosurgery or open-heart surgery, circulating technologists, or surgical first assistant. For advancement, training is required which does take fairly extended time. Different job settings for surgical technologists are specialty hospital (annual salary of $40,880), outpatient care center (annual salary of $39,660), general medical and surgical hospitals (annual salary of $38,640), offices of physicians (annual salary of $38,520), and offices of dentists (annual salary of $36,380).
The median annual earnings from the industries above were recorded May of 2008;therefore, the earnings have increased since then. Wages vary with their experience and education, the responsibility of the position, working hours, and the economy of a given region of the country.
Most employers provide benefits such as vacation and sick leave, health, medical, vision, dental, and life insurance, and retirement programs. Many intellectual abilities are associated with technologists. Memorization and recalling tool’s name and function is essential. Technologists have to know which tool is needed for certain procedures to have it sterile on hand. Also, knowing what are below the surface of a human being for example bones, muscles, tissues, nerves, and etc. is mandatory when operating on a patient. Surgical technologists have to be aware of any new developments in the field.
Surgical technologists work extremely hard making certain that the whole operating room is sterile as well as taking care of the patient before and after the operation. Surgical technologist is an interest of mine because knowledge of the body excites me and how the body functions. Also being a surgical technologist benefits me by helping me learn the body incase I want to advance my career. A weakness as a surgical technologist is the smell of the body. All in all, surgical technologist is a great career that has responsibilities, training/certifications, and a variety of job settings.