Surgical Technology



The Surgical Technology program trains individuals to become entry level surgical technologists. Surgical technicians prepare for and assist in surgical operations under the supervision of surgeons, registered nurses, or other surgical personnel. Surgical technologists are critical members of operating room teams. This program prepares the student for national certification testing.

Employment in surgical technology is expected to grow as the volume of surgeries increase and technology advances require expert assistance during those surgical procedures. Hospitals continue to be the primary employer of surgical technologists, although other career options include physicians’ office assistant, obstetrical unit technician, and outpatient care centers, including ambulatory surgical centers, sterile supply management and/or technician, surgical supply representatives, and surgical technology education instruction.

Median annual earnings of surgical technologists were $34,010 in May 2004  The middle 50 percent earned between $28,560 and $40,750. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $23,940, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $45,990.  Source: US Department of Labor.

Prerequisites: The student will need to demonstrate proficiencies in reading, English, and mathematics based on the COMPASS assessment test, ACT or SAT scores, or by taking the recommended/ required classes.  Some of the courses in this curriculum have specific prerequisites as indicated.

Program Outcomes: The goal of the surgical technology program is to provide students with the opportunity to develop the skills and knowledge necessary to gain employment as a surgical technologist and become contributing members of the health care team.  This will be accomplished by preparing competent graduates in the cognitive, psychomotor, and affective learning domains:

Cognitive Domain:
The Graduate will:
1. Correlate the knowledge of surgical procedures, anatomy and physiology, microbiology to their role as a surgical technologist and recognize their relationship to safe patient care.
2. Understand the principles of safe patient care in the preoperative, intraoperative and postoperative settings.

Psychomotor Domain:
The Graduate will:
3. Develop and apply fundamental surgical assisting skills through practice and evaluation in the laboratory and clinical settings.
4. Accurately apply the principles of asepsis across the spectrum of common surgical experiences.

Affective Domain:
The Graduate will:
5. Recognize the variety of patients’ needs and the impact of their personal, physical, emotional, and cultural experiences on the rendering of patient care.
6.Demonstrate professional responsibility in performance, attitude and personal conduct.
7.Practice within the confines of the recognized scope of practice within the healthcare community to provide optimal patient care.

The program is a 64 credit hour (1159 clock hour) associate’s degree program in applied science of surgical technology, which incorporates 36 credit hours (400 didactic and 75 lab clock hours) of general education and biology courses, with 29 credit hours (200 didactic, 56 lab and 476 clinical clock hours) of core surgical and clinical courses.
 
Course Sequence:  The listing that follows is a recommended sequence of courses.  Any of the pre/co-requisite courses may be taken prior to beginning the surgical courses. The surgical courses must be taken concurrently. The student should work with their advisor regarding their course schedule.

 
For More Information Contact:
Program Advisor

Kelly Warren
kwarren@neosho.edu
620.431.2820 ext. 311

Surgical Technology Specialist

Pamela Gerber
pgerber@neosho.edu
620.431.2820 ext. 767