Overview
Surgical technician is a part of the team in operating room, which consists of surgeons, circulating nurse, and anesthesiologist. Surgical technicians are also known as scrubs, and they assist in surgical procedures. They work under the authority and supervision of the operating room surgeon, unless the state law or healthcare facility states otherwise (American Dental Education Association 1).
Roles
- Prepare surgical rooms for surgical procedures
- Equipment sterilization
- Ensure adequate supplies for surgery
- Prepare patients for operation
- Assist surgeons during surgical procedures
After the surgical procedure, surgical technicians may assist with bandages, dressing of incision areas, transfer patients to recovery rooms, and provide supplies after the operation. The roles are generally hands-on and direct (Bureau of Labor Statistics 1).
Working Conditions
They typically work in healthcare facilities. In some instances, surgical technicians may work in outpatient departments or in surgeons’ office for outpatient surgery.
The work is physically demanding, and it involves long hours of standing. Surgical technicians move patients and provide trays of medical supplies for procedures. The operating room exposes surgical technicians to hospital related infections, odors and unpleasant sights. The job can also be stressing (Xu 1).
The job is full time. Besides, there are also night shifts, weekend and holiday jobs, as well as longer working hours than the standard eight hours.
Academic Requirements
Training can be acquired from various institutions, including colleges, universities, vocational schools, military and hospitals.
A certificate program requires 12 months while 24 months are required for an associate degree. High school education or prerequisite courses on basic science and medical terminologies are required for entry. These courses mainly cover concepts in biology, medical terminology and pharmacology among other related disciplines. Surgical technicians also undergo training in patient care, sterilization methods, equipment use and infection control. Hands-on experience is attained through practical lessons in clinical settings.
Regulations may differ from one state to another.
There are “500 surgical technologist training programs accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) and the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES)” (Bureau of Labor Statistics 1).
On-the-job training may also be available before graduating to first surgical technician assistant.
Important Qualities
Preferred individuals for the career should possess the following qualities: detail oriented, dexterity, integrity, physical stamina and stress management skills.
Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations
Certification is imperative for getting a job in the industry as a surgical technician. Certification is earned through three main credentialing bodies.
First, the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting allows “qualified individuals to be referred to as Certified Surgical Technologist (CST)” (Bureau of Labor Statistics 1). The certification is obtained through formal accreditation education program or relevant military training programs. One must pass the examination for accreditation (American College of Surgeons 1).
Second, trained surgical technicians are also referred to as Tech in Surgery-Certified (NCCT) after successful training and certification by the National Center for Competency Testing. Various training programs from formal schooling, military and work experience lead one to become Tech in Surgery-Certified (NCCT).
Finally, the American Board of Surgical Assistants also provides certification for surgical first assistants (Bureau of Labor Statistics 1).
Surgical technicians must finish continuing education programs for certificate maintenance. Generally, certification must be obtained from reputable, accredited institutions.
Career Advancement
Surgical technicians may choose to advance their careers in the nursing field. For instance, one may choose to become a registered nurse, an operating room manager or educator.
In addition, surgical technicians may also advance their careers through specialization in specific areas such as open-hear surgery or neurosurgery (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research 1).
Pay
According to statistics from the Department of Labor, scrubs earned an annual median wage of “$41,790 in the year 2012, the lowest paid surgical technicians earned $29,710 and the highest paid received annual wage of more than $60,240” (Bureau of Labor Statistics 1).
These earnings are based on full time work. It is imperative to consider other aspects of the job such as over time, weekend and night shifts.
Job Outlook
The Bureau of Labor Statistics has forecasted that employment of surgical technicians would grow by 30% between the year 2012 and 2022 (Bureau of Labor Statistics 1). This growth rate is much higher than the average for all jobs. Changes in the healthcare sector would drive this growth rate.
For instance, the development in medical technologies has resulted in safer procedures. Consequently, more surgeries are conducted for various forms of injuries and diseases. The large number of senior citizens also drives the need for surgical operations, and scrubs are expected to provide the necessary care. In addition, senior citizens are more willing to seek medical attention to enhance their quality of life during old age.
The job prospect is promising because healthcare facilities will continue to hire more surgical technicians to perform operating room roles because their roles are critical for patient care and outcomes. At the same time, they are relatively cheaper and perform a significant percentage of tasks in operating rooms, particularly in countries with strained resources (Cumbi et al. 27).
Works Cited
American College of Surgeons. Revised Statement on Surgical Technology Training and Certification. 2005. Web.
American Dental Education Association. Surgical Technologist. 2015. Web.
Bureau of Labor Statistics. Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2014-15 Edition, Surgical Technologists. 2015. Web.
Cumbi, Amelia, Caetano Pereira, Raimundo Malalane, Fernando Vaz, Colin McCord, Alberta Bacci and Staffan Bergstronm. “Major surgery delegation to mid-level health practitioners in Mozambique: health professionals’ perceptions.” Human Resources for Health 5 (2007): 27. Web.
Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. Surgical Technology. 2015. Web.
Xu, Elizabeth. Surgical Technologist Duties: A Day in the Life. 2013. Web.