The employment rate for surgical technologists happens to be growing very fast. You can find training programs that can take between 9 to 24 months to complete. They can lead to your diploma, certificate, or an associates degree. Most of the jobs are found in hospitals but more opening in other part of the health care industries are expected as well.
Surgical technologists duties are to help everyone involved in a surgical procedure. This means surgeons, nurses, and patients. They work in the operating rooms assisting surgeons, anesthesiologists, and circulating nurses.
A Surgical Tech works before the surgery to ensure the operating room is properly prepared. They ensure it is supplied with all the necessary instruments and equipment, sterile drapes, and sterile solutions. The put together sterile as well as non-sterile equipment and make sure everything is in perfect working order.
A surgical technologist also preps the patient for surgery. The disinfect the place where the incision is going to be made. If necessary they shave the area and wash the surgery area. Then they are the ones who actually take the patient to the operating room, place them on the table, and ensure they get covered with the proper sterile drapes. They make sure the vital signs are good, look over their charts, and help the surgical team to put on their surgical gowns and gloves.
There are several places for people to earn their degrees for becoming a surgical technologist like community colleges, vocational schools, hospitals, universities, and the military.
The accredited programs mentioned above give you classroom and clinical experience alike. The courses you may encounter include professional ethics, micro- biology, physiology, anatomy, pharmacology, and medical terminology. Students also learn how to sterilize instruments properly. They learn to check for and prevent infection. They learn to handle special supplies, solutions, equipment, and drugs.
The best chance at landing a surgical technologist job is to become certified. The certifications for this can be obtained via the Liaison Council on Certificate for the Surgical Technologist. This is after graduation from any program that is CAAHEP accredited. You need to pass your national certification exam. You have to either re-certify every 4 years or take another 60 hours of approved education.
Salaries will vary according to region, experience, and expertise but the average wage in 2008 was around $39,000 a year. Choosing to be a surgical technologist can be a good choice if it appeals to you, but it’s not for everybody. Any career choice should be based as much or more on passion than on monetary reasons.