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.

According to the US Department of Labor: "...the employment of surgical technologists is expected to grow much faster than average for all occupations through the year 2014 as the volume of surgery increases. Job opportunities are expected to be good. The number of surgical procedures is expected to rise as the population grows and ages [...] Hospitals will continue to be the primary employer of surgical technologists, although much faster employment growth is expected in offices of physicians and in outpatient care centers, including ambulatory surgical centers..."

The Surgical Technology course prepares the student to be a integral member of the surgical team. A Surgical Technologist works closely with surgeons, anesthesiologist, registered nursing and other surgical personnel. They prepare the operating room with sterile supplies and are responsible for draping and prepping the surgical patient, maintaining the sterile field, passing instruments to the surgeon and mixing and dispensing appropriate fluids and drugs.

Upon successful completion of this course, the student should be able to:

• Identify and interpret a job description for a surgical technologist.
• Identify members of the surgical team and their roles.
• Identify different types of hospitals and state how they differ from each other.
• Understand the purpose and management of the hospital.
• Identify the physical aspects of the operating room suite and the operating room.
• Identify hospital departments and state their relations with surgery in providing quality
• patient care.
• Identify and demonstrate principles of communication and their importance in the surgical
• setting.
• Trace the historical development of surgery.
• Define and interpret ethical, moral, and legal responsibilities.
• Discuss the uniqueness of each patient's response to illness and hospitalization.
• Assess the physical, spiritual, and psychological needs of a patient.
• Identify the rights of health care consumers to receive quality patient care.
• Demonstrate proper use of medical terminology in all forms of communication.
• Identify surgical drugs.
• Divide drugs into classes.
• Identify role of anesthetist.
• Name and classify anesthetic agent Course Outline
  

  Introduction to Surgical Technology

  • History
  • Job Description
  • Surgical Team Members
  • Hospital Organization and Management
  • Physical Aspects of a Surgical Suite
  • Surgical Environmental Controls and Safety
  • Interdepartmental Resources

  Concepts of Medical Terminology

  • Define Medical Terminology
  • Identify and Define Related Terminology
  • Combining Forms
  • Pronunciation Rules
  • Suffixes
  • Prefixes
  • Word Roots
  • Cells to Organs
  • Body Structure
  • Disease
  • Diagnosis, Treatment, and Surgery

  Communication

  • Means Of
  • Purpose Of
  • Communication Relationships

  Ethical, Moral and Legal Responsibilities

  • Ethical, Moral, and Legal responsibilities
  • Establishing Negligence
  • Professional Standards of Conduct
  • Credentialing
  • Surgical Conscience
  • OR Incidents
  • Ethical Conflicts
  • Understanding the Surgical Patient
  • Patient's Needs
  • Patient's Bill of Rights
  • Code of Ethics

  Pharmacology

  • General Terminology
  • Abbreviations
  • Drug Identification
  • Drug Reconstitution and Aseptic Practice
  • Techniques of Drug Transfer
  • Drug/Solution Violations

  Anesthesia

  • Anesthesia Selection
  • Preoperative Medications
  • Anesthesia Methods
  • Blood Replacement
  • Emergency Situations
  • Complications of Anesthesia

  Wound Healing

  • Anatomy Review
  • Abdominal Incisions
  • Instrumentation and Suture Sequence
  • Wound Healing

  Inquire about the Surgical Technologist course now
  Chicago: (312) 920-8822
  Oak Brook: (630) 705-9999

  Prerequisites
  
  Hours: 400 / 50 Weeks / 12 Months Approx.
  Price: Call