Overview of Surgical Tech Degree Program

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A surgical tech, operating room tech or scrub tech will assist physicians, surgeons, and RN’s in the operating room to ensure an optimal operating room environment. They do this by preparing or setting up instruments and equipment, preparing patients by washing and disinfecting incision sights, positioning patients on the operating table, covering them with sterile drapes and preparing medications. Other duties include providing sterile solutions, ensuring all equipment is working properly, assisting the team with surgical gowns, gloves and other surgical wear, and passing instruments to surgeons.

They might also help transport patients to other rooms, hold internal organs and retractors, handle specimens, apply bandages and dressings after surgery has completed, restock the operating room, and check inventory. A surgical tech will fill in and help where they are needed to assist the rest of the team.

Education

To be accepted into college, one must be able to pass a background check and drug test. They must also be physically fit and pass a physical examination. Some schools will require that the potential student to be certified to perform CPR and they may have to pass an entrance examination given by the school. To be licensed, students and techs must have a clean criminal record or they may be declined a license by the certification board.

To become a surgical tech, a new student can attend a community college, university, vocational school and some hospitals for up to 2 years. Then, he or she will become eligible to get certified and licensed. Depending on the school, they will obtain a diploma, certificate or associate’s degree. It is best that the school is recognized and accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Program (CAAHEP) and the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES).

Once the student has completed the required education, they will be eligible to take the certification examination. Certification is done through the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting and the National Center of Competency Testing.

Courses that the surgical tech student can expect to take are anatomy, physiology, biology and microbiology, medical terminology, pharmacology, medical laws, medical ethics, medical procedures, safety, sterilization, classification and healing of wounds and some schools will require robotics, biomechanics and computer science. If the school you chose does not require robotics and other advanced classes, you may want to see if the school has advanced classes available. Some schools will also offer a gainful employment program that will help place students once they have finished their education and passed the certification examinations.

BLS Information

According to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics, the projected growth for surgical techs is expected to raise 30% between 2012 and 2022. The lower percentile earn a salary of approximately $30,000 per year with the median being around $42,000 per year and the higher percentile being around $60,000 per year.

A surgical tech will spend many long hours on their feet and will be doing some heavy lifting of patients and medical equipment and supplies. They may also be exposed to communicable diseases, unpleasant sights, orders and materials. They may be on call along with working their full-time hours.

Some qualities that a surgical tech needs is dexterity, detail oriented, integrity, physical stamina and strong stress management skills.