Surgical Technologist A surgical technologist is a health professional part of the operating room team also called scrubs and surgical or operating room technicians, assist in surgical operations under the supervision of surgeons, registered nurses, or other surgical personnel.

Responsiblities include but are not Limited to

• Preparing surgical instruments before procedures
• Maintaining sterilization throughout operations.
• Records the operation and keeps track of surgical instruments.
• Maintain the sterile field in the OR
• Monitor all members of the surgical team sterilization process.
• Transporting patients to the operating room.
• Monitor instruments and sterile supplies, passing them to surgeons and Registered Nurse as needed.
• Operate suction machines,lights in the room, and diagnostic equipment.

Surgical Technologist: Workplace

• Operating teams in Hospitals.
• Dentist
• Private Surgical Facilities and Physicians
• Orthodontist

Surgical Technologist: Training

According to the Association of Surgical Technologists, many employers prefer to hire graduates from 2-year associate's degree programs that have been accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP). Shorter, 1 year programs lead to certificates or diplomas, but these may limit your employment options.

Surgical technicians/technologists receive their training in formal programs offered by community and junior colleges, vocational schools, Universities, hospitals, and the military.

Surgical technologist students receive a combination of academic and hands-on education. Programs may include courses in anatomy, medical terminology and sterilization techniques to prepare equipment for operations.

Students can receive certification by completing a CAAHEP-accredited program and passing the national certification exam. Students who obtain certification are known as Certified Surgical Technologists CST), and must renew their certification after 4 years.

Salary

According to the American Medical Association, Certified Surgical Technologists made an average of $37,967 annually. This may vary according to specialty, geographic location, experience, and certification status. Certified Surgical Technologists can earn as much as $10,000 more annually beyond their non-certified coworkers.

Job opportunities are expected to be favorable

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.

History of the Surgical Technologist

The role of the Surgical Technologist began on the battlefields in World War I and World War II when the Army used corpsmen to work under the direct supervision of the Surgeon on combat ships. Nurses were not allowed on combat ships at the time, so a new profession was born which the Army called Operating Room Technicians (ORTs).

After the Korean War there were shortages of operating room nurses. Operating room supervisors began to recruit ex-corpsmen to work in civilian surgery. These ex-corpsmen functioned as the circulator in the operating room while the scrub role or “instrument nurse” role was performed by the Registered nurse. It wasn’t until 1965 until these roles were reversed.

In 1967 the Association of Operating Room Nurses (AORN) published a book titled Teaching the Operating Room Technician. In 1968 the AORN Board of Directors created the Association of Operation Room Technicians (AORT). The AORT formed two committees in 1969, The Liaison Council on Certification for the Surgical Technologist (LCC-ST) and the Joint Committee on Education. The first certification examination was given in 1970, and those that passed the certification examination were given a new title: Certified Operating Room Technician (CORT).

In 1973 AORT became independent of AORN and changed the title of the position to what it is today, Surgical Technologist. The AORT also changed their name to the Association of Surgical Technologists (AST). In 1974 an accreditation body was needed to ensure quality education of the ORT. AST has worked diligently since 1973 to promote excellence in our profession. Today Surgical Technologists taking and passing the national certification examination earn the title of Certified Surgical Technologist (CST). Salary ranges from $24000 upwards in USA depending on place and region.

References

---

• Reference for salary The median expected salary for a typical Surgical Technologist in the United States.
• Reference Surgical Technologist Job Outlook
• Vocational Schools Surgical Technologist
• Surgical Technologist Job Description and Wage Information

Nursing