Surgical Technology School San Jose
Additional Information
Millions of people have surgery performed on them yearly. Surgeries can range from vital heart transplants to low-risk and common procedures. The success of these procedures relies on more than just surgeons. For a procedure to be a success it often requires a full team of trained medical staff members. A major position in nearly all surgical teams is the surgical technologist. What is a surgical technologist?
Surgical technologists work in hospitals and clinics around the world. While tasks may vary due to the needs of the operating staff, surgical technologists provide a variety of tasks to assist surgeons performing an operation. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, surgical technologists work before, during and after a surgery.
What Surgical Technologists Do Prior to an operation, surgical technologists help prepare the operating room. Some common tasks include prepping surgical instruments and equipment, preparing sterile drapes, and sterile solutions. Technologists may also prepare patients 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 help the surgical team put on sterile gowns and gloves. Source: https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/surgical-technologists.htm.
During a surgery, surgical technologists can 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. Source: https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/surgical-technologists.htm#tab-2.
The Surgical Technology Program at SVSTI has a site visit scheduled for pursuing initial accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (www.caahep.org). This step in the process is neither a status of accreditation nor a guarantee that accreditation will be granted.
You might be required to have a background check before placement. (depends on site) If you do not pass the background test you will not be placed at a clinical site and could be dropped from the Surgical Technology program and/or Sterile Processing Course
You might be required by a clinical site to have a drug test before placement. (depends on site) If you do not pass drug test you will not be placed at a clinical site and could be dropped from the Surgical Technology Program and/or the Sterile Processing Course.
Surgical Tech Program san jose
What is a Surgical Technologist
A surgical technologist, also called a scrub, scrub tech, surgical technician, or operating room technician, is an allied health professional working as a part of the team delivering surgical care. Surgical technologists are members of the surgical team
Becoming a Surg Tech
Many healthcare careers require several years of schooling before being qualified to start working. Fortunately, this isn’t the case for surgical techs. Most employers require a postsecondary Certificate or Associate’s degree to work in this position.
Daily Responsibilities of a ST
Assists in operations, under the supervision of surgeons, registered nurses, or other surgical personnel. May help set up operating room, prepare and transport patients for surgery, adjust lights and equipment, pass instruments and other supplies to surgeons and surgeon's assistants, hold retractors, cut sutures, and help count sponges, needles, supplies, and instruments.
Working Conditions & Physical Demands of the Operating Room
- You would often handle loads up to 10 lbs., sometimes up to 20 lbs. You might do a lot of walking or standing, or you might sit but use your arms and legs to control machines, equipment or tools.
- Work in this occupation involves bending or twisting your body more than one-third of the time
- Work in this occupation involves use of protective items such as safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hearing protection, a hard hat, or personal flotation devices
- Exposure to pollutants, gases, dust, fumes, odors, poor ventilation, etc.
- Requires getting into awkward positions
- Exposed to disease and infections more than once a month through work such as patient care, laboratory work, and sanitation control
- Work in this occupation involves using your hands to hold, control, and feel objects more than one-third of the time
- Exposed to conditions such as high voltage electricity, combustibles, explosives, and chemicals more than once a month
- Work in this occupation requires being inside most of the time
- Work in this occupation involves making repetitive motions more than one-third of the time
- Work in this occupation involves use of special protective items such as a breathing apparatus, safety harness, full protection suit, or radiation protection
- Work in this occupation involves standing more than one-third of the time
- Work in this occupation involves walking or running more than one-third of the time
Physical Requirements for Surgical Techs
- Identifying color and seeing differences in color, including shades and brightness
- Seeing clearly at a distance
- Seeing clearly up close
- Speaking clearly enough to be able to be understood by others
- Identifying and understanding the speech of another person
- Using abdominal and lower back muscles repeatedly or over time without tiring
- Retain Information
- Flexibility/Thinking on your feet
- Quick Learner
- STAY HUMBLE/STAY HUNGRY
Additional Information for Surgical Technologist
Stats
Surgical Technology:
California Annual Wages for 2018
Low
(25th percentile) $50,367
Median
(50th percentile) $61,182
High
(75th percentile) $74,200
https://www.labormarketinfo.edd.ca.gov/OccGuides/Summary.aspx?Soccode=292055&Geography=0601000000
Quick Facts: Surgical Technologists
$47,300 per year
$22.74 per hour
Postsecondary nondegree award
Work Experience in a Related Occupation
None
None
107,700
12% (Faster than average)
12,600
Surgical technologists, also called operating room technicians, assist in surgical operations. They prepare operating rooms, arrange equipment, and help doctors during surgeries.
Most surgical technologists work in hospitals. They spend much of their time on their feet.
Surgical technologists typically need a post-secondary non-degree award or an associate’s degree. Certification can be beneficial in finding a job. A small number of states regulate surgical technologists.
The median annual wage for surgical technologists was $47,300 in May 2018. (National)
Employment of surgical technologists is projected to grow 12 percent from 2016 to 2026, faster than the average for all occupations. Advances in medical technology have made surgery safer, and more operations are being done to treat a variety of illnesses and injuries.https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/surgical-technologists.htm
Assist in operations, under the supervision of surgeons, registered nurses, or other surgical personnel. May help set up operating room, prepare and transport patients for surgery, adjust lights and equipment, pass instruments and other supplies to surgeons and surgeon's assistants, hold retractors, cut sutures, and help count sponges, needles, supplies, and instruments.
National estimates for this occupation:
Employment estimate and mean wage estimates for this occupation:
Employment (1) 110,160
Employment 110,160
RSE (3) 1.1%
Mean hourly wage $23.58
Mean annual wage (2) $49,040
Wage RSE (3) 0.3%
Percentile wage estimates for this occupation:
Percentile Hourly Wage
10% $15.80
25% $18.70
50% (Median)$22.74
75% $27.90
90% $33.25
Annual Wage (2)
10% $32,870
25% $38,910
50% (Median) $47,300
75% $58,040
90% $69,170