Job Description: Surgical Technician

Surgical Technician Job Duties | Surgical Technician Schools | Surgical Technician Salary | Surgical Technician Pros and Cons

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES OF A SURGICAL TECHNICIAN

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The primary role of a surgical technician is to assist in operation procedures, working under the supervision of surgeons, surgical personnel or registered nurses. The role may involve setup of operating theaters, transporting of patients to and from surgery, adjustments to lights and equipment, passing of instruments and surgical supplies to surgeon’s or surgeon’s assistants, holding retractors, cutting sutures and helping with inventory of sponges, needles, instruments and other supplies as needed for individual operations.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, surgical technicians are also referred to as surgical technologists or operating room technicians. A surgical technician is part of an operating room team commonly comprising surgeons, registered nurses and anesthesiologists.

What Are The Job Duties Of A Surgical Technician

· The principal role of the surgical technician is to provide technical assistance to surgeons, surgical nurses, anesthesiologists and other surgical team members during operation procedures
· Perform a variety of tasks as directed by surgeons during an operation such as handing over instruments and supplies as needed, holding retractors and cutting sutures.
· Prepare dressings or bandages and apply or assist with application of the same after surgery.
· Maintain high levels of hygiene by scrubbing carefully before donning surgical scrub gear such as masks, gloves, booties and surgical gowns.
· Assemble, adjust, monitor and operate lights, suction machines, sterilizers, diagnostic equipment.
· Prepare patients for surgery by washing, shaving and disinfection incision sites; position patients on operating tables; cover patients with sterile surgical drapes.
· Wash and sterilize a range of equipments through the use of germicides, sterilization agents and sterilization machines.
· Prepare and care for patient tissue samples taken for laboratory analysis.
· Continually monitor operating room conditions, patient condition and surgical team needs.
· Maintain an appropriate supply of various fluids that may be required during operation procedures like saline, blood, plasma and glucose.
· Make a physical count of sponges, needles and instruments before and after each surgery procedure.
· Clean and restock the operating room by setting up surgical instruments and equipment, sterile drapes and solutions; arrange instruments according to the surgeon or surgeon’s assistant’s instructions.
· Assemble and check sterile and non-sterile equipment.
· Take responsibility for maintaining a sterile field during surgical procedures.
· Monitor patient’s vital signs during a surgical procedure to assess patient’s physical condition.
· Manage inventory of surgical supplies and place orders for restocking of supplies.
· Maintain patient files and records for each surgical procedure.

Surgical technicians need to be manually dexterous to handle a number of instruments quickly and correctly during operation procedures. Organization skills are important in preparing operating rooms and equipping them with the right equipment, instruments and supplies; surgical technicians need to be conscientious and emotionally stable in an operating room. Other skills include attention to detail, taking direction and working well as a team player.

What Type of Degree is Needed To Be A Surgical Technician

A surgical technician receives formal training in programs ranging from 9 to 24 months in duration. The training programs are a stepping stone to a certificate, diploma or associate degree in the field. Community colleges, junior colleges, vocational schools, universities, hospitals and the military, offer formal training programs for surgical technicians.

The Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) lists over 450 accredited training programs for surgical technicians. Education in this field begins with high school graduation and the recommended courses include biology, chemistry, mathematics and health.

Training programs typically cover academic class work and supervised clinical experience. Courses include anatomy, physiology, pharmacology, medical terminology, microbiology and professional ethics. Other topics include patient care and safety during surgery, surgical procedures and sterile techniques. Students will learn skills that cover sterilization of instruments, handling of special drugs, solutions, supplies and equipment and prevention and control of infections.

Surgical Technician Certification

The majority of employers prefer certified surgical technicians. Certification is not mandatory for the role, but can be obtained voluntarily from the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting. This is done by graduating from a CAAHEP-accredited program and passing a national certification examination.

To maintain certification, surgical technicians need to earn 60 hours of approved continuing education credits over a period of four years. Alternatively, the individual will need to retake and pass the certifying exam at the end of each four year period.

The National Center for Competency Testing (NCCT) provides certification. The procedure involves following one of three paths: completion of an accredited training program; completion of a two year hospital training program that is based on hands-on training; completion of seven years field experience. The NCCT accreditation will need to be renewed every five years either by re-examination or continuing education credits.

Surgical Technician Bachelor’s Degree Programs

Students preparing for a career as a surgical technician may choose a bachelor’s degree in health sciences with a concentration in surgical technology. This is considered advanced education as the course is science intensive and students also learn management skills and the importance of funding in the medical profession.

Associate Degree Programs

Associate degree programs train students to perform the role of surgical technician, working with surgeons in operating rooms. They learn before and after surgery patient care, sterilization of operating room and surgical instruments, surgical intervention procedures and surgical technology procedures among other things.

Continuing education for graduate surgical technicians involves the completion of a three year residency and surgical internship that may last four years. Residents and interns are termed as medical doctors, but surgical technicians work under the supervision of senior surgeons.

What Is The Salary Of A Surgical Technician

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports in its Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2010-11 Edition that employment prospects for surgical technicians is on an upward trend. The growth projected in this field of occupation is 25 percent for the period 2008 to 2018. The projection is that of a much faster than average growth rate in this occupation when compared with other occupations.

The extremely high growth projection is based on anticipated increase in the demand for surgeries. The number of surgical procedures is expected to increase as the population continues to age and baby boomers enter the life phase where surgeries may be needed. Technological advances in the medical field like laser technology has permitted an increased number of surgical procedures, requiring in turn an increased number of surgical technicians to assist.

Hospitals are expected to be the major employer of surgical technicians, as budget cuts force them to reduce costs by replacing nurses with surgical technicians. However, physicians’ offices and outpatient care centers offer better wages and faster employment growth.

Surgical Technician Wages

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2010-11 reports (for 2008) that the median annual wage for surgical technicians was $38,740; the middle 50 percent earnings range between $32,490 and $46,910. The highest 10 percent earnings were above $54,300 and the lowest 10 percent was below $27,510.

Employment of surgical technicians by largest numbers, by industry include: specialty hospitals (excluding psychiatric and substance abuse), outpatient care centers, general medical and surgical hospitals, offices of dentists and offices of physicians. These industries have the highest concentration of surgical technicians.

Estimates for employment and mean wages for physical therapy assistants from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the figure of 91,000 people employed in this role in 2008 will increase by approximately 25 percent by the year 2018 to reach 114,700.

National annualized data shows: the average hourly rate for a surgical technician, ranges between $12 and $23.50; the hourly overtime rate for a surgical technician, ranges between $15 and $35.50; the bonus for a surgical technician ranges between $49 and $2,003 approximately. Overall annual pay scales range between $25,808 and $51,498 for a surgical technician.

Median annual wages paid by the largest employers of surgical technicians by industry: specialty hospitals (excluding psychiatric and substance abuse), outpatient care centers - $40,880; outpatient care centers - $39,660; general medical and surgical hospitals - $38,640; offices of physicians - $38,520; offices of dentists - $36,380.

The pay scales for surgical technicians will vary based on education, experience, responsibilities in the job, working hours and size of employer institution. Benefits typically include paid vacation, sick leave, health, medical, life insurance and possibly vision and dental insurance and retirement benefits.

(Figures are approximate and have been rounded off to the nearest full number)

What Are The Pros And Cons Of Being A Surgical Technician

In every job there are advantages and disadvantages; the same holds good for surgical technicians. The advantages include:

· The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics has projected faster than normal growth rate of 25 percent between the years 2008 and 2018 for surgical technicians.
· There are various factors influencing the demand for increased employment opportunities for surgical technicians like an aging population and increased number of baby boomers entering the life phase where they may need surgery.
· There are many jobs in various industries for physical therapy assistants and the overall growth outlook for the healthcare industry is a very positive one.
· Pay scales are more than decent and enable surgical technicians to enjoy a high quality of life.
· The benefits are good and employment opportunities center round some of the best institutions in the healthcare industry.

The downside to becoming a physical therapy assistant may be attributed to the following negative aspects in the job:

· The role of a surgical technician requires tremendous attention to detail and being constantly alert. Not many people can cope with the stress.
· Working for long periods of time in a surgical room where tension runs high and tempers flare, puts a lot of pressure on the surgical technician to hand over the right equipments, monitor patients and support equipments
· Continuing education credits are mandatory in most states for surgical technicians to maintain certification. People who work full time in a demanding occupation find it hard to make time to continue their education.