Surgical Tech
Surgical Technicians provide a vital service in operating rooms of hospitals, outpatient facilities and in some dental settings. Surgical Technician training typically takes nine months to two years to complete, and can lead to a certificate or an Associate’s degree in the field.
The curriculum provides students with a balance of in-depth coursework and experience in the surgical environment. Students learn about anatomy and physiology of the human body, operating room procedures, surgical instruments, sterile techniques and medical terminology. Education leading to an Associate’s degree will require general education classes in a variety of subjects including English and math, in addition to coursework in the field of surgical technology.
Applied experience in the operating room teaches students about the job functions they will provide after graduation. Standard job functions during practical experience include: learning to prepare patients for surgery, preparation of the operating room and medical instruments, assisting the surgeon… Read the rest
Surgical technicians perform a number of tasks within an operating room to make sure that an operation is going as planned. They are liable for ensuring the cleanliness of the instruments so the doctor will remain well-prepared. Also, many surgical technicians assist doctors by moving patients, handing instruments to surgeons, and even working to remove tissue or perform sutures.
There are a variety of surgical technician schools that prospective students can attend. One way they can find these schools is to visit a career counselor at a nearby community college. Some of these schools offer a range of certification programs that are more affordable than the ones found at trade schools. Even though a community college may not offer a surgical technology program, a counselor could find another local college or provide the names and locations of nearby trade schools.
Prospective students will have to ensure that the college of… Read the rest
Perhaps a career as a surgical technologist can provide the excitement, challenge and financial security you are seeking. As a surgical technologist, you can be part of an operating room (OR) surgical team. A team upon whose competence, diligence and cool heads – whether during preoperative procedures, actual surgery or postoperative care – the life of an every OR patient depends.
The surgical team includes not only the head surgeon; the assisting resident(s) and the various OR nurses but, just as importantly, certified surgical technologists. In some cases, three different surgical technicians will be present on a surgical team: a scrub surgical technologist, a circulating surgical technologist and an assisting surgical technologist.
The first member of the surgical team to enter the OR before surgery is the scrub surgical technologist to perform what is often defined as the “sterile hands” stage. However, sterility involves much more than sterile hands. The… Read the rest
The employment outlook for surgical technicians is very optimistic. There is currently a high demand for surgical technicians, and the demand is expected to continue growing. Openings for surgical technicians are expected to increase by more than twenty five percent over the next eight years, as growth in the field outstrips most other fields. The demand for surgical technicians results from changes in surgical procedures, with more and more procedures taking place on an outpatient basis, along with an increasingly aging population. Technological changes and advancements also contribute to this growing need, with an increased reliance on fiber optics and laser in surgical procedures. Surgical technicians are employed in hospitals, outpatient facilities, and with physicians and other medical providers.
The duties of a surgical technician vary from location to location. Generally, the technician is responsible for preparing the operating room prior to surgery. During surgery, the technician monitors equipment… Read the rest
Surgical technicians assist surgeons and nurses in the operating room. The technician is part of the surgical team before, during and after a surgical procedure. Before an operation, the surgical technician prepares the operating room by ensuring the physician and nurses have equipment and supplies available for the procedure. During the surgical operation, the technician may pass instruments and supplies to the surgical team. Once a procedure is completed, the surgical technician helps patients to the recovery room and cleans the operating room. The U.S. Department of Labor reports that surgical technicians earn a median annual salary of $39,920. Those technicians in the upper 10 percent can earn annual salaries of $57,330 and those in the lower 10 percent earn up to $28,100.
Industries Employing Surgical Technicians
A surgical technician may work in a variety of locations including hospitals, physician’s offices, outpatient clinics and dental offices. The annual mean… Read the rest
The demand for skilled pharmacy workers continues to rise in today’s current job market. Many areas of the country are experiencing shortages of workers in this industry, and the time to go to school for pharmacy technician courses is now. Attending a post-graduate school can be costly. As a result, many students need financial aid to pay for their courses, books, and other materials for their studies.
In fact, applying for financial aid usually begins before the person begins his or her pharmacy technician courses. The soon-to-be student should fill out a financial aid form that can be obtained from his or her preferred school’s financial aid department. The form will ask questions about how much money the student earns or how much money the student’s parents earn, if the student is under the age of 22 and deemed to be dependent on the parents’ income. The form will also… Read the rest
