Surgical Technologist

 

Career Profile
 Surgical technologists, also called scrubs and surgical or operating room technicians, assist in surgical operations under the supervision of surgeons, registered nurses, or other surgical personnel. Surgical technologists are members of operating room teams, which most commonly include surgeons, anesthesiologists, and circulating nurses. Before an operation, surgical technologists help prepare the operating room by setting up surgical instruments and equipment, sterile drapes, and sterile solutions. They assemble both sterile and nonsterile equipment, as well as adjust and check it to ensure it is working properly. Technologists also get patients ready for surgery by washing, shaving, and disinfecting incision sites. They transport patients to the operating room, help position them on the operating table, and cover them with sterile surgical "drapes." Technologists also observe patients' vital signs, check charts, and assist the surgical team with putting on sterile gowns and gloves.

 

During surgery, technologists pass instruments and other sterile supplies to surgeons and surgeon assistants. They may hold retractors, cut sutures, and help count sponges, needles, supplies, and instruments. Surgical technologists help prepare, care for, and dispose of specimens taken for laboratory analysis and help apply dressings. Some operate sterilizers, lights, or suction machines, and help operate diagnostic equipment. After an operation, surgical technologists may help transfer patients to the recovery room and clean and restock the operating room.

 

Important Work Activities

  • Estimating Needed Characteristics -- Estimating the Characteristics of Materials, Products, Events, or Information: Estimating sizes, distances, and quantities, or determining time, costs, resources, or materials needed to perform a work activity.
  • Getting Information Needed to Do the Job -- Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
  • Assisting and Caring for Others -- Providing assistance or personal care to others.
  • Communicating With Other Workers -- Providing information to supervisors, fellow workers, and subordinates. This information can be exchanged face-to-face, in writing, or via telephone/electronic transfer.
  • Handling and Moving Objects -- Using one's own hands and arms in handling, installing, forming, positioning, and moving materials, or in manipulating things, including the use of keyboards.
  • Implementing Ideas, Programs, etc. -- Conducting or carrying out work procedures and activities in accord with one's own ideas or information provided through directions/instructions for purposes of installing, modifying, preparing, delivering, constructing, integrating, finishing, or completing programs, systems, structures, or products.

 

Job Outlook

  • Regional Employment 2000: 230
  • Projected Regional Employment 2010: 330
  • Absolute Change 2000 - 2010: 100
  • Percent Change 2000 - 2010: 43.50%
  • Average Hourly Wage 2000: $13.47
  • Average Openings per year due to Replacement: 5
  • Average Openings per year due to Growth: 10

 

Salary
Surgical Technologist positions have an average starting salary of $12 to 14/hr.

 

Surgical Technologist

 

Disqualifiers/Barriers

  • Must submit to a criminal background check
  • Felony and misdemeanor offenses are carefully scrutinized

Important Skills

  • Active Listening -- Listening to what other people are saying and asking questions as appropriate
  • Reading Comprehension -- Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents
  • Information Gathering -- Knowing how to find information and identifying essential information
  • Information Organization -- Finding ways to structure or classify multiple pieces of information
  • Coordination -- Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions

Important Abilities

  • Arm-Hand Steadiness -- The ability to keep the hand and arm steady while making an arm movement or while holding the arm and hand in one position
  • Finger Dexterity -- The ability to make precisely coordinated movements of the fingers of one or both hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble very small objects
  • Information Ordering -- The ability to correctly follow a given rule or set of rules in order to arrange things or actions in a certain order. The things or actions can include numbers, letters, words, pictures, procedures, sentences, and mathematical or logical operations.
  • Number Facility -- The ability to add, subtract, multiply, or divide quickly and correctly
  • Oral Comprehension -- The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences
  • Oral Expression -- The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand

Important Knowledge (Acquired during training)

  • Medicine and Dentistry -- Knowledge of the information and techniques needed to diagnose and treat injuries, diseases, and deformities. This includes symptoms, treatment alternatives, drug properties and interactions, and preventive health-care measures
  • Biology -- Knowledge of plant and animal living tissue, cells, organisms, and entities, including their functions, interdependencies, and interactions with each other and the environment

 

Surgical Technologist

 

Educational Programs
 Associate of Applied Science in Surgical Technology at Austin Community College

 

Certification
 Students who successfully complete the ACC program are eligible to take the Skills for Surgical Technologists Certification exam.

 

Length of Training/Requirements
 Once prerequisite coursework is completed, the Surgical Technologists program at ACC consists of a 2 year Associates Degree. The program combines lecture, on campus laboratory and clinical training.

 

Location of Classes
 Lectures and labs are held at an ACC campus. The required clinical training is scheduled in local healthcare providers.

 

Surgical Technologist

 

St. David HealthCare Partnership
 900 East 30th Street,Suite 109
Austin, Texas
512-397-4000
www.sdhcp.com

 

Seton HealthCare Network
 W. 38th1/2 Street
Austin, Texas
www.seton.org

 

City of Austin

 

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