Working World

“I wanted to work in the healthcare industry and I’d heard a lot of positive things about surgical technologist training. My favorite part of the training program is the Operating Room. It’s a simulated experience that we practice on — whatever the OR has, we have, except for the patient.” — Vage Grigoryan, a student in CBD College’s surgical technologist training program

It goes without saying that healthcare professionals require a commitment and passion for helping people. There are many careers in this industry that fulfill that passion but few that also offer the adrenaline rush that surgical technologists experience working side by side with the medical industry’s rock stars (a.k.a. surgeons). The operating room is typically one of the most exciting locations of any hospital.

Employment settings for the surgical technologist include operating rooms, OB departments, surgery centers, physicians’ offices and contract work/private practice. Training time for this exciting in-demand career varies school to school, anywhere from 13-15 months of concentrated courses to 18-24 months at some schools.

“To become a surgical technologist in the state of California you need to graduate from an accredited school, even though the state of California does not mandate certification for employment,” said Mike Kaputikyan, CST and director of the surgical tech program at CBD. “I strongly recommend our students get certification.”

The National Board of Surgical Technologists and Surgical Assistants (NBSTSA) grants national certification to diploma students who graduated from an accredited school and complete the certification exam successfully. And with that certification, they can work in all 50 states. The NBSTSA even adds a level of convenience by allowing students to take the exam 30 days prior to graduation.

At Everest College, Surgical Technology Program Director Ernesto McFarlane described the topics covered in training: “Principles of Surgical Technology; Anatomy and Physiology; Anatomy and Microbiology; Surgical Pharmacology; Asepsis and Surgical Techniques; Instrumentation; Clinical I (hospital); Specialty Instruments; Surgical Procedures, I, II, III; and Clinical Rotation II (hospital), which is hands-on training under the supervision of surgeons and nurses. Surgical technologists receive the same general training and then might specialize in laser technology or labor and delivery technology once they are in the workforce.”

A typical day for a surgical tech, Ernesto added, can be “very stressful,” however, “one experiences a variety of surgical procedures, so the day goes very fast at a very hectic pace.”

Preparing the OR for the surgeon includes checking to make sure all the equipment, instrument trays and supplies needed for the particular surgery are there and in working condition; creation of a sterile field; helping to drape the patient; and assisting the surgeon throughout the procedure.

Chuck Lane, CST, BSOM and national surgical technology director for Concorde Career Colleges, painted a detailed picture for us: “A morning shift surgical technologist will generally start their day at 6:30am. They will begin by reviewing the assigned cases for the day to make sure they have all supplies and equipment needed. In most cases they will scrub on cases all day with only a 30-minute lunch break sometime between 11am and 2pm. Between cases, typically, surgical technologists will help other surgery staff to clean and turn over the room for the next procedure. The surgical technologist will end their shift either still scrubbed on a procedure and get relieved, or if finished with their assigned cases they will be terminally cleaning the operating room.”

All three of the schools we researched offered in-depth career services support such as assistance with resume building and interview skills, helping students find their dream jobs, contacting prospective employers for job placement, and even continual follow-up informing graduates of open positions once they’re already in the job market.

Surg tech training attracts recent high school graduates who know what they want as well as many people from other fields who are looking to change careers and desire future stability. Salaries can start at $25,000 and go up to an average annual salary of $45,000 with experience. Job security is a moot point with more and more baby boomers turning 60 and flooding the healthcare industry with demand. Financial aid and various student loans are available for those who qualify. If you think you’ve got what it takes to be a surgical technologist, check out these resources today.

Resources

NATIONAL BOARD OF SURGICAL TECHNOLOGISTS AND SURGICAL ASSISTANTS (NBSTSA)
ASSOCIATION OF SURGICAL TECHNOLOGISTS
CBD COLLEGE
EVEREST COLLEGE
CONCORDE CAREER COLLEGES

Katy Allgeyer is an artist and freelance writer. She is a columnist for Working World and Working Nurse magazines and her features have appeared there and in Feng Shui Times, The Art of WellBeing, You & Me Magazine and others.

1 COMMENTS

• Catherine Rhodes

  Healthcare will be a growing field for the next few decades as the Baby Boomers age and require more medical services. A career like Surgical Technology is almost recession-proof.

  Jun 02, 2009